How To Cook Asparagus

And enjoy this beautiful vegetable!

This springtime vegetable cooks quickly and can be prepared in so many easy different ways. Many people enjoy it with a delicious sauce after it has been steamed or roasted. When you know how to cook asparagus you will have a beautiful vegetable to include in your family meals. I assure you that this little vegetable will make a big impression on everyone!

How Many Kinds Of Asparagus Are There?

• There are many types of asparagus that can be grown, but most often it is a variety of green asparagus that is available in food stores and markets in France and around the world.
• But, there are 2 other common types, the purple and white asparagus, which are both gaining in popularity.
• The green and purple asparagus are grown above the ground and harvested when they are 6-10 inches tall by cutting the spears fairly close to the ground with a sharp knife or breaking them off.
• Contrastingly, the white asparagus is grown in the dark by completely covering the spears with soil or plastic as they grow. This method prevents the spears from photosynthesizing as they develop therefore the entire spear is harvested white.
• Many people are of the opinion that the method used to develop white asparagus results in a milder, more delicate vegetable.
• You may also find wild asparagus growing uncultivated along a roadside, or at a market.

How To Buy Asparagus

• Whatever type you are considering to purchase, ensure it is tender by feeling the stalk gently.
• The spears should be firm and not limp as this means it's not fresh.
• You will need 3-5 spears per person if serving as a side dish.

How To Serve Asparagus

Once cooked this luscious vegetable can be eaten just as it is on its own either hot or cold. But here are a few suggestions to dress it up a little.

• If eaten hot, it can be served with a condiment such as Hollandaise Sauce or a lemon sauce, in fact, it will be flavorful with whatever sauce you prefer.
• Another very easy and delicious method is to serve it with warm melted butter and a little salt and pepper.
• To serve it cold, simply make a vinaigrette or French dressing, a mustard dressing or a good quality mayonnaise, so tasty.

How To Prepare Asparagus Spears For Cooking

• To prepare the asparagus for cooking, check along the stalk for tenderness. You have probably heard that the spears should be bent holding the tip and bottom until they snap; they will break at the divide between the tender shoots and the tougher stems near the root. But this is very wasteful as it is not necessary. If you do detect that there is a little toughness toward the thicker end simply trim it off. Keep these and any peelings to simmer up later for a tasty broth for soup, like The Best Asparagus Soup.
  
• Then simply trim the ends to make them all the same length – it looks better – and peel or scraped the white or green part to remove the little spines. But this is of course optional.
  
• A sharp knife is best for scraping them, in fact it is much better than using a vegetable peeler as the peeler will remove a thicker layer of the vegetable.
  
• Once they are prepared, wash the spears in a bowl of cold water and drain them.

Cooking Methods

Boiled Asparagus

1. Take a few spears and tie them with string near the tip and near the butt end.
2. Bring a pan of salted water to a boil and place the asparagus in it, cover, then lower the heat and cook gently for about fifteen minutes until tender. You can test by inserting the sharp end of a knife into the butt end.
3. Drain them well.
4. Serve with melted butter, salt and pepper, or a creamy sauce.

Cook From Frozen

1. If using frozen asparagus, simply allow to thaw a little before cooking and only use a small amount of water to which you have added a little salt and about a tablespoon of butter.
2. Cook for about 10 minutes or until tender, do not over cook or your vegetable will be mushy.
3. Serve with melted butter, salt and pepper, or a favorite sauce.

Sautéed Asparagus

1. Prepare the asparagus as directed above, and dry well with a kitchen towel.
2. Melt a little butter and oil, or just oil for a vegan choice in a frying pan on medium low heat. If you choose to use butter for the added flavor be sure to add a little oil which will prevent the butter from burning.
3. The spears can be added to the pan whole or cut into smaller pieces.
4. Add salt, pepper, herbs and spices to your liking and garlic towards the end of cooking so it does not burn.
5. Keep an eye on them as they sauté turning frequently to keep them from burning. Length of cooking time depends on the thickness of your vegetable, 10 to 15 minutes should do it.

There is another way too…!

Grilled Asparagus

Chef Raymond Blanc – they don't come more French than he does – offers an alternative way of cooking asparagus, by a combination of blanching and griddling.

• Prepare the asparagus spears as above, then blanche them in boiling water for just 3 minutes.
  
• Remove and plunge them into a bowl of iced/cold water; this helps them to keep their colour.
  
• Lie 5 spears side by side, and spear them with a wooded skewer, top and bottom, to keep them together.
  
• Repeat this with the rest of the spears, then place on a hot griddle for 3 minutes on each side…that's plenty.
  
• Remove skewers and serve immediately.

Great Vegetable Recipes

• Asparagus Recipe Paired Perfectly With Hollandaise Sauce
• The Best Asparagus Soup Recipe
• How To Make Hollandaise Sauce Recipe
• The Best Homemade Cheese Sauce Recipe