And enjoy this beautiful vegetable!
Once you know how to cook asparagus, it is easy to prepare in many different ways. Many people enjoy it with a delicious sauce after it has been steamed or roasted. Once you've mastered the art of cooking asparagus, try it in this elegant Arugula Salad With Roasted Asparagus and Lemon Dressing, Asparagus With Hollandaise Sauce, or Creamy Asparagus Soup, all French-inspired dishes!
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How Many Kinds Of Asparagus Are There?
- Many types of asparagus 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 gently feeling the stalk.
- The spears should be firm and not limp, as this means they're 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, served 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 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 the 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. Peel or scrape 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
- Take a few spears and tie them with a string near the tip and near the butt end.
- 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.
- Drain them well.
- Serve with melted butter, salt, and pepper, or a creamy sauce, as in this recipe, Asparagus With Hollandaise Sauce or make a Smooth Asparagus Soup.
Cook From Frozen
- If using frozen asparagus, simply allow it 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.
- Cook for about 10 minutes or until tender, do not overcook or your vegetables will be mushy.
- Serve with melted butter, salt, and pepper, or a favorite sauce, like Hollandaise Sauce or Cheese Sauce.
Sautéed Asparagus
- Prepare the asparagus as directed above, and dry well with a kitchen towel.
- 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.
- The spears can be added to the pan whole or cut into smaller pieces.
- Add salt, pepper, herbs, and spices to your liking, and garlic towards the end of cooking so the garlic does not burn.
- Keep an eye on them as they sauté, turning frequently to keep them from burning. The 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. He offers an alternative way of cooking asparagus, by a combination of blanching and grilling.
- Prepare the asparagus spears as above, then blanch 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 color.
- Lie 5 spears side by side, and spear them with a wooden 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.
Did you make this & like it, or not, let us know?!