Here are some ways to use asparagus in the kitchen, including delicious and easy asparagus recipes.
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This post is all about ways to use asparagus in the kitchen, plus easy asparagus recipes.
Asparagus is often one of the first vegetables to appear in the garden each spring. It can also be one of the most long-lived and prolific vegetables in a garden, sometimes leading gardeners to wonder what to do with asparagus after an abundant harvest.
Spring is also a good time look for asparagus at the supermarket or farmer’s market. Asparagus is in season during the spring, making this a good time to look for the freshest bunches to use for asparagus recipes.
Most asparagus is green in color, although you can also find asparagus in purple and white varieties. Look for asparagus spears that are about the width of a pencil or writing pen (about 1/4 to 1/6-inch thick) and that have a firm, but slightly bendable, texture.
There are many ways to prepare asparagus. Some of the most well known ways to cook asparagus include making roasted asparagus, sautéed asparagus, and steamed asparagus.
Roasted asparagus is easy to make, and it makes the perfect vegetable side dish. The simplest way to make roasted asparagus is to clean and trim the asparagus, before placing it in a baking dish, drizzling the asparagus with olive oil, and placing it in the oven to roast at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 to 12 minutes, or until the roasted asparagus is tender to taste. Thicker asparagus spears may take longer to cook than thinner asparagus spears.
Chilled roasted asparagus is great for topping salad. Top a bed of mixed spring greens with roasted asparagus spears and shaved Parmesan cheese for a pretty salad that is perfect for spring brunch and other occasions.
Asparagus can also be cleaned, trimmed, sliced, and sautéed in avocado oil for 8 to 10 minutes, or until tender to taste, or steamed in a vegetable steamer over simmering water until tender. Season asparagus with olive oil, lemon juice, and herbs like parsley, rosemary, or thyme, to taste.
Here are just a few ideas for how to use fresh asparagus in the kitchen.
How to Prepare Fresh Asparagus for Cooking
Once you have purchased or harvested a bunch of asparagus, the first thing to do is to clean the asparagus before preparing it for cooking.
Rinse the asparagus spears under warm running water to remove any dirt or grit from the spears. A large colander can make it easier to rinse the asparagus. Pat the asparagus spears dry using a clean towel.
Trim the asparagus ends, removing about 2 inches from the bottom of each spear, in order to remove the tough parts of the asparagus. Discard the trimmed asparagus ends or add them to the compost pile. In general, thinner asparagus stalks will produce the most tender results.
Next slice the asparagus spears into small pieces to cook, or leave the remaining asparagus spears whole for roasting or grilling.
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How to Use Asparagus in the Kitchen
Here are 4 easy ways to use asparagus in the kitchen during spring or any time of year.
1—Asparagus Pizza
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease the baking surface of a baking sheet or pizza pan.
Press and shape a refrigerated pizza dough into a round or rectangular shape, about ¼- to ½-inch thick.
Then place the pizza dough onto the baking sheet or pizza pan. You can also use homemade pizza dough to make this dish.
Clean and trim ½ lb. of fresh, thin asparagus spears, about ¼- to ⅙-inch thick. Slice the spears into ½- to 1-inch long pieces. Next, clean and thinly slice 6 oz. fresh baby bella mushrooms.
Cook 6 oz. hickory smoked bacon according to package directions. Let the bacon cool, and then break each slice into bite sized pieces.
Brush the pizza dough with olive oil. Spread ⅓ cup alfredo sauce over the pizza dough. Layer sliced asparagus, mushrooms, and bacon over the alfredo sauce. Sprinkle ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese, or shredded Italian blend cheese over all.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until the pizza dough is golden brown and fully cooked and the asparagus is tender.
Serve the asparagus pizza with dollops of creamy ricotta cheese on each slice. Garlic bread and green salad make good side dishes for asparagus pizza.
2—Asparagus Salad
Clean and trim 1 lb. of fresh asparagus spears, and then cut the spears into ½- to 1-inch pieces. Fill a large pot about halfway with water, and then bring the water to a boil.
Use a large spoon to carefully lower the cut asparagus pieces into the pot. Blanch the asparagus in boiling water for 1-2 minutes. Then remove the asparagus from the water and place it in a colander. Rinse the blanched asparagus with cold water to stop the cooking process.
Place the blanched asparagus in a mixing bowl. Toss it with a light vinaigrette salad dressing, chopped fresh herbs, and your favorite salad greens for a delicious, quick, and easy meal. Other tasty additions include shredded carrots, sliced radishes, and sweet corn kernels.
Add sliced boiled egg and canned tuna to increase the amount of protein in the asparagus salad.
3—Grilled Asparagus
Grilling asparagus brings out a savory, smoky flavor in asparagus. To make grilled asparagus, brush cleaned, trimmed asparagus spears with olive oil. Season the asparagus with salt and pepper, or dried herbs.
Place the asparagus spears on a grill pan and cook over medium high heat for 3-5 minutes on each side, or until the asparagus is tender and slightly charred.
4—Sautéed Asparagus
Clean and trim 1 lb. of asparagus, and then cut the asparagus spears into 2-inch long pieces. Peel and slice 4 to 6 garlic cloves and slice them thinly.
Heat 2 Tbsp olive oil and 2 Tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the asparagus to the skillet. Cook 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until asparagus is cooked and tender to taste.
Squeeze juice of one lemon over the sautéed asparagus to help brighten the flavor.
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Here are some ideas for other spring-inspired recipes, including a creamy spinach and mushroom pasta bake and how to make avocado toast.
This post was all about ways to use asparagus in the kitchen.
Credits
- Photo by Carly Jane / Unsplash and Karolina Grabowska / Pexels
- Photos are for illustrative purposes only.