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Asparagus are a wonderful vegetable, chock full of nutrients and health benefits that help round out any meal, so learning how to cook asparagus is a wonderful addition to anyone’s cooking repertoire. Asparagus is known to be a great source of fiber, folate, and Vitamins A, C, E, and K; if that wasn’t enough, it has plenty of antioxidants as well. Whether you grill it, steam it, roast it, or simmer it, asparagus just can’t be beat, so we’re giving you plenty of options to find your favorite style of cooking this classic vegetable (also we recommend the baked asparagus recipe). Plus, it couldn’t be easier -each of these recipes are at most three simple steps (and we mean simple) to make for fool-proof asparagus cooking!
Ingredients
1. Preheat the over to 425. Cover a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, and lay the asparagus on top, separated. Drizzle the asparagus with oil and season with the salt and pepper.
2. For extra flavor, we recommend adding breadcrumbs and lemon zest to the top of your asparagus. If you just want a pure roasting experience, feel free to omit these ingredients.
3. Turn your asparagus at about 10 minutes into roasting to ensure a nice, even roast. Roast for a total of 18-20 minutes. These oven roasted asparagus are great to eat on your own, or serve for company!
Ingredients
1. Put a steamer basket in a saucepan, adding water just below the bottom of the basket.
2. When the water is boiling, add the asparagus to the steamer basket, cover, and reduce the heat.
3. Steam for 3-5 minutes until tender.
Ingredients
1. Brush the asparagus with oil or butter until coated. This prevents the spears from sticking to the grill rack!
2. For a gas grill: After preheating, reduce to medium heat. Add the asparagus over direct heat and grill uncovered for about 7-10 minutes, turning the asparagus occasionally, until they are tender and crisp.
3. For a charcoal grill: Place the asparagus directly over the coals, and cook for about 7-10 minutes.
Ingredients
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, adding the salt.
2. Add the asparagus and boil for 2-3 minutes. To test for doneness, the asparagus should not be limp.
3. Drain the water and serve! If desired, plunge the asparagus into an ice bath to serve them cold, as with a salad.
Ingredients
1. Place the asparagus in a microwave-safe dish with 2 Tbsp of water.
2. Cover the asparagus and microwave on high for 2-4 minutes until tender.
Ingredients
1. Fill a sautéing pan with about 1 inch of water, and add your asparagus and a pinch of salt.
2. Bring the water to a simmer and cook for 3-5 minutes until tender.
Let us know how you enjoy your asparagus, or if you have any other styles of cooking asparagus you enjoy. Happy asparagus cooking!
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David is the resident nerd around these parts. Running a popular tech blog (TheUnlockr.com) for the past 6 years, he’s taken his over-analytical mind and made the transition to food.
Thanks for sharing! My advice about cooking aspragus is to coat it with salt in the beginning and leave like that for a while – in the end, the taste of the veggy will become more intensive.
Best wishes!
My grandfather used to grow asparagus in the south of France. One piece of advice he gave me was to scrape (if they are very young and fresh) or peel (if they are bigger/thicher) the stems in order to take out the though part of the skin. Use a sharp knife to cut off the bottom 1 inch or so, then lay the spear on a flat surface and hold the
tip (so that it will not break – better than holding it on your hand). Use a vegetable peeler or sharp paring knife to peel off the skin from the bottom half. It’s a little bit time consuming but this way, you’ll be able to eat the whole asparagus instead of just the tender tips. Bon appétit!
What a great memory of your grandfather, and a useful cooking tip. Thank you for sharing your family’s asparagus secret!
Great advice! Thanks so much for sharing.