How to Cook Asparagus
Asparagus is usually considered to be an elegant vegetable. Unless you make asparagus yourself, the only place that you will find it as a regular menu item is in fancier restaurants. People tend not to cook asparagus very often because it is a tricky food to prepare. It is hard to get it to have that perfect crunch to it. Usually people overcook or undercook it. When you buy asparagus, you don’t want to buy any that are flaccid or yellow looking. The best asparagus has a nice dark green color. It is also stiff with compact ends. The problem with asparagus is that is tends to go bad in a matter of days rather than lasting a week like most vegetables.
When learning how to cook asparagus you should consider using the wild grown kind. Wild asparagus is the best type to use when cooking. Asparagus tends to be expensive at stores because it has a very short season and it is a very hard vegetable to grow. However, if you can find some asparagus that is decently priced and fresh, you and your dinner guests are in for a real treat.
This recipe for classic cooked asparagus is a very easy recipe. There aren’t a lot of ingredients and it doesn’t require much prepping at all.
Classic Cooked Asparagus
Serves 3
In order to prepare this cooked asparagus recipe you will need the following:
- 1 lb. of fresh asparagus
- 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter
- Salt and ground pepper
Step 1:
Clean the asparagus to remove any dirt. Put the 1 tablespoon of butter into a frying pan and melt it over medium heat. Once the asparagus is clean, it will snap, not cut. Put it in the frying pan.
Step 2:
Spread the asparagus around so that the butter gets evenly spread. Let it cook for about 3 minutes and add the salt and pepper for flavor. Let it cook for another 7 to 10 minutes or until crispy on the outside and crunchy on the inside. If you prefer the inside to be soft, cook it for 12 to 15 minutes.
This next recipe is an alternative way to cook asparagus. The most common method is to fry it in a frying pan but you can also bake it in the oven. This next recipe tells you how to do that.
Baked Asparagus with Soy Sauce
Serves 3+
Here are the ingredients for this recipe:
- 1 lb. of fresh asparagus
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Soy Sauce
Step 1:
Preheat the oven to 350° and clean the asparagus before starting anything else. Take a baking sheet and spread olive oil evenly over the entire surface. Place the asparagus on the sheet. Sprinkle the asparagus with olive oil and spread the salt, pepper and soy sauce over it.
Step 2:
Put the asparagus into the oven and cover with aluminum foil. Let it bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the desired crispness is achieved. Take them out of the oven and let them stand for about 5 minutes.
Another popular way to cook asparagus is to cook them on a grill. Many people who do this either set them directly on the grill or put down some aluminum foil. The choice is really up to the person who is cooking it. You must be careful when using a grill because it is easier to burn the asparagus. For the best results, keep the asparagus on the outer edge of the grill.
Grilled Asparagus
Serves 3+
Here are the ingredients you will need:
- 1 lb. of fresh asparagus
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Step 1:
Marinate your asparagus in the olive oil and salt. You don’t want to add too much olive oil, just enough so that the salt and pepper can stick to the asparagus. Do not marinate it too long; just long enough for the asparagus to become slightly tender.
Step 2:
Place the asparagus on the grill, making sure to put it around the edge of where the heat is coming from. Otherwise, it will burn or not cook evenly. Make sure to keep an eye on the asparagus and flip it so it cooks on all sides. You should only have to cook the asparagus for 7 to 10 minutes before it is done. However, the cooking time can vary depending on your preferences. Once it is done, let it sit for 5 minutes before serving.
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