Asparagus Recipes: 12 Easy Asparagus Recipes to Try at Home

Asparagus is a bright-green vegetable, recognizable for its thin, long spears that come to a pointy head. Native to Europe and parts of South Asia, asparagus has a strong flavor with notes of nutty and earthy undertones. You can fry, roast, grill, sauté, boil, or steam asparagus and serve it as a healthy side dish, appetizer, or ingredient in a main course.

Asparagus is in season during the spring; however, you can freeze the spears to enjoy the hearty vegetable year-round. While fresh asparagus spears last three to five days in the refrigerator, frozen asparagus can last up to twelve months.

Adding asparagus to your diet offers numerous health benefits as well. The gluten-free veggie is a good source of vitamin C, vitamin A, fiber, antioxidants, potassium, and calcium and is low in cholesterol and carbohydrates.

When selecting fresh asparagus at the grocery store or farmers’ market, focus on these traits:

1. 1. Color: Overripe asparagus have dark-green spears that start to turn black. When choosing a bunch of asparagus, look for spears that are bright green.
2. 2. Texture: Feel the bunch of asparagus in your hands to determine the texture. The spears should be firm and able to stand up straight. Floppy asparagus with a mushy, soft texture are overripe.
3. 3. Size: Asparagus comes in different sizes, with some asparagus stalks growing long and thin and others short and thick. Thinner stalks are more tender, while thicker stalks are often stringy with a slight woody taste. Select a bunch of asparagus spears that are uniform in size and suitable for your meal purpose. Thinner stalks blend better into pasta dishes, while thicker spears work well as a stand-alone side dish or appetizer.

Asparagus’s slightly sweet, grassy taste pairs well with various foods, from fruits to nuts to dairy products:

1. 1. Strawberries and other berries: Asparagus has floral notes, which means it pairs well with fruits, especially berries. Strawberries and asparagus are a classic combination, but you can also pair them with raspberries or blackberries.
2. 2. Almonds and other nuts: Asparagus has a slightly nutty flavor that can amplify the taste of different nuts. Consider roasting asparagus and topping them with shaved almonds or pine nuts for texture and taste.
3. 3. Eggs: Chopped asparagus easily blends into quiches and omelets, adding a nutritious element to the breakfast meals. Add a sprinkle of black pepper and kosher salt to your egg mixture for extra flavor.
4. 4. Cheese: Pair the veggie with cheese to elevate your asparagus side dish. Melt mozzarella atop the spears, or add a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese to meld with the earthy flavor of roasted or grilled asparagus.

Asparagus is a versatile veggie with minimal prep time that you can incorporate into breakfast, lunch, and dinner dishes. Try one of these recipes the next time you cook asparagus:

1. 1. Fried asparagus: Fried asparagus has a soft vegetable interior and a crunchy exterior that you can achieve with or without dredging the asparagus in batter before cooking it. To fry asparagus, cook the stalks in oil at a hot temperature, possibly after coating them in batter beforehand, which results in an earthy, vegetal flavor with a crunchy exterior. You can make fried asparagus in large batches, so it’s a good choice for a side dish or appetizer at large gatherings, such as a potluck or BBQ. Oven-frying, as opposed to deep-frying, will require less active cooking time.
2. 2. Asparagus casserole: Asparagus casserole is a classic springtime side dish and a potluck mainstay. The creamy sauce keeps this vegetable-heavy casserole feeling decadent, and since it only spends a few minutes under the broiler, it is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Customize this easy recipe for asparagus casserole with your favorite add-ins and toppings. Common additions include breadcrumbs, cracker crumbs, hard-boiled eggs, fried onions, and bacon.
3. 3. Asparagus fries: You can make these crispy, crunchy alternatives to French fries at home in your oven after rolling the fresh spears in flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs. Enjoy asparagus fries as an appetizer, side dish, or substitute for classic French fries. Asparagus itself is a nutritious food, but your cooking method and other ingredients you use impact the healthiness of the asparagus fries. Deep-frying asparagus adds significant fat and calories, so oven-baked or air-fried asparagus fries can be somewhat healthier alternatives.
4. 4. Asparagus frittata: Like a rounded omelet or a quiche without the crust, an asparagus frittata consists of baked eggs and asparagus, plus any other savory flavorings of your choosing. Your asparagus frittata can be simple, incorporating few ingredients beyond asparagus and eggs, or it can serve as a base for more vegetables, such as artichoke hearts, shallots, zucchini, and other spring vegetables. You typically serve an asparagus frittata warm or at room temperature.
5. 5. Asparagus pasta: Pasta with fresh asparagus is a classic, Italian-inspired meal that combines fresh, tender asparagus with pasta, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese. Whether you’re cooking up a hot bowl of asparagus pasta or making a cold pasta salad with fresh vegetables, it’s important to consider the shape of the pasta. Short pasta, like rigatoni, penne, or orecchiette, pairs better with large pieces of vegetables or meat than long, thin pasta, such as fettuccine. Asparagus pasta is a light but satisfying dish, especially in late spring or summer when the veggie is in season and at its most flavorful. Mix in crushed red pepper for a slight kick of heat.
6. 6. Asparagus quiche: Asparagus quiche is a classic French egg tart that chefs traditionally serve at breakfast or brunch. Bake your asparagus quiche on the bottom rack of the oven, and choose dry fillings over wet ones. Placing your quiche on the lowest shelf of your oven will allow the whole crust to crisp up properly. Vegetables like spinach or mushrooms and frozen vegetables emit lots of moisture when you’re cooking them. To avoid a soggy quiche, pre-cook your fillings and wring out as much moisture as possible before adding them to the custard.
7. 7. Asparagus pesto: Asparagus pesto is a sauce made of asparagus, pine nuts, pecorino or Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, olive oil, and garlic. Traditional cooks make this Italian sauce with a mortar and pestle, but most modern pesto recipes call for a food processor. There are myriad ways to use asparagus pesto as a sauce or condiment, and you can make it thick, thin, chunky, or smooth, depending on how you plan to enjoy the pesto. Some common ways to serve asparagus include as a dip, dressing, sauce, or spread.
8. 8. Asparagus risotto: Asparagus risotto is a variation on the popular Italian rice dish of sautéed Arborio rice and chicken broth. Arborio rice is high in amylopectin starch, which is what gives risotto its creamy texture. Slowly cooking Arborio rice allows it to release its starches slowly, yielding a perfectly al dente rice and a creamy sauce when cooked properly. The blanched asparagus adds earthy, mildly bitter notes to this rich, creamy dish. Learn how to make asparagus risotto.
9. 9. Roasted asparagus: Roasting asparagus gives the vegetable a signature light brown coating, so the result is crispy instead of soft like baked asparagus. While raw asparagus has a complex sweet and bitter taste, roasting asparagus heightens its sweet flavor. Garlic-roasted asparagus pairs perfectly with pasta, steak, or seafood.
10. 10. Asparagus soup: Asparagus soup is a rich, vegetable-based soup made with fresh asparagus, vegetable stock, and cream. This creamy asparagus soup recipe pairs the earthy, slightly bitter flavor of the veggie with bright, flavorful ingredients like garlic, lemon, and chives. In contrast to heartier, winter-friendly veggie soups, like pumpkin soup, potato soup, and carrot soup, this soup is perfect for the warmer months, when asparagus season is in full swing.
11. 11. Asparagus salad: Asparagus salad may also feature any combination of leafy greens, veggies, pasta, and grains. Add chicken, shrimp, or grilled steak alongside the spring vegetable to transform the side into an entrée. For a side dish, hone the ingredients down to a mix of vegetables, cheese, and a crunchy element, like pine nuts or pistachios. Learn how to make an asparagus salad.
12. 12. Sautéed asparagus: Sautéing is a quick and easy way to cook and enjoy your asparagus spears. To make sautéed asparagus, simply season the spears liberally with black pepper and lemon salt, and add olive oil into the hot pan to let it smoke. Add the asparagus spears in a single layer along with any remaining seasoning from the tray. Sauté for 90 seconds on high heat or until the green of the asparagus brightens and the white begins to char.

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