How to Cook Asparagus

Learn how to cook asparagus perfectly every time with these easy methods: broiled, roasted, sautéed, grilled, and more. Each one takes 10 minutes or less!

Hello, asparagus fans! If you’re looking for the best way to cook this healthy veggie, you’re in the right place. Asparagus is easily overcooked, making it mushy and bitter. But if you cook it correctly, it’s beautifully bright green and tender, with a mild and sweet flavor.

As a cookbook author and former asparagus hater turned fan, I’ve found all the best ways to cook asparagus. Here are all my favorite ways to prepare it!

The Best Ways to Cook Asparagus

Before I start, here is an overview of each method and the timing for each:

Method	Time	Best For
Broiled	10 min	Fast, charred flavor; no need to preheat the oven
Roasted	20 min	Deep flavor and tender texture
Sautéed	10 min	Weeknight speed; bite-sized pieces
Grilled	10 min	Smoky flavor; outdoor entertaining
Steamed	10 min	Light, low-fat, simple
Blanched	5 min	Salads, pasta, and meal prep

Method 1: Broiled Asparagus (My Favorite!)

This is my favorite method because it’s so quick! There’s no need to preheat your oven, and the asparagus gets a nice charred flavor. I like to add a few lemons to the pan to infuse flavor while you’re broiling. My full recipe: Lemony Broiled Asparagus

Instructions:

1. Preheat your broiler to high.
2. Wash, dry, and trim the tough bottom ends from 1 pound of asparagus. (See How to Cut Asparagus.)
3. Spread the spears on a foil-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and add ½ tsp kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Thinly slice 4 lemon wheels and place them on the pan.
4. Broil for 3 minutes. Remove the tray, stir and turn the spears, then broil 2 to 3 minutes more, until tender at the thickest part.
5. Finish with a sprinkle of shredded Parmesan (if desired) and serve.

Pro Tip: Broilers vary a lot in intensity! Check at 2 minutes the first time you try this, since thinner spears can get overdone quickly.

Method 2: Roasted Asparagus

Who doesn’t love roasted vegetables? This method caramelizes the natural sugars in the asparagus, and gives you crispy tips and a nutty flavor. My full recipes: Try my Roasted Asparagus with Lemon or Baked Asparagus with Parmesan.

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
2. Wash, dry, and trim 1 pound asparagus. Place it on a foil-lined baking sheet.
3. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, and fresh ground black pepper.
4. Add the zest of ½ lemon and toss everything with your hands. Place 4 thin lemon wheels on the tray. Top with Parmesan cheese (optional).
5. Bake 10 to 15 minutes, until tender when pierced with a fork. Timing depends on the thickness of the spears.

Method 3: Sautéed Asparagus

Cutting the spears into bite-sized pieces means they cook faster and more evenly. I like using this as a side dish or in an asparagus salad. The trick is finishing with lemon juice off the heat! My full recipe: Sauteed Asparagus.

Instructions:

1. Wash, dry, and trim 1 pound asparagus. Cut into bite-sized pieces.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Add asparagus, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, and fresh ground black pepper.
4. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the largest pieces are tender, about 5 to 8 minutes.
5. Remove from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon lemon juice and the zest of ½ lemon. Add Parmesan if desired.

Method 4: Grilled Asparagus

The grill adds a smoky char to asparagus that makes it irresistible! If it’s grilling season, this is my favorite method. It’s great to throw on as an easy side. My full recipe: Grilled Asparagus

Instructions:

1. Preheat a grill to medium-high (375 to 450°F).
2. Wash, dry, and trim 1 pound asparagus. Toss in a bowl with 1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, and plenty of black pepper.
3. Place spears directly on the grill grates. Grill 3 to 4 minutes, turning once, until charred and tender.
4. Remove from the grill and spritz with lemon juice.

Method 5: Steamed Asparagus

Steaming asparagus quick, simple, and healthy! The spears come out bright green and crisp tender: perfect with a zing of lemon and a hint of grated Parmesan. My full recipe: Steamed Asparagus

Instructions:

1. Trim the asparagus and add to a wide skillet or pot with 1 inch of water.
2. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and steam 3 to 5 minutes until just tender.
3. Drain, then season with butter, lemon, and salt.

Method 6: Blanched Asparagus

Blanching is a great technique for cooking ahead. It preserves the color and texture, and blanched asparagus keeps well for a few days in the fridge. It’s great for adding to asparagus salad and tossing into pasta. It’s also the method you’ll use first if you’re going to freeze asparagus.

Instructions:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Add trimmed asparagus and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Immediately transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.
4. Drain, pat dry, and use as needed: or refrigerate for up to 4 days.

Don’t Forget: Asparagus Is Great Raw, Too

Did you know that you you don’t have to cook asparagus at all? You can eat it raw! Now, you might think it would taste extraordinarily bitter. But not at all! The flavor of raw shaved asparagus is fresh and light, more sweet than bitter. It’s perfect topped with a lemon vinaigrette and Parmesan shavings in my Shaved Asparagus Salad. Here’s how to shave asparagus:

1. Place the asparagus spear on a cutting board. Don’t hold it in the air! It bends under the weight of a peeler. Place it on a cutting board instead.
2. Shave from the tip to the base. With a vegetable peeler, shave each spear from the from from the tip to the base. This is important, because otherwise the asparagus can break off. It takes a little practice, but is easy once you get the hang of it!
3. Add flavor. Mix with olive oil and salt and pepper, lemon juice and zest if you have it, and it’s an easy side dish.

Raw asparagus ribbons are surprisingly good! Try this Shaved Asparagus Salad.

Asparagus Nutrition

There are lots of reasons to eat these healthy green stalks! Here are a few great reasons to add this steamed asparagus to your weekly repertoire:

• Great source of fiber: 1 cup of cooked asparagus has 4 grams of fiber. (Source)
• High in protein for a green vegetable: 1 cup also has 4 grams protein. (Source) That’s a similar level to broccoli and potatoes.
• Can aid in eye and hair health and may have potential anti-aging properties. (Source)

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How to Cook Asparagus

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Here’s how to cook asparagus so that it’s full of flavor! It’s easy to make broiled, roasted, grilled, and sauteed. 

• Author: Sonja Overhiser
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 5 minutes
• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x
• Category: Side Dish
• Method: Various
• Cuisine: Vegetables
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

• 1 pound asparagus
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 lemon
• Shredded Parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

1. Wash and dry the asparagus. Cut off the tough bottom ends of the stalks.
2. Broiled: Preheat a broiler to high. Add the asparagus stalks to a foil-lined baking sheet. Drizzle them with olive oil, and add the kosher salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Thinly slice 4 lemon wheels from the lemon, then add them right on the baking sheet. Broil 3 minutes. Remove the tray and stir. Then broil 2 to 3 minutes more, until the spears are tender when pierced by a fork at the thickest part. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese (optional) and serve. 
3. Roasted: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Add the whole asparagus stalks to a foil-lined baking sheet. Drizzle them with 1 tablespoon olive oil, and add ½ teaspoon kosher salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Add the zest of ½ lemon and mix with your hands. Thinly slice 4 lemon wheels from the lemon, then add them right on the tray. Sprinkle everything with Parmesan cheese (optional). Bake 10 to 15 minutes, until tender when pierced by a fork at the thickest part. The timing will depend on the thickness of the asparagus spears.
4. Sautéed: Cut the stalks into bite-sized pieces. In large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium high heat. Add the asparagus, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, and fresh ground pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the largest pieces are tender, about 5 to 8 minutes. Taste and remove when it’s just tender and still bright green, but not crunchy. When the asparagus is done, remove from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon lemon juice plus the zest of ½ lemon. Add optional Parmesan if desired.
5. Grilled: Preheat a grill to medium-high heat (375 to 450 degrees). In a bowl, mix the asparagus with 1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, and plenty of fresh ground black pepper. Place the asparagus directly on the grill grates and grill for about 3 to 4 minutes until charred and tender, turning once. Remove from the grill and spritz with lemon juice from wedges from ½ of the lemon.

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Asparagus Recipes to Try

Want more ways to cook asparagus? Here are some of our favorites:

• In salad! Try Asparagus Salad with Feta.
• In tacos! Try Scrambled Egg & Asparagus Tacos.
• In risotto! Try Asparagus Risotto.
• In pasta! Try Asparagus Pasta with Lemon or Vegan Pasta Primavera.

from A Couple Cooks https://ift.tt/7wuYzG4