Asparagus Inspires Us

Asparagus comes in a variety of colors but it’s usually green.

If you want a vibrant and robust variety it comes in purple too!

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Purple Asparagus Link

And white if that's what you're into.

It’s skinny, sometimes thicker, it’s crunchy and, best of all, it’s yummy! It’s dynamic and can be a part of a meal as a side or a key ingredient in a recipe. Asparagus is low in calories, has tons of folic acid and is a great source of fiber, potassium, thiamin and vitamins A, B6 and C.

So what!

“Well that’s great to know, but cut to the chase and tell me what to do with this marvel of nature!” Let’s start simple, as a side. The base of these first 2 are the same. Cut or snap the fibrous, bottom portion of spears off and discard them. If you bend one in with your fingers, you will find a natural breaking point and can use this as a measure of where to cut the rest of the spears. Mince two or three cloves of garlic rub olive oil, not EVOO, over all the spears. Salt and pepper lightly or to taste. Your preparation is done! Okay, what’s next?

1. Serve them raw, as is or cut them into one-inch pieces and add them to a salad.

 
2. Pop them into them a steamer for about 5 minutes with about ¼ of the garlic reserved to go in the water. This will give more of the garlic fragrance to the asparagus. Cook until tender but still crunchy.

3. Sauté them in a frying pan for about 5 minutes as well. Again, cook until tender but still crunchy.

More gourmet?

If you want to make the dish to be more upscale, cut the asparagus into 1 and ½ inch pieces, grab your favorite mushrooms. Cut the mushrooms into ¼ inch slices. Do the olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper seasoning and sauté the asparagus for 3 minutes then add the mushrooms. You will be amazed how the addition of the of the mushrooms raises the level of this simple sauté.

Grill Time

If you are firing up the grill, throw the asparagus spears on as well. The preparation is the same with garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper but add 1 or 2 tablespoons of Balsamic Vinegar. Be sure to completely coat all the asparagus spears with the Balsamic Vinegar. The heat of the grill and a bit of charring will bring out the sweetness and make this a superstar side dish.

A side dish for what?

It is a fantastic foil to a nice steak dinner. It refreshes the palate and cuts through the richness of the beef.

It goes with great most fish but is outstanding with the salmon and excellent with trout. I have had it

with the salmon prepared a variety of ways and they always work well together. Salmon poached in Dill Sauce is a great match!

Any shrimp dish accompanied by asparagus is always a winner!

Southeast Asian

Asparagus is an excellent stir fry ingredient; it generally works well with this cuisine. I use it in fried rice, with chicken breast or shrimp. Just remember to add some mushrooms to the dish and your guests will be very happy.

Asparagus with shrimp in a Thai curry with bamboo shoots is a definite winner. The flavors marry beautifully. I add little honey to curb the heat and add richness to the dish.

With Pasta

This has become a bit a favorite of mine. I cut the asparagus into 1 and ½ inches. I make it with Penne or Fusilli. I make a basic white, cream sauce, also known as bechamel or, in Italian, besciamella. The link below is straightforward, but delicious. recipe for the sauce.

https://rouxbe.com/recipes/1131-mario-batalis-besciamella

When the bechamel has come together, add ½ cup to 1 cup of parmesan or pecorino cheese if you want a stronger, saltier flavor. Follow the instructions for sauteing the asparagus with mushrooms. While you’re sauteing the asparagus, cook the pasta. Add the pasta, asparagus and mushrooms to the sauce and stir until all the ingredients are cover with the sauce.

If you want to raise it to the next level, grill up some chicken breast or shrimp seasoned with onion and garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cut the chicken into strips and add them to the sauce with the other ingredients.

There are many other ways to enjoy asparagus. Don't hesitate to search for asparagus recipes on the web. I have included it in the recipes I have posted here on stir fry and fried rice.

Asparagus is one of the most dynamic, healthy and delicious veggies around. It pares with so many other things, it can be an integral part of the dish or a side to delight the palate. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Until next time, good eating and please continue your culinary journey with me.