The harbinger of very early spring, asparagus stays in flavour through the summertime. Its elegant, snappy stalks stand upward well to a diversity of preparations, including roasting, steaming, sautéing and grilling. You can even eat asparagus raw: shave it into ribbons with a vegetable peeler and toss into dishes like Shaved Asparagus Salad with Lemon and Parmesan or Asparagus Fettuccine Carbonara. Considering of its delicate grassy season, asparagus is often paired with buttery sauces and balmy tangy flavors like lemon juice or mustard. If yous're as excited well-nigh asparagus flavour as nosotros are, melt your style to perfection with the following tips and techniques.

How to Prep Asparagus

Commencement things showtime, you'll demand to remove the tough, woody ends on your asparagus. Nosotros prefer to do this past speedily snapping off the ends. If you're working with thick stalks, skin the ends commencement with a vegetable peeler to make them easier to snap. Next, place ane hand on the end of the stalk and one on the center and snap the asparagus — it will miraculously break where the tough part of the stalk meets the tender function of the stem. Don't worry, you won't snap off too much. If you'd rather accomplish a more fifty-fifty look, snap one stem, line up the rest and slice them at the same bespeak with your chef's knife (we call this the snap and slice method). At present you're prepare to melt your asparagus, and so choose your own adventure beneath: roasting, steaming, sauteing or grilling.

How to Roast Asparagus

Perhaps ane of the easiest ways to prepare asparagus, this technique imparts toasty, rich flavor to those green stalks. To roast asparagus: Transfer asparagus to a baking sheet and toss to glaze with olive oil, salt and pepper. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F, then roast the asparagus until lightly browned, six to 7 minutes. Although roasted asparagus is perfectly delicious on its own, if you'd similar to up the ante, check out some Food Network favorites: Ina Garten's Parmesan Roasted Asparagus, Rachael Ray's Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus Bundles or Roasted Asparagus with Lemon Vinaigrette.

How to Steam Asparagus

This technique turns asparagus vibrant green and takes just a few minutes. We honey using information technology on immature slender stalks that just need a touch of cooking to bring out their fresh flavor (specially when they're in season in leap!) Here'south what you lot practice. Fill a pot with a few inches of water and insert a steamer handbasket or insert. Lay the asparagus in the steamer and cook until it'southward vivid light-green and crisp-tender, i 1/2 to 2 minutes. Then submerge the asparagus in a big basin of ice water to quickly stop the cooking. When you lot're serving, flavour the asparagus with table salt and pepper.

How to Sautee Asparagus

Sauteing asparagus imparts roasty flavor on the outside while preserving asparagus' fresh snap. To sauté asparagus: Cut asparagus into 2-inch pieces, which will cook more quickly and evenly than whole stalks. Melt equal parts olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high estrus, then add together them to the skillet. Flavor with salt and pepper. Stir the asparagus pieces frequently until tender, about 3 1/2 minutes. 1 of the great parts of this technique? It'south easy to add other ingredients to the skillet, too. For example, only a few ingredients add savory season to Sauteed Asparagus with Olives and Basil. And this unproblematic Sauteed Asparagus recipe gets a boost from lemon juice, lemon zest and toasted almonds.

How to Grill Asparagus

To get a good char, be sure to use medium-sized asparagus — no pencil-sparse stalks. Preheat a grill over high heat. Toss your asparagus in olive oil and season with table salt and pepper, then arrange the stalks across the grates, to prevent them from falling through. Grill, flipping halfway through cooking, until the asparagus begin to char, the pointy ends start to crisp and the stalks are simply tender, 3 to 5 minutes. If you desire more inspiration, check out Nutrient Network Kitchen'due south Grilled Asparagus with Gremolata or Grilled Asparagus and Bell Pepper.

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How to Cook Asparagus