Asparagus Hmmm what should I make?

15 years ago

A kind neighbor just brought me some aparagus from her garden. I'd like to make something fresh and light - maybe pasta with a light lemony cream sauce? I'm open to any ideas!!!

What do you like to do with your asparagus?

Besides peel it... ;-)

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Comments (14)

lindac
15 years ago
With asparagus that was growing in the ground hours earlier....I just steam a very very little bit and sprinkle with a little salt and a dab of butter. Too delicious to mess with.
Now with supermarket asparagus, I might oven roast it with a few sesame seeds....but just out of the garden? Frankly I would just gobble it down raw!
Linda C
rob333 (zone 7b)
15 years ago
I was thinking steamed with a bit of cracked black pepper, but a dish... cappellini drizzled with olive oil and parmesan sprinkled on it .
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mustangs81
15 years ago
Lucky you!!! I don't know that I've ever been lucky enough to have asparagus that fresh. My favorite isn't anything fancy just delicious-- roasted with EVOO and k-salt.
annie1992
15 years ago
I also like it roasted with just olive oil, salt and pepper. Sometimes I just go crazy and put it into the microwave to steam, drizzled with a bit of sesame oil and some sesame seeds.

I never peel it, but I snap off the tough ends and use that to make cream of asparagus soup, I'm not wasting one single bit of it.

It'll be in season here in another couple of weeks, it's been 50 cents a pound out of the field for a couple of years but I'll bet it's more this year because of the fuel prices expended to harvest it.

Annie
donnar57
15 years ago
That fresh???? WOW! I'd say....steam it! I personally love it plain with nothing on it, though my DH likes a little butter on his.

50c out of the field???? Gosh, we're LUCKY to get $1.49/lb here, and that was BEFORE the gas prices rose and grocery store price.

DonnaR/CA
jimster
15 years ago
James Beard's Asparagus Method
-------------------------------------------
Cut asparagus on the diagonal in 1/8" slices.
Place asparagus in a skillet and add just enough water to cover.
Bring to a boil over high heat and cook covered for 2 minutes.
Drain and season with salt and butter.

Stir Fried Asparagus In Black Bean Sauce
------------------------------------------------------
1 lb. asparagus
2 Tbsp. canola oil
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 Tbsp. fermented black beans
2 tsp. soy sauce
1/4 cup water

Cut asparagus diagonally into 2" pieces.
Stir fry garlic and black beans in hot oil, pressing with a spatula.
Add asparagus and stir fry for about two minutes.
Sprinkle with soy sauce and stir fry briefly.
Add water and cook covered for 2 minutes.
Uncover and stir fry until excess liquid evaporates, leaving the asparagus lightly coated with sauce.

Asparagus a la Grecque
-------------------------------
1/2 C olive oil
1 lemon sliced
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. coriander seeds
1 tsp. black pepper corns
1 bay leaf
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 C water
4 C asparagus cut up diagonally in 3" pieces

Combine all ingredients except asparagus and bring to a simmer for 10 minutes.
Simmer asparagus in the broth for 2 minutes and remove it.
Reduce the broth by half.
Return asparagus to the broth and allow to cool.
Serve at room temperature with mayonnaise or green goddess dressing on the side.

Jim
jimster
15 years ago
Oops! Forgot the salt in the Asparagus a la Grecque. You can salt the broth to taste or sprinkle salt on the finished asparagus.

Jim
colleenoz
15 years ago
Lemon risotto with chicken and asparagus.
houscrzy
15 years ago
One of my favorite, super-easy things to do with fresh asparagus is either steam it or saute it in a little OO and butter, and top with 2 over-easy fried eggs with a little parmesan cheese grated on top. Got the idea from one of the Moosewood cookbooks. In fact, I ate it last night with some wonderful organic asparagus I got from a local farm. Delicious!
minsue67
15 years ago
We've been steaming ours lately in those bags for steaming in the microwave. Family loves it when I drizzle a little of Krafts Fat-Free Zesty Italian in with it. Or they like them roasted with that dressing drizzled over top too.
kayskats
15 years ago
Oven roast with olive oil, dijon mustard, lemon juice.
User
15 years ago
I have to agree with Linda. Nothing better than freshed picked asparagus, steamed with a little butter, salt and pepper.

Ann
arandygail
15 years ago
I have a huge asparagus patch that I use to keep my extended family supplied. We love it steamed with butter.

I also like to make a white sauce and stir in parmesan cheese, ham, and steamed asparagus. We eat this over toast or puff pastry shells. It is wonderful--a sure sign that spring has arrived.

Gail
sands99
Original Author
15 years ago
If it wasn't raining I would grill the little tree folk in a minute - so roasted with evoo and seasoning it is!

I should honor the 'fresh'.