Today I’m taking a Closer Look at Asparagus. Maybe you love it, or maybe you’ve hated it in the past.
Regardless, I hope you’ll try this delicious little veggie.
Asparagus is in season in early Spring. You may be thinking that it’s far from Spring, but I’ve begun to see it pop up in the supermarkets, looking really fresh and priced really reasonably.
How do you choose the best Asparagus?
Look for thin stalks. Our American mindset generally defaults to bigger is better, but not when it comes to Asparagus. The thinner stalks have a better flavor than the thicker stalks. They should be bright green in color and should look perky and fresh, not saggy and rubbery.
What are the nutritional benefits of eating Asparagus?
Asparagus is a great source of vitamins A, C, K, and folate. Its low in carbohydrates and actually contains a significant amount of protein and fiber as well. www.nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2316/2
How do I cook Asparagus?
Regardless if you boil, sautee, or roast it, start by washing Asparagus in cold water. Hold the stalks with one hand on each end and bend the stalks until they break. Use the top half of the stalks and toss the lower half (I sometimes save these lower halves of the stalks and use them for Asparagus Soup; I’ll post that recipe at a later date). The point where these stalks naturally break separates the undesirable portion to eat from the naturally tasty potion.
My favorite way to prepare Asparagus is to roast it in the oven. I preheat my oven to 400 degrees. I place the stalks on a cookie sheet and drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil, adding a little sea salt and pepper to taste; Toss to coat. I then spread the stalks so they’re a single layer on the pan and then roast them for 5 minutes in the oven. Cooking them at this high temperature for a short amount of time still leaves them bright green and crisp while making the tops a little crunchy.
What do I serve with Asparagus?
My favorite thing to eat with Asparagus is fish and sweet potatoes. The flavors just seem to work really well together.
Hope you’ll give this Spring veggie a try! Its become one of my favorite veggies!
This is so great! I just started trying to introduce asparagus into our diet because whenever I eat it at a restaurant I love it. I’ve found a couple of basic how-tos online that I love. I’ve been making it on our George Forman grill, which is really good. Takes about the same amount of time to cook as your roasting does. I toss them in olive oil and a lemon pepper & herb mix with some sea salt, then place them on the grill and toss a teaspoon of water over them, and they’re good to go. It turns out really well.
Thanks for the tips! I love reading your blog! It’s like a crash-course in eating healthier, which I need!
Thanks Bethany! The George Forman grill idea sounds awesome…great idea! Thanks for following my blog. It’s a lot of fun to write and it’s always nice to hear that people are enjoying it. Hope you’ll keep following and pass it along to anyone else you think may benefit from it!