Recipes With Asparagus | Taste of Home (2024)

FAQs

Why you shouldn't snap the ends off asparagus? ›

It is not necessary to trim asparagus. On some spears, especially fresh, pencil-thin stalks, the woody ends may tenderize once cooked. But on larger stalks, the ends of the asparagus are often woody and dense—Which makes them difficult to chew, no matter how soft the asparagus is after cooking.

I soak all asparagus first in cold water. I trim the ends and then rinse the stalks and let them sit in cold water for five minutes. It hydrates the asparagus, and they cook more quickly, for they are already wet with some moisture within them.

Chop the spears into 1-inch pieces and drop them into the boiling water for about 1 minute, or until tender but still bright green. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the blanched asparagus to the ice water and chill for 1 minute. Drain, pat dry, and toss into salads, pastas, or squeeze with lemon and enjoy!

The asparagus makes a gorgeous side dish to serve with fish, chicken, pork, or really any protein you like.

By the time the tips turn black, you'll notice they're completely mushy and probably smell a little funky, too. If your asparagus is slimy or sticky, feels mushy and soft, smells foul or has visible signs of mold, it's time to toss it.

Asparagus develops a rich flavor when roasted, making this one of the most popular ways to eat the vegetable.

Does asparagus get softer the longer you cook it? Yes, it does. But you don't want to cook it too long or it will be soggy. That's fine when using in a soup, but not so much as a roasted side.

Asparagus contains an enzyme that creates a woody compound called "lignin," at the end of each spear. Lignin is not softened by heat, so it remains fibrous and tough after cooking. To eliminate lignin, snap (don't cut) the end of each spear just before cooking.

Asparagus contains potassium, an important nutrient for keeping your heart, bones, kidneys and nerves functioning and healthy, per the NIH. This stalky vegetable also consists of a compound called asparaptine, which may help improve blood flow, and in turn, may lower blood pressure.

Asparagus. Asparagus is another fluid-filled, fibrous vegetable that can relieve constipation. “Asparagus has 3.6 grams of fiber per cooked cup, most of which is insoluble, helping to increase gastrointestinal transit time.

Does asparagus cleanse the liver? ›

Asparagus: Liver enzymes ADH and ALDH have both been found to be elevated with the consumption of asparagus. These enzymes help to metabolize ethanol (alcohol that may have been consumed), and also makes a great hangover remedy, as it protects the liver from contaminates that may lead to scarring or fatty liver.

We've long been told that you should bend a spear of asparagus until it snaps, and that the thick end is too tough to eat. This is not strictly true, because the spear snaps at its weakest point, and the stalk is edible and tender far below that point. The best way to judge where to cut off the stalk is by tasting it.

If you have issues with disease or insects, it's best to cut the tops off of your asparagus. You should not need to remove the entire fern. Before the new spears appear in spring, remove the old tops.

Thicker stalks develop a woody exterior but retain their tender interior, so it's a good idea to peel that tough outer layer away, leaving you with a long, tender stalk of asparagus and much less waste than if you simply snapped half of it off.

The thicker the spear, the more pronounced the difference when snapped. SNAPPED: Snapping the natural breaking point means losing half the weight of almost every spear. PEELED: Trimming 1 inch and then peeling the woody exterior results in a heftier spear.