21 Tasty Asparagus Recipes (2024)

21 Tasty Asparagus Recipes (1)

1 of 21Thomas J. Story

Roasted Asparagus with Grapefruit Sabayon

Although mousselike sabayon is usually eaten sweetened, as a dessert, it can also be a savory sauce. Thin asparagus are favored for this dish because they’re fun to eat, like skinny fries.

Recipe: Roasted Asparagus with Grapefruit Sabayon

21 Tasty Asparagus Recipes (2)

2 of 21Laura Dart

Asparagus, Nettle, and Green Garlic Frittata

Nettles can cause a very painful reaction if you touch them with your bare hands. You can either grab them with tongs, wear gloves, or slide a plastic bag over your hand when picking them up. Miraculously, however, once they are cooked, the sting is totally gone and what remains is a lovely green, almost spinach-y—a beautiful partner to asparagus.

Recipe: Asparagus, Nettle, and Green Garlic Frittata

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21 Tasty Asparagus Recipes (3)

3 of 21Jeffery Cross

Grilled Asparagus and Prosciutto Cobb Salad

In this fresh take on the classic Cobb, a little smoky char adds depth to asparagus and green onions, and the grill turns prosciutto into crisp shards. Choose large asparagus so they won’t fall through the grates.

Recipe: Grilled Asparagus and Prosciutto Cobb Salad

21 Tasty Asparagus Recipes (4)

4 of 21Photo by Annabelle Breakey; written by Amy Machnak

Sichuan Steak and Asparagus

The secret ingredient to this recipe is patience. By letting the meat brown slowly with minimal stirring, you get a crisp texture and caramelized flavor on each piece.

Recipe: Sichuan Steak and Asparagus

21 Tasty Asparagus Recipes (5)

5 of 21Photo by Annabelle Breakey; written by Amy Machnak

Asparagus Tempura

Any sliced vegetable can be turned into tempura, but sweet asparagus at the height of spring is hard to top. Folding fluffy egg whites into the batter gives this coating its delicate crispness.

Recipe: Asparagus Tempura

21 Tasty Asparagus Recipes (6)

6 of 21Photo by Iain Bagwell; written by Margo True

Grilled Asparagus with Lemon

Crisp-tipped, juicy, and tender, these spears are great with lamb or fish. Opt for fat asparagus—the spears will be tender but not mushy when the tips are crisp. Lemon zest, versus juice, gives a lot of flavor without too much acidity or moisture.

Recipe: Grilled Asparagus with Lemon

21 Tasty Asparagus Recipes (7)

7 of 21Leigh Beisch

Roasted Asparagus

Here’s a quick way to cook asparagus with flavorful results. If you’re making roast chicken, you can throw this in the oven in the last 20 minutes and have both ready at the same time.

Recipe: Roasted Asparagus

21 Tasty Asparagus Recipes (8)

8 of 21

Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus

This works as a side dish or a gourmet appetizer. You can spoon the sauce over each bundle, or you can serve it on the side as shown for dipping.

Recipe: Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus

21 Tasty Asparagus Recipes (9)

9 of 21Jennifer Martiné

Cherry Tomato and Asparagus Salad

This simple side dish is a great contribution to a potluck. We suggest you keep the dressing separate until ready to serve.

Recipe: Cherry Tomato and Asparagus Salad

21 Tasty Asparagus Recipes (10)

10 of 21Iain Bagwell

Asparagus Risotto

Who says risotto has to take a long time? This satisfying dish can be made in 30 minutes and works as a simple week night dinner or a decadent meal for serving to guests.

Recipe: Asparagus Risotto

11 of 21Iain Bagwell

Parmesan Toasts with Asparagus, Prosciutto, and Eggs

It could be breakfast or it could be lunch, but either way it’s absolutely delicious. We love it with thinly sliced prosciutto, but crisp bacon would be good, too.

Recipe: Parmesan Toasts with Asparagus, Prosciutto, and Eggs

21 Tasty Asparagus Recipes (12)

12 of 21Photo by Annabelle Breakey

Prosciutto and Asparagus Pasta

If you’d prefer a lighter version of this indulgent pasta recipe, you could use milk thickened with a little flour in place of the cream.

Recipe: Prosciutto and Asparagus Pasta

21 Tasty Asparagus Recipes (13)

13 of 21Photo by Annabelle Breakey

Asparagus and Teleme Tart

If you don’t have a rectangular tart pan, you can use a 9-in. round tart pan instead; don’t roll out the dough (just use it straight from the package), and cut the asparagus stalks to fit.

Recipe: Asparagus and Teleme Tart

21 Tasty Asparagus Recipes (14)

14 of 21Thomas J. Story

Chinese Pork and Asparagus Soup

Forget chicken noodle. This fast and fresh version of Asian comfort food will warm you from head to toe.

Recipe: Chinese Pork and Asparagus Soup

21 Tasty Asparagus Recipes (15)

15 of 21Leigh Beisch

Asparagus and Butterhead Lettuce Salad

Asparagus and mini-mozzarella cheese are center stage in this spring salad. Pair with a crisp pinot grigio and a light pasta for a complete dinner.

Recipe: Asparagus and Butterhead Lettuce Salad

21 Tasty Asparagus Recipes (16)

16 of 21Dan Goldberg

Asparagus Frittata

Eggs-made-easy is a good way to describe a frittata. We’ve added nutty cheese and fresh asparagus to guarantee its overall appeal.

Recipe: Asparagus Frittata

21 Tasty Asparagus Recipes (17)

17 of 21Annabelle Breakey

Orzo with Peppers and Asparagus

This a good recipe to have on file when you need to take something to a party, but the boring pasta salad just won’t do.

Recipe: Orzo with Peppers and Asparagus

21 Tasty Asparagus Recipes (18)

18 of 21Photo by Alex Farnum

Lemon Ricotta Risotto with Asparagus, Peas, and Prosciutto

This risotto is a lot more lemony than you might expect, so get ready for some bracing tang along with the rich cheeses.

Recipe: Lemon Ricotta Risotto with Asparagus, Peas, and Prosciutto

21 Tasty Asparagus Recipes (19)

19 of 21Annabelle Breakey

Sunflower Sprouts Salad

Sunflower sprouts are large, leafy, and lovely in our spring version of a traditional garden salad. A large piece of local goat cheese adds just the right amount of creaminess, so you’ll forget it’s healthy.

Recipe: Sunflower Sprouts Salad

21 Tasty Asparagus Recipes (20)

20 of 21Iain Bagwell

Grilled Chicken Pita Salad

An updated version of a fattoush using purchased pita chips in place of crunchy croutons and seasonal asparagus, which gives a fresh-from-the-garden touch.

Recipe: Grilled Chicken Pita Salad

21 Tasty Asparagus Recipes (21)

21 of 21Photo by Annabelle Breakey

Asparagus, Spring Onion, and Morel Mushroom Sauté

Sweet asparagus and spring onions go so well with the woodsy flavor of morels. All you need is a bit of butter and some crème fraîche to finish the dish.

Recipe: Asparagus, Spring Onion, and Morel Mushroom Sauté

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21 Tasty Asparagus Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to cook and eat asparagus? ›

Asparagus is great quickly stir-fried or sautéed over high heat. You could sauté spears in butter or olive oil with delicious results, but throwing some chopped herbs or sliced chiles into the pan adds wonderful flavor. Both of these methods produce juicy asparagus that retains its crunch.

What spice or herb goes well with asparagus? ›

Asparagus can be steamed, roasted, grilled, broiled, boiled, blanched, dried or pickled. Combines well with: garlic, lemon juice, nutmeg, honey. Fine herbs: rosemary, basil, dill, marjoram, Mediterranean oregano, thyme, cilantro, etc.

Why do you soak asparagus in ice water? ›

Shock the boiled asparagus in an ice bath.

The ice bath method stops the vegetables from cooking more, and keeps the beautiful, vibrant green color. Drain the blanched asparagus.

Should asparagus be soaked before cooking? ›

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. Do not soak them for thirty minutes, you are not trying to get them soggy.

What organs does asparagus help? ›

Asparagus contains potassium, an important nutrient for keeping your heart, bones, kidneys and nerves functioning and healthy. You may be surprised to learn that this stalky vegetable also consists of a compound called asparaptine, which may help improve blood flow, in turn lowering blood pressure.

What are three ways to cook asparagus? ›

Blanching, roasting, and grilling are my three go-to cooking methods, but you can also sauté asparagus for a frittata or pasta or poach whole spears for a quick dinner side dish. I even like it simmered into soup.

What is the healthiest way to eat asparagus? ›

Try adding shredded, raw asparagus to pasta dishes and salads. Alternatively, enjoy the spears lightly steamed or sautéed in a frittata, or as a stand-alone side dish. Asparagus is a nutritious choice, regardless of whether it's cooked or raw. Try eating a combination of the two for maximum health benefits.

How do you cook asparagus so it's not stringy? ›

How do you cook asparagus so it's not stringy? To prevent asparagus from being stringy, it's important to trim the tough woody parts off of the bottom of the asparagus spears and cook until perfectly tender. If it's overcooked, it can be stringy and soggy.

What is the best partner for asparagus? ›

Asparagus is excellent served with any type of dairy product, such as cheese (particularly Grana Padano or Parmigiano), butter and any sauces containing dairy produce or cream. - Asparagus and eggs. A great classic? Green asparagus, eggs and truffle.

What season is asparagus best in? ›

While asparagus is luckily usually found year-round in grocery stores, like most produce, it has a peak season. You will find the best asparagus during spring. Asparagus season usually starts around late February and goes until June, but the peak months are in April and May.

Can you perk up asparagus? ›

This method works for celery, carrots, broccoli, and asparagus. Just trim the bottoms of the vegetables and place them upright in a tall glass of water until crisp (usually around 30 min). This method works great with herbs, too. Just change the water often to prevent the stalks from going mouldy.

How many asparagus spears is a serving? ›

For asparagus, a standard serving size is six medium spears, a 1/2 cup of pieces, or just over three ounces cooked. For only 20 calories, you get a lot of nutrients!

Is it better to eat asparagus raw or steamed? ›

To reap the greatest health benefits, consider incorporating both cooked and raw asparagus into your diet. That said, from a nutritional standpoint, you can't go wrong with either option.

Are you supposed to eat the entire asparagus? ›

You can eat all parts of asparagus. I usually break off the bottom. You don't have to but that part is a little woody. If you want, you can use the bottoms in soup where you can cook them longer and/or cut it up very small.

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