We just had our first Market of the outdoor season and saw loads of fresh asparagus everywhere! It’s so healthy and exciting to eat seasonally and now is the time to load up on asparagus before it’s gone until next year. Here are nine great ways to cook the quintessential spring vegetable.
How to Cook Asparagus 9 Ways
by James Schend and Teddy Nykiel at Taste of Home
How to Cook Asparagus in the Oven
- How to Roast Asparagus: This roasted asparagus recipe serves 12 people. To make it, preheat the oven to 400°F and arrange the asparagus on a baking sheet. Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper, and roast uncovered for 12 to 15 minutes until crisp-tender.
- How to Broil Asparagus: This Balsamic Broiled Asparagus recipe is quick to make and serves four people. To start, coat the asparagus in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Then arrange it in a single layer on a baking sheet and place it about 4 inches under the broiler. Broil for 8 to 10 minutes or until tender.
How to Cook Asparagus on the Stove
- How to Blanch Asparagus: To blanch asparagus, briefly boil it before transferring it to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. You’ll want to blanch asparagus before freezing it or pickling it.
- How to Boil Asparagus: To make boiled asparagus, start by bringing a saucepan of water to a boil. Next, add the asparagus and boil for 8 minutes or until it’s tender. Drain in a colander and do not rinse. Editor’s tip:Be careful not to overcook the asparagus when you’re boiling it—otherwise it’ll turn into a mushy mess!
- How to Saute Asparagus: This sauteed asparagus with mushrooms recipe only takes 15 minutes to make and serves four people. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the asparagus (and mushrooms, if you’d like) and cook for about 10 to 12 minutes or until tender.
- How to Steam Asparagus: You can steam asparagus in a frying pan or skillet. Simply fill a large skillet with about 1/2 inch of water and bring it to a boil. Add the asparagus, and cover and cook it for 3 to 5 minutes until it reaches your ideal tenderness. Then drain, season and serve!
Other Ways to Cook Asparagus
- How to Grill Asparagus: This grilled asparagus recipe takes 20 minutes to make and serves four. Slathered with barbecue sauce, it’s the perfect side for a summer cookout. Start by boiling the asparagus in a large skillet for 4 to 6 minutes. Then grill the spears uncovered over medium heat for 2 minutes, turning them once. Slather on barbecue sauce and grill for 2 additional minutes.
- How to Air-Fry Asparagus: To make our air-fryer asparagus recipe, preheat your air fryer to 375°F. Coat the asparagus in a mixture of mayonnaise, olive oil, lemon zest, minced garlic, salt and pepper. Arrange the asparagus in a single layer on a greased tray in the air-fryer basket and cook for about 4 to 6 minutes or until lightly browned. Editor’s tip: Cooking asparagus in an air fryer is very similar to roasting or broiling it. If you’re looking for something more deep-fried, try our fried asparagus
- How to Cook Asparagus in an Instant Pot: Cooking asparagus in an Instant Pot is a way of steaming it. Arrange the asparagus on the steaming rack of your Instant Pot and add 1 cup of water. Close and seal the lid and set the time to zero minutes on high pressure. By the time the pressure builds, your asparagus will be perfectly steamed.
How to Choose Asparagus
Look for firm, straight spears with closed tips and crisp stalks.
How to Prep Asparagus
Rinse the stalks well in cold water. Snap off the ends as far down as they will easily break when you gently bend them or cut off the tough white portion. If you’re working with large stalks, use a vegetable peeler to gently peel the tough area of the stalk from the end to just below the tip. If the tips are large, scrape off some scales with a knife.
