How to Cook Asparagus Features. Spring is here, and very shortly well see the start of the short British asparagus season in the UK. Of course, asparagus is commonplace these days at the supermarket, but it is always worth hunting out those fresh green spears from a local food market or even fresh from the field. Once theyre in hand, however, the question then turns to how to eat or cook them. Here is everything you will ever need to know about how to cook asparagus. Blanched. When cooking asparagus, you can tie them into little bundles, which makes them easier to remove. Drop these bundles or individual spears into some boiling water, cover and cook for three to five minutes, depending on the thickness of the spears. This is an easy way to cook asparagus. Butter is also good with asparagus, it is best eaten with roasted asparagus. Drizzle some melted butter over. There are many ways to cook asparagus but nothing beats it hot off the grill. Heres a recipe for the best way to grill asparagus. Learn all the different ways you can cook asparagus with Jamie Olivers guide on cooking asparagus which includes steaming, roasting, blanched and more. Oven Roasted Asparagus Serves 4 Ingredients. I could eat roasted asparagus about every day of the year. Best. Roasted is the only way I eat asparagus. Take them out, drain and plunge into some ice cold water, or serve straight away. Steamed. To steam, place the spears in a steaming basket with a little water underneath. Cover and cook for three minutes. Griddled. Asparagus loves to be griddled in a pan simply drizzle with a little olive oil and turn occasionally or try Jamies recipe for griddled asparagus with olive oil, lemon and Parmesan. If youve got a barbecue going, lightly coat the spears in oil and cook on a medium heat, turning often so that the spears do not burn. Roasted. Asparagus develops a lovely, rich flavour when roasted and this is probably my favourite method of cooking it. Simply pre heat the oven to 2. C, gas mark 7, line a tray with foil or baking paper, lay the asparagus spears onto the tray, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. I also like to add a couple of fresh cloves of garlic and a little freshly grated of lemon zest. Roast for ten minutes. You can use your roasted asparagus to stir through a risotto, or a creamy pasta dish. If youre serving the roasted asparagus on its own, you can stay simple but go big on flavour with Jamies pancetta, anchovy and cherry tomato version. Best Way To Cook Asparagus And Keep NutrientsStir fried. Asparagus is often used in Asian cooking, either in salads or in stir fries. It needs only a minute or so in a hot wok, so always remember to add it in towards the end of cooking the rest of your dish. A splash of soy and a sprinkle of sesame seeds work well. Raw. You can, in fact, eat asparagus raw. Then you just have to choose how to cook asparagus your favorite way. The best way to cook asparagus without adding fat is steaming. All it takes is water. Learn how to cook asparagus. Ways With Asparagus. How To Cook Asparagus in the Oven. This Is Absolutely the Best Way to Cook Chicken Breasts. The Best Ribs Are the Ones You Make in the Oven. How to Buy. Best Way To Cook Asparagus StemsOne of my favourite raw asparagus recipes is Miss Foodwises Asparagus ribbons and pomegranate pearls salad. Raw asparagus is also great with feta cheese and radish. I occasionally add a spear or two to a fresh green smoothie, too. Accompaniments. The best accompaniments for asparagus are olive oil or a little butter in both cases, season with a little sea salt and fresh black pepper, too. As mentioned, freshly shaved Parmesan or crumbled feta cheese are great partners, as are little goats cheese, or strong cheddars. My British asparagus Westcombe cheddar tart makes for the perfect centrepiece for a spring picnic or lunch. I also make a simple Polish recipe at home called Asparagus la Polonaise by cooking the asparagus in water seasoned with sugar and salt and then topping it with butter, slightly browned in a pan mixed with fresh breadcrumbs. Asparagus and eggs are a timeless spring combination too. Try dipping fresh spears into a softly boiled egg, or make asparagus soup and top it with a poached egg and a drizzle of olive oil. How To Frozen. It would be a crime not to mention hollandaise a classic French sauce made of melted butter, fresh egg yolks, lemon juice and a little mustard or a pinch of cayenne the pairing of which with asparagus is simply heavenly. Follow Izis step by step guide to making hollandaise sauce here or try my blender hollandaise version for a speedy alternative. Notes on asparagus. Thin spears of asparagus tend to be younger and fresher in flavour, whilst thicker spears will have been left to grow for longer and have a more pronounced flavour. Try and use your asparagus as soon as possible, but if you dont use it straight away, a good tip is to store it standing up in a jug of water in the fridge. Asparagus Recipe Simply. Recipes. com. 1 Heat blanching water Fill a medium saucepan halfway with lightly salted water. Bring to a boil. 2 Prep the asparagus While the water is heating, prepare the asparagus. Rinse them thoroughly break off any tough, white bottoms and discard. Cut the spears into 1 to 2 inch sections, slicing the asparagus at a slight diagonal. Blanch the asparagus Add the asparagus to the boiling water and lower the heat slightly to maintain a simmer. Parboil the asparagus for exactly 2 minutes. Drain the hot water. Toss with olive oil, Parmesan, lemon zest While the asparagus are still hot, toss them in a bowl with the olive oil, Parmesan, and lemon zest. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm or room temperature. Note that when you are working with so few ingredients, its important to make sure they are of the highest quality.