Cooking Asparagus

After you prepare your asparagus by breaking off the tough ends, peeling the width, trimming the stalk bottoms and rinsing the spears there are so many cooking options at your disposal that you’ll be spoiled for choice. From steaming to boiling, roasting and grilling; however you decide to cook your asparagus you are sure to have plenty of scope to match the rest of your meal. You may choose to stir fry or even microwave your vegetables; indeed, how you cook asparagus is entirely dependent on your taste and preferences.

Steam cooking

If you opt to steam your asparagus it is very simple. Just tie the asparagus spears together under the tips and around the bottom and put them in a covered boiling pot with water covering the bottom, about an inch deep. Or better still use an asparagus steamer or steamer basket – this will boil the ends and steam the tips of the asparagus giving you bright green and tender spears. How long this takes will depend on the thickness – and of course your personal preference – of the spears but you should be done in around five minutes.

Boil

If you love your food boiled you’ll thrive in the fact that boiling asparagus is a complete cinch – just place the asparagus in a skillet with water to about an inch level, boil for five minutes and you’re done. To preserve the crisp color be sure to place the steamed or boiled asparagus in iced water as soon as you’re done cooking.

Roast

If you opt to roast your asparagus, just pour a little olive oil on the asparagus (alternatively you could use cooking sprays) and put it in the oven preheated to 450 degrees. This should take 10-15 minutes and you’re done. Grilling also uses a similar process but this time a grill is used plus you’ll need less time to have it done. Just ensure to toss and turn the asparagus and sprinkle some garlic or grounded pepper on top.

Stir fry

For stir fried asparagus, a favorite with many, just cut the spears into small diagonal pieces, say one to two inches, and then stir fry with olive oil for 2-3 minutes. If you are cooking in a microwave place the asparagus in a baking dish with the tips towards the center, add ¼ cup of water and place in the microwave for about five minutes.

Whatever method you choose, be sure to cook the pieces until they are tender. Overcooking asparagus will result in a very mushy and unappealing meal.