Recipe for Asparagus Spears on the Stove

Steamed asparagus is a low-calorie and nutritious side dish.

Cooking asparagus on the stove is simple and quick. It is also something you should do frequently, since asparagus is a low-calorie and nutritious vegetable, providing a good source of vitamin A, vitamin C, folic acid and potassium. When buying asparagus in your produce section, choose stalks that are 4 to 6 inches long and approximately 1/2 inch thick. Do not buy asparagus with withered, woody or very thick stalks. A pound of asparagus equals about 14 spears and will provide three to four half-cup servings when cooked.

Things You'll Need

• Pan
• Asparagus
• Seasonings (if desired)

Instructions

1. Break off the tough ends of the asparagus spears. The lower third or so of the spear is much tougher than the upper two-thirds. The easiest way to remove the tough part is to hold the spear just below the head with one hand and the bottom end with your other hand. Bend the lower end gently until it breaks off naturally at the point where the tough part meets the tender part.

2. Clean the asparagus. Rinse the asparagus spears in a colander under cool running water. Because the tightly packed heads are hard to clean by simple rinsing, dip them in a glass of water and swish around to remove dirt particles embedded in the heads. Change the water if it begins to look cloudy.

3. 

   Tie asparagus with butcher's twin to hold it upright in the pan.

   Cook the asparagus on the stove top by steaming. First, tie the asparagus spears together with butcher’s twine, the same type of string you use to tie the legs of a roasting turkey together. Stand the asparagus bundle upright in a saucepan containing about an inch of boiling water. The water cooks the lower end of the spears by boiling, while the tender tips cook by steaming. Steam approximately five to eight minutes, depending on the thickness and number of spears. You can buy special steamers called asparagus kettles that hold asparagus spears upright without tying.

4. Serve asparagus warm as a side dish or cold in a salad. Asparagus is delicious as is, but you can add different seasonings to vary the taste. Some popular additions are Parmesan cheese, minced garlic or garlic salt, lemon or lime juice, butter, balsamic vinegar, hollandaise sauce or even your favorite salad dressing.

Tips & Warnings

• Add seasonings, cheese or sauces sparingly so as not to drown the taste of the asparagus or add unnecessary calories.

References

• University of Illinois Extension, Watch Your Garden Grow: Asparagus
• Clemson Cooperative Extension: Using & Storing Asparagus