Asparagus is nutrition-packed vegetable that comes into season in early to late spring, although it can be found in many grocery stores throughout the entire year. Asparagus not only contains essential vitamins and minerals like potassium, vitamin B-6, thiamin and folacin, it also contains as much as 3 g of fiber in only 20 calories per five spears, according to the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board. Even better, asparagus is simple to prepare and eat.
Step 1
Choose asparagus at the store that are light to dark green with tightly compact tips. Avoid asparagus that is limp, and choose stalks that hold a straight line. Stalks should be firm, but not inflexible. Choose thinner stalks for a more tender finished product, though thick stalks taste just fine.
Step 2
Place the asparagus in a colander and run cold clean water over them. Do not soak the asparagus to wash them, as it's the running water that carries the dirt, bugs, and other particles away from the vegetable. Pat dry with a clean towel.
Step 3
Trim the stalks in one of two ways. Cut the stalks about an inch from the bottom with a knife to remove the tough end of the stem. You can also bend the asparagus towards the end until part of it naturally snaps off. The asparagus will naturally snap at the area between the tough and tender parts of the vegetable.
Step 4
Fill a pot halfway full of water and set it on the stove to boil. Place a steaming basket over the pot and place your trimmed and washed asparagus into the basket. Cover the basket and steam the asparagus for 5 to 8 minutes, or until tender. Take out immediately.
Step 5
Flavor your asparagus simply with salt, pepper and butter, or use a seasoning mix or fresh herbs in your favorite flavors.
Tips and Warnings
- Use a salt-free blend to season your asparagus to limit your sodium intake, and olive oil instead of butter to lower saturated fat intake. If you don't have a steaming basket, you can also stir fry in a skillet for 3 to 5 minutes, or microwave in a covered dish with water for 4 to 7 minutes.
Things You'll Need
- Asparagus
- Knife
- Pot
- Steamer basket
- Flavoring
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