how to cook fresh Asparagus?

Answer 1

Steam it until the color becomes more intense.

Answer 2

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ASPARAGUS

To clean asparagus, scrape off the paperlike scales on the side of spears and snap off the woody fiber ends at the bottom of the spears. (The upper half of these woody ends can be added to soup or vegetable broth for extra flavor - remove from the soup with a slotted spoon before serving).
Wash the asparagus thoroughly in cold running water. Asparagus may be cooked whole or can be cut into 1 1/2 to 2 inch pieces.

Barely cover with boiling salted water (use 1 teaspoon salt for each quart of water) and cook on high heat until tender. This will take approximately 20 minutes depending on the age at which the asparagus was harvested. Tender young asparagus will cook in less time. Test for doneness by piercing with the tines of a fork. Add additional water as needed while cooking. Asparagus may also be steamed and special upright asparagus steamers are available for the purpose.

Serve with melted butter, white sauce, cheese sauce, or Hollandaise sauce.


ASPARAGUS SOUP

3 bunches of asparagus
1 quart of cream or milk
1 tablespoon of butter
1/2 tablespoon flour

Boil the asparagus in 1 quart salt water till tender. Drain water off, then add cream. Rub butter and flour together and add before taking from the stove. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with toasted bread or crackers.
Submitted by: CM

Answer 3

I used to steam asparagus. Very inconsistent outcomes.

Baking/roasting is the way to go. I got this tip from a 5 Star resort at a business meeting. (I had to ask them how they did it, as it was SO good) Have passed this on to co-workers, and they say they will never cook asparagus another way.

Cut the woody parts off the bottom of the asparagus spear. If you aren't horribly frugal, just keep the rubber band on the whole batch, and whack off the bottom of all of them. That's what I do.

Place in one layer on a baking/roasting pan. (In other words, don't pile one spear on top of another.) Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with herbs of your choice. (I like tarragon, but anything works, really.) Place in 425 preheated oven for 6-10 min depending on how crisp you like them.

Be prepared for an interesting aroma when you urinate later on. It's unavoidable. :)

Answer 4

First wash well then cut the length to 5" maximum from the top to the bottom. (the ends are the tougher part and sometimes too tough)
Place them is a steamer for the best results. This is one item you do not want to over cook. Finish when the texture is still nice and crisp but tender enough to eat.

Answer 5

1 lg. green pepper
4 firm, red tomatoes
Lettuce leaves
1 lb. (1 can) asparagus tips
French dressing

Wash and cut pepper into slices, crosswise, to form 1/4 inch rings. Discard seeds. Pierce tomatoes at stem with fork, dip into boiling water, lift out, peel, chill and cut in half, crosswise. Place on lettuce, cut side up. Lay 4 or 5 asparagus tips side by side in center of each tomato half. Slit pepper rings and place across the top of asparagus to meet the sides of the tomato forming a handle to the tomato basket. Serve cold with French dressing.

Answer 6

Bbq'd - everyone loves them. I choose ones that are a little thicker. I quickly steam them (about 2mins in microwave) but they are still quite firm. I put them on a cookie sheet, brush them with olive oil and sprinkle them generously with coarse Kosher salt. Put them on the bbq at a 90 degree angle to the racks so they won't fall thru (or if you have a small rack in the back that's great). Bbq about 4-5 minutes turning them a little. Yummy

Answer 7

this is a siple way and its good. clean the veg in your normal manner. arrange the stalks in a shallow microwaveable container add enough water oto barely cover the stalks
throw on some butter and seasoning and nuke it till its crisp tender. Its the only way I will eat it. nothing fancy but it works.

Answer 8

Cooking Asparagus
Very fresh tender asparagus can be eaten raw. Rinse, trim and/or peel as desired. Use in salads or serve chilled with a veggie dip.
Asparagus can be steamed, boiled, stir-fried, microwaved, roasted, or baked into quiches, casseroles, and other dishes. Fresh asparagus does not require much cooking time. Overcooking causes it to lose nutrients, color and flavor. Like most cooked fresh vegetables, it tastes best when it's lightly steamed and served with a little butter and salt to taste. Asparagus is also good seasoned with chives, parsley, chervil, savory, or tarragon. Add a little lemon juice; top it with regular, low fat, or fat free yogurt or sour cream; or add a small amount of very lightly browned slivered almonds... no recipes required. For those who want more variety, see the list of asparagus recipes below.


To Steam Asparagus
Steaming in an upright position is the ideal cooking method, since it allows the spears to cook evenly. The tougher bottom of the spears can cook thoroughly in boiling water while thinner delicate tips are lightly steamed. Wash, trim, and peel as desired. then tie spears together with a string or a strip of heavy aluminum foil. Add about 2" of water to a deep, narrow cooking vessel such as a percolator. There are also tall, narrow pots made especially for steaming asparagus, with an inner basket to hold it upright while steaming.
Bring the water to a rapid boil. Add the asparagus, standing the spears upright with the lower end of the spears in the water. Cover the pot and cook until the asparagus is tender, about 6 to 8 minutes.
Boil Asparagus
Lay trimmed asparagus spears in a large skillet with 1" to 1-1/2" of water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook gently, uncovered, over low heat for about 5 to 7 minutes. Season and serve.


Stir-Fry Asparagus
Slice asparagus spears diagonally into 1/2" slices, leaving tips whole. Heat 1-1/2 to 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet. Adjust heat to medium high; add cut asparagus; cook, stirring constantly for 4 to 5 minutes, or until tender-crisp.

Cook Asparagus in a Microwave Oven
Arrange asparagus spears around a microwave safe baking dish, as spokes on a wheel, with tips touching or overlapping in center of dish. Add water, about 1/4 to 1/3 cup, then cover with a vented lid, a domed plastic cover made for the microwave, or plastic wrap, turning back a small area along the edge for steam to vent. Microwave on full power for 4 to 7 minutes for about 1 pound of fresh asparagus spears; 3 to 5 minutes if cut in small pieces. Stop to stir or turn about halfway through cooking time. Remove from microwave oven at end of cooking time. Season, then cover and let stand 3 to 4 minutes before serving.


Grill Asparagus
For grilling you'll need fairly thick spears. Place wooden skewers through several spears, side by side, to make a rack of asparagus. Place on top of grids and grill for suggested time. Brush with herbed butter when grilling is almost complete. Grilling Baskets, made to hold small delicate foods also work well with asparagus.


Roast Asparagus
Asparagus can also be roasted. Preheat oven to 450º. Arrange spears in a shallow pan with a little olive oil. It takes less then 10 minutes until spears are tender-crisp; check for desired tenderness after about 5 minutes

Answer 9

hold it in the middle and gently bend...when it snaps you know what part is tender...do all spears....then put into a glass dish, add about 1/3 of a cup of water and 1/2 tsp salt....cover and put into microwave for 4 minutes...let sit for 2 minutes and test for doneness....if not quite done to your liking, nuke at 1 minute intervals until done

Answer 10

wash it. cut the ends off (not the tips) and steam it. u can break them all in half to make it easier to fit in a pot. to steam it just put some water in the pot with it and cover with a lid. cook it until its to the tenderness u want, but not until it gets mushy.

Answer 11

I like to cook mine in white wine with salt and pepper