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how to broil asparagus

How to Cook Asparagus 10 Ways

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 17kcal
Author: Becky Hardin
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Ingredients

  • 12 ounces asparagus
  • salt
  • pepper
  • oil

Instructions

How to Blanch Asparagus:

  • (See Note)
  • Wash asparagus and cut off the woody stalks (hard ends).
  • Fill a large bowl with ice and keep it chilled until just before the ice bath.
  • Bring a pot of generously-salted water to a boil (use a couple inches of water, or enough to submerge the asparagus).
  • Place asparagus into boiling water and cook for about 3 minutes (just until crisp-tender).
  • Use tongs to remove from the water and immediately place it in the bowl of ice for about 1 minute (this stops it from cooking further and helps it retain that bright green color).
  • Pat dry.
  • Can eat as is, or begin another recipe. You can also freeze from here.

How to Roast Asparagus:

  • Wash asparagus and cut off the woody stalks (hard ends).
  • Preheat oven to 400°F and arrange stalks of asparagus on a baking sheet (non-stick or lined with parchment) in a single layer.
  • Drizzle olive oil over the stalks and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  • Roast between 12-20 minutes until tender. It will depend on the thickness and how crispy you want them.
  • Serve hot.

How to Grill Asparagus:

  • Wash asparagus and cut off the woody stalks (hard ends).
  • After blanching (see above), preheat grill (high heat).
  • Toss in oil, salt, and pepper.
  • Place on the grill and cook for just 3-5 minutes (or until tender and slightly charred to your liking).
  • Turn stalks as they cook to make sure all sides get some direct heat for charring.
  • Serve hot.

How to Boil Asparagus:

  • Wash asparagus and cut off the woody stalks (hard ends).
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  • Add asparagus to boiling water, then reduce heat slightly and simmer 5-7 minutes (or until they become tender).
  • Remove asparagus, let it cool slightly, then toss in olive oil, salt and pepper, and serve.

How to Steam Asparagus on the Stovetop:

  • Wash asparagus and cut off the woody stalks (hard ends).
  • Add water to a saucepan or pot and place a steamer basket on top. Bring water to a boil.
  • Place asparagus in the steamer, cover with a lid, and let it cook for 4-5 minutes.
  • Remove from pot and season with salt, pepper, and olive oil.
  • Serve hot.
  • Note: if you don’t have a steamer basket, place asparagus and a small amount of water in a large skillet, cover, and cook/simmer 4-5 minutes until tender.

How to Saute Asparagus:

  • Wash asparagus and cut off the woody stalks (hard ends).
  • Heat oil (or melt butter) in a frying pan/skillet over medium heat.
  • You can leave stalks whole, or cut them into evenly-sized pieces.
  • Place asparagus in the skillet and cook 5-7 minutes, gently stirring or rotating stalks a couple of times.
  • They will turn a bright green as they cook, which will help you see when they’re done.
  • Season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve.

How to Broil Asparagus:

  • Wash asparagus and cut off the woody stalks (hard ends).
  • Turn on oven/broiler to high heat.
  • Toss asparagus with olive oil, salt and pepper and line up on a baking sheet.
  • Cook 4-6 minutes, or until crisp-tender and slightly charred.
  • Serve hot.

How to Make Air Fried Asparagus:

  • Wash asparagus and cut off the woody stalks (hard ends).
  • Heat Air Fryer to 375°F.
  • Toss asparagus in olive oil, salt and pepper, then place in Air Fryer basket.
  • Cook 7-10 minutes.
  • Serve hot.

How to Make Instant Pot Asparagus:

  • Wash asparagus and cut off the woody stalks (hard ends).
  • Put 1 cup of water into the Instant Pot and place the steaming rack on top.
  • Place stalks on the rack, lock the lid in place, and cook on high for 1 minute.
  • Let pressure release before opening and removing asparagus.

How to Microwave Asparagus (Steam):

  • Wash asparagus and cut off the woody stalks (hard ends).
  • Dampen 3-4 paper towels with water and place asparagus on top.
  • Roll up the paper towels with the bundle of asparagus inside (the damp paper towels create a barrier around the stalks so they can steam inside), and place in a microwave-safe dish.
  • Microwave on high about 3-4 minutes. Let sit for a minute then carefully remove dish from microwave.
  • Season with salt and pepper and serve.
  • Season with olive oil, salt and pepper, and serve.

Video

Notes

Blanching asparagus is a simple way to cook it for eating, but it’s also a method used to pre-cook it before using other methods, or when adding it into other dishes. You don’t necessarily need to blanch it before every cooking method, but when cooking it at a high temperature (like grilling or searing) for a shorter period, you might end up with asparagus that seems done on the outside, but overall is still tough/undercooked.

Nutrition

Calories: 17kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 172mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 643IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 2mg