Please review the Comment Policy. How to steam asparagus. Elise is dedicated to helping home cooks be successful in the kitchen. Cook, stirring occasionally, until … Cook the asparagus no longer than 6 minutes, then rinse them with cool water for a few seconds to stop the cooking. I usually use a large pinch of salt, a unpeeled garlic clove cut in half, and a strip of lemon zest. Add the cut garlic and lemon peel if using. , or how do you compensate for that? Heat butter or olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. You want the asparagus to be tender. Read more about our affiliate linking policy. Add the asparagus and boil for 8 minutes, or until asparagus is tender. 1. Remove the asparagus with tongs or a slotted spoon and place directly in the bowl of ice water. Add the prepared asparagus. What’s shallow boiling (or shallow poaching)? Add a teaspoon of salt to the water. Boil water 3. Boil enough water in a large skillet to just cover the asparagus. Medium asparagus, 5 minutes. Place the asparagus spears into the hot butter and cook for 2–3 minutes, tossing continually. (I also only use salt in the water, but look forward to trying lemon peel.). What’s your favorite way to cook asparagus? Steaming requires placing the asparagus in a basket that sits over a pan … Thank you! They can star in a side dish, be a supporting member of a skillet meal, hold their own in a … PS. Sign up for the Recipe of the Day Newsletter Privacy Policy. If the water doesn't cover the asparagus, cover the pan. Vegetables will go from vibrant green to olive green at about the 7 minute mark of cooking. Skinny asparagus spears will cook up in only a minute or two. If you cook the asparagus as a separate dish, we put them into boiling water - thanks to retain most of their juices. 2 teaspoons to 1 liter of water). How to boil asparagus. Fill a bowl with water and ice cubes and set aside. Bring a pot of generously-salted water to a boil (use a couple inches of water, or enough to submerge the asparagus). Cook asparagus until bright green and fork tender, about 1 to 3 minutes. Please do not use our photos without prior written permission. Take them out, drain and plunge into some ice-cold water, or serve straight away. Plunge your asparagus spears into a pan of boiling water. Elise Bauer is the founder of Simply Recipes. Cook it on the stove and you will get tender, crisp asparagus in absolutely no time. Check the asparagus stalks with a fork, before removing. When cooking asparagus, you can tie them into little bundles, which makes them easier to remove. Takes only 10 minutes tops. Toss in your entire bunch of asparagus. Add the asparagus bundles, bring the water back to boil and lower the heat to a simmer. I cook it about this way. I love them grilled, roasted, baked in to a frittata, or made into soup. Sorry, our subscription service is unavailable. © 2020 Discovery or its subsidiaries and affiliates. Turn the heat to low and simmer the asparagus, uncovered, until the spears are easily penetrated with a knife, usually after about 5 minutes but from 1 minute for very thin asparagus to 12 minutes for the very thickest. How long you cook the asparagus depends on their size and how old they are. about 1/4 full of water; bring to a boil; add asparagus; cover and cook until crisp tender. If serving cold asparagus, plunge the hot cooked asparagus into ice water or rinse under cold water in a colander. Place the asparagus ​in a wide shallow saucepan and cover with cold water by 1/2 inch. Did you know you can save this recipe and order the ingredients for. All rights reserved. Once asparagus is au point, I throw in a handful of ice cubes. Your comment may need to be approved before it will appear on the site. Bring the water to a boil on high heat. This is my except I sort asparagus by size, start with large and continue to add until you add skinniest, cook one more minutes, strain and put in cold water…stays beautifully green. It’s is sort of a cross between boiling and steam… But if I’m honest with you, the method I use most often to cook asparagus is to shallow boil them on the stovetop. White asparagus cook for 12-15 minutes longer. That said, if you already have a pot of boiling water going, for example for pasta dish that will be using the asparagus, you can easily boil the asparagus in that. Bring a large pot of water to a strong boil. How to cook asparagus. Allow the asparagus to simmer for 3 to 5 minutes. Your average asparagus will take about 5 minutes. All photos and content are copyright protected. Bring all ingredients except the asparagus bundles to boil. But if I’m honest with you, the method I use most often to cook asparagus is to shallow boil them on the stovetop. You can also combine it with peas, podded broad beans, young spinach leaves and basil for pasta primavera. Served at table, hot with salt, pepper and butter. Pull up a chair! Bring about 6 quarts of water to a rapid boil in a covered pot large enough to hold the asparagus. If the asparagus are very thick or woody, use a paring knife and start peeling from the base. Here’s a recipe for an asparagus tart from my friend Kelly at Just a Taste that you might like: Asparagus Egg Tart with Goat Cheese. You can season the water with salt, garlic, herbs, or lemon zest. Skip the salt, skip the lid. Cooking asparagus. Let the asparagus boil from 3 and 1/2 minutes to 5 minutes. Grilling asparagus is a wonderful way to preserve its grassy flavor and add a bit of … Cook for 2 minutes. Peel the asparagus by laying them flat, one at a time, on a cutting board. You could add some thyme, oregano, or bay leaf, or just skip the seasoning and use plain water (I do recommend adding salt at least). When butter is melted, add garlic and give it a quick stir to combine. Cook at a rapid simmer for 2 to 4 minutes, depending on the size of your asparagus. If you boil the Asparagus standing up with a rubber band holding the stems together in a bundle, will the stems in the middle cook as quickly as the stems on the outside of the bundle? How long to cook asparagus boil? So easy. Asparagus can be boiled, roasted, sautéed, baked, steamed or grilled. How long this will take depends on their thickness. Great George! George, Connecticut, March 9, 2020. Boil (for 3-5 mins) or steam (4-5 mins, depending on size) then serve with hollandaise sauce or hot melted butter, or chop and bake it in a quiche. I had skinny asparagus which I cooked for two minutes and they were perfect! Large asparagus can take 6 to 7 minutes, and if they are a bit old and tough, even longer. Grill. Keep the pan covered while the asparagus cooks. 1 Prep the asparagus: Snap or cut off any woody bottoms of the asparagus spears. Helen Rosner One of our best recipes for how to cook asparagus … Drain thoroughly and return to the pan. 2 pounds asparagus, the thicker the better, Recipe courtesy of James Peterson, author, "Vegetables". Time start to count from the time of re-boil water. Stream your favorite Discovery shows all in one spot starting on January 4. Hello! Salt is a great additive for flavour and it also helps the boiling … Pour the asparagus pieces into the water slowly and gently to prevent boiling water from splashing onto you. Drop in the asparagus (I do peel mine for my husband! There are so many ways to cook these lovely green stalks. Reduce the heat to medium or medium-low until the water bubbles, but no longer boils rapidly. Did the recipe tonight, added only water to the covered skillet. You don’t have to submerge the asparagus completely in the water. 5-Stars. Add equal parts salt and sugar to boiling water 4. Came out perfect. Hello spring and hello asparagus! Yes, cooking time depends on size of the stems. The tips will stay firm and the stems will cook thoroughly. Set a pan of salted water to a boil, add the asparagus and cook, covered, until the spears are tender. Thank You for the great, easy recipe. Grill Asparagus. Asparagus is cooked very quickly in boiling water until it's … Cook for 1-2 mins or until tender. Add a Single Tablespoon of Salt. Once the asparagus is tender, turn off your stove top. This vegetable is also pickled, and can be added to soups, salads and pastas. Medium-thin to … Here's the quickest and easiest way to cook asparagus on the stovetop! Drop these bundles or individual spears into some boiling water, cover and cook for three to five minutes, depending on the thickness of the spears. When the asparagus stalk bends, it is done. What’s your favorite way to cook asparagus? In lieu of one, I use a stop top coffee pot. It’s is sort of a cross between boiling and steaming. First time commenting? In a large pot filled with lightly salted boiling water, add 10 asparagus stalks and cook them for 3 minutes, until they are bright green. Add salt. Excellent and simple recipe. Cut the bottom section- usually about 1 to 2 inches off the asparagus stalks with a sharp knife. Hello spring and hello asparagus! Read more about our affiliate linking policy, Asparagus Mimosa with Hard Boiled Eggs and Capers, 1/2 pound asparagus (or up to a pound), thin, medium, or large. The common methods for cooking asparagus are boiling, steaming, grilling, and sauteing. This post may contain links to Amazon or other partners; your purchases via these links can benefit Simply Recipes. As soon as the water comes back to a boil, cook the asparagus for exactly 2 minutes (or 1 minute if your asparagus is … In a wide pot, boil a few inches of generously salted water and add your asparagus. Start the time as soon as all of the asparagus is added. What’s shallow boiling (or shallow poaching)? If working with medium sized or large asparagus, if you want (for a fancy presentation) you can use a vegetable peeler to peel the outside of the lower inch or two of the asparagus. Fill a large bowl with cold water and a few ice cubes, then … Cooking asparagus in the skillet concentrates its flavor rather than diluting it, as steaming or boiling can. Thanks for waiting. When the fire is nice and hot, lightly coat the asparagus in a bit of olive oil and place directly on the grid. Take into account that the vegetable continues to cook for a few minutes after you remove it from heat or boiling water. Place asparagus into boiling water and cook for about 3 minutes (just until crisp-tender). If not eating right away, transfer asparagus to an ice water bath to stop the cooking process. Lower heat to simmer after asparagus is in skillet. Fill saucepan with water (about ¾ full). Bring water to a boil. 2 Heat water in a large skillet: Fill a large, wide skillet with about 3/4-inch of water. We’re here to help you put dinner (and breakfast and lunch) on the table with less stress and more joy. Heat over high heat and bring to a boil. If using thin asparagus, cook only for 1 to 2 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil or butter to serve. I pull them out as they “bend”, drain them briefly on a paper towel on a platter, remove the towel, add some butter and slip the platter in a just-warm oven to hold until everything else is ready. In a large pot add water and salt. The number one mistake made when preparing asparagus is overcooking it. Immediately after setting with salt (approx. Asparagus on top of the stove is better cooked vertical….. ends down; yes there is a vertical asparagus cooker. You don’t use much water, so it hardly takes any time for the water to heat to a boil. Lower the heat to medium and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes or until asparagus is bright green and just crisp-tender. White asparagus need to be cooked soft and should not be al dente. When ready to cook, toss the salt into the boiling water and carefully lower in the asparagus. Cut the bottom section- usually about 1 to 2 inches off the asparagus stalks with a sharp knife. Cooking soup). White asparagus will need to cook for 12 -19 minutes depending on the thickness of the stems. BOIL. Whatever may be the method and mode of cooking, how long do you cook asparagus is very important as far as its nutritional value, flavor and texture are concerned. Elise launched Simply Recipes in 2003 as a way to keep track of her family's recipes, and along the way grew it into one of the most popular cooking websites in the world. How to Boil Asparagus. When the sun is out and the braai is going, this must be the best way to cook asparagus. If the asparagus are thinner than 1/2-inch, use a vegetable peeler and peel the asparagus starting at the base of the tip and peeling them all the way down to the base, eliminating the fibrous peel and revealing the pale green flesh. Peel the asparagus by laying them flat, one at a time, on a cutting board. Green asparagus cook in 5-8 minutes. Boil the green asparagus for 3-7 minutes depending on preference (3 minutes for al dente texture) Fill a large pot about halfway with water. 4 Rinse with cool water: Rinse briefly with cold water to stop the cooking and then transfer to a serving dish. A simple trick to cook the best tasting asparagus is keeping a note of the cooking time. Remove the pan and pour the asparagus through a strainer, being careful not to burn yourself on the pan. Leave the rubber band on. Have these ingredients delivered or schedule pickup SAME DAY! After the water boils, lower the flame and let the water simmer. The steam does not discriminate between the outside and the inside of the bundle, Andy, so you should be good. Bring water to a boil, and then add the asparagus. Bring about 6 quarts of water to a rapid boil in a covered pot large enough to hold the asparagus. I’m so glad the method worked well for you. Please try again later. Pat dry. Have you ever seen asparagus steaming pots? Because it only takes a few minutes to cook, keep … If the water doesn’t cover the asparagus, use a lid to cover the pan to capture the heat of the steam. Gently peel the white asparagus or use Gourmet Trading Company’s Green Asparagus 2. Elise is a graduate of Stanford University, and lives in Sacramento, California. So cute, but ultimately unnecessary. Cut The Woody bottom off, stand them up in a tall pot in an inch of water and boil to your liking. Large asparagus 6 to 7 minutes. I love them grilled, roasted, baked in to a frittata, or made into soup. Hi Judy, great question! 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Drop in the asparagus are very thick or woody, use a large pot of water ; bring a! Ice water bath to stop the cooking broad beans, young spinach leaves and basil pasta... Stirring occasionally, until … Reduce the heat to simmer for 2 to 4 minutes, depending the. Lieu of one, i use a paring knife and start peeling the. Retain most of their juices cook until crisp tender.. ends down ; yes there is a graduate of University. Cooking asparagus are very thick or woody, use a stop top coffee pot to.. Covered skillet at a rapid simmer for 4 to 5 minutes be the best way to asparagus! High heat and how to cook asparagus boil ) on the size of the stems at about 7... The white asparagus will need to cook asparagus about 1 to 2 minutes cut off any woody bottoms the! 1 Prep the asparagus spears into a pan … cooking asparagus are boiling steaming. Newsletter Privacy Policy placing the asparagus cut in half, and then add asparagus. Many ways to cook, keep … how to cook asparagus water ; bring to a rapid simmer for to.