Asparagus is that spear like vegetable you’ll often see served just steamed or blanched. But do you know that you can also cook asparagus in a pan?
If you’d like to learn how to cook asparagus in a pan, here is a guide that will help step by step all the way. You will no longer need to just order it in the restaurant because you can cook it at home! Let us start with the first step you should do, how to buy asparagus.
Asparagus is a popular vegetable which tends to be among the most versatile and delightful. It can be cooked with citrus-flavored sauces, hollandaise, or roasted nuts. At the same time, you may not be aware but asparagus can also come in color white or purple. Asparagus is also a great vegetable to serve to your kids because it is a great source of potassium, folic acid, fiber, and vitamin C among other vitamins and minerals.
So now, how do you buy or choose asparagus? Asparagus can be bought fresh or frozen. Fresh asparagus can be found during late February up to June. However, you can find the frozen or canned spears in your grocery all year round. If you want it fresh, it would be ideal to use them the same day. So the question when buying is how much to buy? A pound and a half of asparagus would generally serve about four people.
You can choose thin or thick spears, depending on your preference. There’s really not much difference in taste. At the same time, you can buy whatever size of stalk you like just as long as you choose the tips that are closed. You can buy fresh asparagus but make sure that you keep it in the refrigerator if you’re not going to use it yet. You can store it for about 3 to 5 days to be able to maintain its flavor. To store, it would be best to let them stand upright in a drinking glass with an inch of water or wet paper towel then keep in an airtight plastic container.
When you’re ready to cook your asparagus, simply rinse before you cook them. It is very important that you wash them thoroughly as they grow in sandy soil. You can cut or snap them just where the color begins to change. You may also peel off the outer skin of your asparagus for even cooking. Now you’re ready to learn how to cook asparagus in a pan.
Now in a large saucepan, simply place your asparagus and cover them with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat once it boils and cook for another five to eight minutes depending on how crisp or tender you like. When done, simply drain your asparagus and drizzle with salt, pepper, and olive oil. That is the most basic way to cook asparagus in a pan!