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Asparagus
I love asparagus, especially the ones with tender stems.
Asparagus is a sustainable vegetable mostly grown and harvested in the United States, in the state of Michigan and Washington.
Asparagus is easy to prepare and cook. All you have to do is to trim off the bottom part of the stems.
There is no need to peel the hard skin and leaves on the stems.
Other Healthy Recipes You Might Like:
Sauteed Asparagus Recipe
What is the best way to cook asparagus?
I love healthy sauteed asparagus in a skillet on stove top. This simple recipe calls for only a few ingredients:
- Asparagus
- Butter
- Garlic
- Salt and pepper
Cooking asparagus takes only 8 minutes from start to finish.
How Do You Saute Asparagus?
First, heat up a skillet and saute the fresh asparagus.
Next, add some butter and lots of minced garlic.
Cook the asparagus just as soon as they are slightly wilted. Season with salt, ground black pepper and lemon juice.
Green Asparagus Vs. White Asparagus
Do you know that green asparagus and white asparagus are from the same plant? Yes!
Asparagus is planted about 10 inches below the soil surface.
Asparagus spears are white until they poke out from the soil and the sun photosynthesis process turns them into green color.
Hence, white asparagus are harvested by farmers from the ground right before the asparagus sprouts to the surface.
Due to the labor intensive process, white asparagus is generally more expensive.
Cooking Tips
Asparagus is in season now. This is one of the best sauteed asparagus recipes and here are my tips:
- Always choose young asparagus. You can tell the difference between young vs. old asparagus from the diameter and width of the stalk. If the stalk are thicker, they are old asparagus. They are not ideal for sauteing, because the stalk are fibrous, tough and woody.
- Buy organic asparagus if you can as organic asparagus are always younger and more tender.
- Trim 1-2 inches off the bottom of the stalks before cooking.
- For young asparagus, you don’t have to peel off the skin. If you have big and fat asparagus, you might want to use a peeler to peel off the skin on the stalk to reveal the white, tender part of the stalks.
Toppings for Sauteed Asparagus
You can add a variety of toppings to jazz up this recipe. For examples:
- Shaved Parmesan cheese such as Parmesan asparagus recipe.
- Bacon
- Panko or breadcrumbs
- Lemon
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use White Asparagus for This Recipe?
Yes, you sure can.
As mentioned above, white asparagus and green asparagus are harvested off the same plant, they are the same vegetable. I prefer white asparagus because they are more tender compared to green asparagus.
Is Asparagus Healthy?
Asparagus is one of the healthiest vegetables with well-balanced nutrition.
You can learn all about it Michigan Asparagus Board.
Asparagus is especially healthy for pregnant women as it’s the leading supplier of folic acid.
It is also packed full of nutrients, such as the following:
- Low in calories, about 4 calories per spear.
- Contains no fat or cholesterol.
- Low in sodium.
- A good source of potassium and fiber.
- Loaded with vitamin B6.
How Many Calories per Serving?
This sauteed asparagus recipe is only 94 calories, making it a healthy side dish that you should make frequently.
What Dishes to Serve with This Recipe?
Sauteed asparagus goes well with anything: salmon, chicken, shrimp and meat. If you like roasting in the oven, try this roasted asparagus recipe.
For a wholesome meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.
How to Make Sauteed Asparagus?
Please refer to the recipe card below for detailed step-by-step method on how to make cook asparagus in a skillet, on stove top.
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Sauteed Asparagus (The Best Recipe)
Ingredients
- 10 oz. (280g) young asparagus
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- salt (to taste)
- 3 dashes ground black pepper
- lemon juice (optional)
Instructions
- Cut the bottom part of the asparagus stems, about 1-2 inches (2.5cm-5cm).
- Heat up a skillet on medium heat and add the melted butter. Saute the garlic until slightly browned before adding the asparagus. Toss with a spatula to combine well with the garlic.
- Add salt and ground black pepper. Add a squirt or two lemon juice, if using. Once the asparagus becomes tender and just cooked, remove from heat and serve immediately. DO NOT overcook the asparagus.
Nutrition
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
About how long does it take the asparagus to cook? I’ve never cooked asparagus, so I’m not really sure how to tell when it’s cooked, so an estimated cooking time would be great! ? Thanks so much!
It’s cooked as soon as it’s wilted a bit, or taste it.
737 canyon edge
Hi rasa, tried the garlic pork chops,
Garlic chicken and aspargas. My Family loved Them. They want me to make Them again tonight .My sister was over for dinner and gave her your recipe , im very happy with all your recipes. Keep seeing Them
Hi Ray, thanks. Please try more recipes on my site. They are all good.
Can you do this on the grill wrapped in foil
I cooked this last night, But it wasn’t as soft as I wanted it to be. How do I tell if the asparagus I bought is young.?
Young asparagus are skinny and tender, you can just easily break it off with finger. If they are thick with a strong stem, they are older, so please cook them longer.
How much longer?
Thanks
My fiance tried this tonight and it was SO yummy! We added a little jalapeño to it for the extra spice and it was to die for! Definitely our go to side dish for now on :)
Just made this last night and it was delicious!! Thank you so much for the recipe.
Thank you! :)
I tried few dish of yours. Thank you.
I’ve made this several times. We were all shocked to discover we like asparagus! At least, when it’s covered in garlic and butter…
This recipe is amazingly simple and amazingly delicious. Thank you so much!
Hi Alicia, thanks for your comment and thanks for trying my recipe. Yes, everything tastes great with garlic and butter. :)
This sauteed asparagus are so yummy. Love the idea of garlic and butter. I could its greasy along with the tender stems. Absolutely love it!
Yes, nothing beats the combination of garlic and butter. :)
This recipe is simply delicious! My wife and I marveled how fortunate we are to have your enthusiastic talent available to us to make our cuisine so much better. Thank you! It’s better with the lemon providing a bit of acid, btw.
I tried few dish of yours. Taste great esp western food. Thank you.
That’s great! Thanks. :)