Love asparagus? Then you’ll adore these easy asparagus recipes. Each one is full of flavor and ultra-fresh. Whether you want to roast asparagus, cook it on the grill, or add it to a pasta dish – you’ll find the perfect recipe here.

 

The Best Asparagus Recipes

As Spring approaches, my thoughts turn to all the beautiful fresh produce that comes along with it – especially fresh, jade-green asparagus spears! This robust, yet delicately flavored vegetable is a springtime favorite.  Asparagus is so easy to cook with and can be made in lots of healthy, easy, and super-tasty recipes. Perfection!

What is Asparagus?

Asparagus is a perennial vegetable that grows back every year. You only need to plant it once, then as long as you tend your asparagus patch you’ll find yourself harvesting spears each season. Asparagus grows best in temperate climates and can come in a few different colors. The most common variety produces green spears like the ones you’ll find at the grocery store. However, asparagus can also be white, pink, and purple.

Is It Healthy?

Yes, asparagus is so good for you! Asparagus is a good source of lots of antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc. It’s also known for helping your body cleanse itself of toxins and contains high levels of vitamin K (good for your heart, among other things) and B vitamins (great for energy, and much more!)

Easy Asparagus Recipes to Try

Are you excited to start whipping up all of your asparagus favorites? Me too! I hope that as you look through this list, you’ll find inspiration for new and different ways to enjoy this super veggie.

How to Trim the Ends

When making asparagus recipes, cutting the asparagus is just as important as your cooking method. This is because the base of the stem is usually tough and inedible.

You can use a sharp knife to trim off the ends. Usually, the bottom two inches are tough, while the remaining portion is tender. I recommend cutting the asparagus there, so you don’t accidentally cut off portions of the asparagus that are tender and edible. If, during your meal, you realize that some of the stalks still have a little bit of the tough end attached, just cut those off and leave them on the plate as you would a shrimp tail.

Should You Peel It?

Do you need to peel your asparagus? While some cooks recommend this, I have never found it necessary. Asparagus tends to cook up beautifully without peeling, so I say leave the peel alone and enjoy more asparagus!

Should You Soak Asparagus Before Cooking?

You do not have to soak fresh asparagus before cooking, but it can be helpful for removing any dirt or grit from the stalks. Just let them sit for a few minutes in a bowl of water, to loosen the dirt. Then rinse them under cool running water. 

What’s the Best Way to Store Asparagus?

Okay, this definitely makes asparagus the spring-iest vegetable out there – to store, you need to trim the ends and place them in a glass of water, like flowers in a vase! From there, cover the tops loosely with a bag (a zip-top bag works well for this) and store in the fridge. Use as soon as possible; when the tips of the asparagus loosen and begin to “bloom” or wilt, the asparagus is no longer fresh.