If you already like asparagus and feel adventurous, seek out its white and purple varieties to add to your dishes. They’ll dress up your sides and bring different tastes and textures to your plates.
White asparagus, grown underground, is more tender and delicate than conventional green; purple tastes a bit sweeter. White and purple may be harder to find, but they bring great Instagram opportunities to your meals!
Green asparagus, abundant during its April-May peak harvest season, is another great reason to love spring. It is naturally succulent, loaded with nutrition, mostly absent of sugars and an amenable mixer with many kinds of foods. Asparagus can inspire your mealtime imagination because it goes well with fresh meat, seafood, pastas, salads and soups. It can be its own center attraction too, grilled, roasted or sautéed in different ways.
Consumer-tested recipes on ReadySetEat.com suggest easy-to-make fresh asparagus dishes. Try tasty, healthful choices such as:
Roasted Asparagus with Tomatoes, topped with lycopene-rich Hunt's® Diced Tomatoes.
Stir-Fry Asparagus with Peanuts; this surprisingly simple blend includes LaChoy® Soy Sauce and dry-roasted peanuts for the perfect crunch.
Prepare a hearty and fresh asparagus recipe. Chicken Noodle Primavera can be ready in 30 minutes! Fresh vegetables make this pasta dish pop!
Or for a light breakfast any time of day, Egg White and Veggie Pita Pockets, featuring reduced-fat Swiss cheese, mushrooms, asparagus and Egg Beaters® 100% Liquid Egg Whites for a better-for-you breakfast.
At the store, buy rounded asparagus stalks with firm, thin stems and deep green or purplish closed tips. Also, buy asparagus that is all the same size; this will guarantee even cooking. Asparagus looks and tastes best when refrigerator-stored with ends wrapped in a damp paper towel, and consumed within two days of purchase. Cook it whole, and then slice or dice it as you like.
The wholesomeness of asparagus includes anti-inflammatories, plus anti-oxidants such as vitamins C and E, and minerals zinc, manganese and selenium. Its prebiotic inulin supports digestion, and its multiple B vitamins, fiber and protein round out an impressive nutritional profile.
So grab some asparagus next time you’re at the store and try one of these fresh asparagus recipes.
