If you are wondering how to cook asparagus in the best way, here are five easy methods; sautรฉed, roasted, air-fried, steamed and blended.

Asparagus is a delicious, low-calorie vegetable that is easy to prepare. For more spring recipe inspiration, see our guide to cooking artichokes.

How to cook asparagus.

Since Louise and I started theplantbasedschool.com in 2019, we’ve explored hundreds of ways to cook seasonal vegetables.

Among thousands of recipe tests, most of them inspired by the Mediterranean diet, asparagus remains one of our favorite spring veggies to cook.

I never thought that I would make an asparagus soup with tahini or add peeled asparagus to an Italian pasta salad. Yet here we are ๐Ÿ˜›!

Whether you are preparing for an easter lunch, or searching for St. Patrick’s Day Recipes, asparagus can become your new dinner table hero.

I’ve listed my 5 favorite ways to cook asparagus here; sautรฉed, roasted, steamed, air fried, and blended in a pesto.

All asparagus recipes are ready within 20 minutes, and make nutritious and colorful dishes.

Five quick ways to cook asparagus

Sautรฉed asparagus

  1. Chop the asparagus spears into smaller chunks. To sautรฉ the asparagus whole, youโ€™ll need a large skillet that can fit them.
  2. On a large skillet, warm up a tablespoon of olive oil. Add asparagus, crushed garlic, salt, and pepper.
  3. Sautรฉ on medium-high heat for 2 minutes, add white wine and stir.
  4. Let the wine evaporate, turn the heat to medium-low, cover with a lid and cook for 5 to 7 minutes.
Sauteed asparagus after cooking.

Roasted asparagus

  1. Reheat the oven to 400ยฐF. Rinse and trim the woody ends of the asparagus with a sharp knife.
  2. Transfer the asparagus to a baking sheet and season with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Add the crushed garlic, and toss until evenly coated.
  3. Arrange asparagus on a single layer, then roast them at 400ยฐF for 10 to 15 minutes. To check for doneness, poke them with a fork at the end of the stalk.
roasted asparagus with lemon and fresh parsley

Steamed asparagus

  1. Rinse asparagus and cut off woodier end of the stalk.
  2. Add water to large skillet. Insert a steamer basket and place the asparagus in it. Cover with a lid.
  3. Bring water to a boil and steam for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on their thickness.
  4. Serve with fresh lemon and a honey mustard dressing.
Steamed asparagus with lemon slices.

Air fryer asparagus

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 400ยฐ for 3 minutes. Rinse the asparagus, pat them dry, then chop off the woody ends.
  2. Add asparagus to a large bowl or plate, and add olive oil, salt, pepper, and crushed garlic cloves. Mix well to coat the asparagus.
  3. Arrange in air fryer basket and air fry for 8 minutes. At the halfway mark, shake the asparagus and add grated parmesan cheese.
air fried asparagus with parmesan cheese

Asparagus pesto

  1. Cut off and discard the woody end of the asparagus. Cut the spears into discs and leave the tips whole.
  2. In a large skillet, sautรฉ chopped onion in extra virgin olive oil.
  3. Add asparagus, grated garlic, salt, and black pepper, and cook for 5 minutes.
  4. To a food processor, add half of the cooked asparagus, fresh basil, grated parmesan, lemon juice, water, and blend until creamy. Cook the pasta in the meantime.
  5. Add the sauce back to the skillet with the remaining asparagus, add the pasta, and some reserved pasta water. Stir until creamy adding more reserve cooking water and parmesan if necessary.
Asparagus pasta with fork and lemon

Mediterranean methods to cook asparagus

  • Blanching: To blanch asparagus, cook them in salted boiling water for about 1 minute, then drain and rinse under cold water for 20 seconds. Pat them dry with a kitchen cloth and sautรฉ.
  • Grilled asparagus: When your grill pan is hot, arrange the marinated asparagus on it and cook for 5 to 10 minutes. Turn the asparagus with tongs a few times.

How to store asparagus

Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.

You can eat them cold, at room temperature, or reheat them in the microwave. We do not recommend freezing these asparagus recipes.

More cooking basics

If you tried these Asparagus recipes or any other recipe on our blog, please leave a ๐ŸŒŸ star rating and let us know how it goes in the comments. We love hearing from you!

Cooking techniques for asparagus.

How to Cook Asparagus (air fryer asparagus)

5 from 1 vote
Asparagus and air fryer are made for each other, and this air fryer asparagus recipe is proof of that. It's quick, healthy, and, most importantly, delicious.
The asparagus is slightly crispy on the outside while soft and juicy inside. Plus, they are ready in just 10 minutes.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 13 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Side dish, Starter
Cuisine: American

Equipment

  • Air fryer

Ingredients 

  • 1 bunch (16 oz/1 lb) asparagus
  • 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
  • ยฝ teaspoon salt
  • 2 twists black pepper
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed, or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 4 wedges lemon (for serving)
  • 1 tablespoon parsley or basil, chopped (for serving)

Instructions 

  • Preheat the air fryer to 400ยฐ or 200ยฐC for 3 minutes.
    Rinse the asparagus and shake off excess water.
    Pat them dry, then chop off the woody ends with a sharp knife.
    1 bunch (16 oz/1 lb) asparagus
    trimmed asparagus
  • Add asparagus to a large bowl or plate, and add olive oil, salt, pepper, and crushed garlic cloves. Mix well to coat asparagus with oil.
    2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, ยฝ teaspoon salt, 2 twists black pepper, 2 cloves garlic
    tossing asparagus in oil, salt, and pepper
  • Arrange in air fryer basket (they can overlap) and air fry for 8 minutes. Move them around halfway through cooking.
    Note: cooking time varies based on the air fryer, so keep an eye on them. They are cooked when crisp on the outside and tender on the inside.
    asparagus arranged in air fryer
  • Transfer onto a serving plate and serve.
    You can add lemon wedges to squeeze on top and freshly chopped parsley or basil. If needed, add an extra pinch of salt on top.
    4 wedges lemon, 1 tablespoon parsley
    air fryer asparagus served on a plate with lemon
  • For more serving suggestions and topping ideas, check out our "variations" chapter above.
    Air fryer asparagus with white beans and tahini sauce

Notes

Nutrition information is an estimate for 1 serving of air fryer asparagus out of 4 servings.
MAKE AHEAD & STORAGE
Make Ahead:ย air fryer asparagus are best eaten right out of the air fryer as they are deliciously charred and tender crips. However, they store well for several days.
Refrigerator:ย store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat: we recommend warming them in the microwave or air fryer for a few minutes.
Freezer:ย this recipe is not suitable for freezing.

Nutrition

Calories: 44kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 2g, Saturated Fat: 0.3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: -1mg, Potassium: 247mg, Dietary Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 938IU, Vitamin B6: 0.1mg, Vitamin C: 9mg, Vitamin E: 2mg, Vitamin K: 65ยตg, Calcium: 34mg, Folate: 60ยตg, Iron: 3mg, Manganese: 0.3mg, Magnesium: 18mg, Zinc: 1mg
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If you liked these asparagus recipes, you might also enjoy:


Nico and Louise in front of the Consolazione church in Todi

Hi! We are Nico & Louise

Welcome to The Plant-Based School, a food blog with vegetarian and vegan recipes.

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