Boiled Asparagus
Servings: 4 people
- 16 ounces (1 lb) (500 grams) asparagus
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 5 cups water
- You have two options for boiling asparagus. Either boil them whole in a large pan or chopped up in a pot or saucepan. We like to boil them whole; they look pretty this way.To a large pan, add 5 cups of water and bring to a boil. In the meantime, rinse and trim the woody ends of the asparagus.
- With a vegetable peeler, peel two to three inches of the asparagus, the final part of the stalk. It can get fibrous and chewy when boiled, especially if the asparagus spears are not fresh. It takes a minute, so we recommend peeling them. Your asparagus will cook more evenly and be more tender and buttery.
- When the water boil, add 1 teaspoon of salt and the asparagus. If you put less water, you'll need less salt. Boil on medium heat for about 6 to 10 minutes, depending on how thick the stalks are. Ours in the picture took exactly 10 minutes, and they were perfectly tender-crisp. To check for doneness, poke it with a fork. it should be soft but with texture and a little bite to it.
- Take out of the water and either serve immediately or pass them under cold running water for 10 seconds to prevent them from overcooking. Serving suggestions are below.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
OLIVE OIL The simplest way to serve boiled asparagus is with a sprinkle of salt, freshly ground black pepper, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, and a squeeze of fresh lemon or balsamic vinegar. They are super healthy, fresh, and packed with flavor. BUTTER Another way is adding a teaspoon or two of butter. We love to use vegan butter and sprinkle with salt, pepper, freshly chopped parsley, and a squeeze of lemon. VINAIGRETTE You can also try them with our quick and easy mustard vinaigrette. Make it with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, 1 teaspoon of mustard, ½ teaspoon of salt, a few twists of black pepper, and some grated garlic (or garlic powder). Whisk well and serve alongside the boiled asparagus for people to drizzle on top. This vinaigrette adds a lot of flavor to this simple recipe. It's tangy, zesty, a little sweet, and sour. It's delicious with boiled asparagus.