Asparagus is one of my favorite vegetables, and today I am sharing the easiest way to prepare asparagus. This recipe takes just 10 minutes from start to finish, making it the perfect vegetable side dish to serve on a busy weeknight. Plus, asparagus is high in dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, and other nutrients.
I like to sauté asparagus in butter and season it with salt, pepper, and fresh lemon juice. This is a preparation that doesn’t mask the bright earthy taste of the asparagus itself. I always squeeze lemon juice over broccoli too, it really compliments the flavor of green vegetables.
I love that asparagus basically tells you when it is done cooking – it turns a vibrant green color. This asparagus took 8 minutes to cook – and it was on the thicker side. Thin asparagus will cook in about 6 minutes, and very thick asparagus can take 10 minutes.
I was a really picky eater when I was a kid. I definitely judged foods based on how they looked. I wouldn’t eat vegetables that I thought looked funny, asparagus included. I don’t think I even tried asparagus until I was a teenager! The first time I tried it I mistook it for chopped broccoli and I told my Dad that the broccoli in the pasta I was eating was really good, and he explained that was because it was asparagus. I have been eating it ever since!
I am not the only one who loves asparagus. When I was in Finland last Spring the country was celebrating asparagus week – an entire week devoted asparagus! Restaurants had special asparagus menus and we enjoyed asparagus in soups and meats were served on a bed of asparagus. In a country that is so cold so much of the year, Spring vegetables are something to be celebrated!
Most recently, I served asparagus with my recipe for Mustard and Mushroom Chicken. I shared that recipe on the site yesterday.
Ingredients
- 1 bunch of Asparagus
- 1 tablespoon Butter
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- a dash of Pepper
- a Lemon Wedge
Instructions
- Start by trimming the asparagus. See where the ends naturally snap off and then cut the asparagus to that length. Then rinse the asparagus.
- Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add the asparagus, salt, and pepper, and toss the asparagus in the skillet to evenly coat it in butter.
- Let the asparagus simmer in skillet until for 6-10 minutes, until it turns bright green.
- Squeeze the lemon juice over the asparagus and serve it right away.
