Asparagus recipes for every meal: from fries to eggs, risotto, dips, pizza, snacks, sides, and yes, even sushi. Asparagus adds so much flavor to SO many dishes, includigng in-between meal snacks. Over the years, I feel like I’ve tried asparagus in just about everything. So I just want to take a moment to share some of my favorite happy asparagus memories with you. And a little warning about how to make the best of the brief season when this beautiful veggie sprouts up from the ground: NEVER snap your asparagus.
Because FINALLY it’s asparagus season! We had a long chilly spring with a few interspersed nice sunny days and a LOT of wind and nasty weather. Frankly, it felt more like winter than spring. So yes, we’ve SO been looking forward to seeing those pretty green spears burst up from the ground. One of the first edible signs of spring!
Last time I visited my parents we could see the long-awaited little pokes springing up from the ground. So my dad thought we should have asparagus for dinner. But it was so nasty windy that day that everyone ended up leaving before dinner. That meant we all got to bring asparagus home with us. Which, in a roundabout way, makes me super happy because now I have a new ingredient in my kitchen to play with. If we had eaten it for dinner, there wouldn’t have been enough left to bring home.
Why you should NEVER snap the Ends Off Asparagus
One night a friend came over for dinner. I asked her to bring tomatoes for the salad. A little late, she arrived with a little container of tomatoes and a BEAUTIFUL bunch of asparagus. I told her we should toss those spears into the air fryer and asked her to wash them. She washed them and then promptly snapped off the ends and presented just the tops to me for cooking.
Inside, I was appalled. Because when she snapped off “the ends”, it took off half the bunch of asparagus. To avoid hurting my sweet friend’s feelings, I didn’t say anything. Since the damage was done, it really didn’t matter. And we just wanted to enjoy our rare evening together. We rarely get “friend time” anymore.
However, I want to share this tip with you, my foodie friends. When you “snap” your asparagus, you are essentially throwing away up to half (or more!) of the tasty goodness that asparagus has to offer. Depending on where you’re grabbing the spears, they could snap at almost any point in the spear. Resulting in a LOT of waste. Not convinced?
Instead of snapping your asparagus, use a knife to chop off the bottom. Some asparagus spears do get “woody” towards the bottom end of the spear. If you are concerned about that, use a vegetable peeler to peel off the bottom ends.
Honestly, sometimes I don’t even bother chopping off the ends. If we’ve taken care to keep it clean when plucking fresh asparagus from the garden, most of the time the entire stalk will cook up perfectly.
Is Asparagus Healthy?
I’ve talked about the heart healthy benefits of asparagus in part 3 of my cholesterol busting posts. Aside from that, asparagus is not only prized for its delicate flavor, it’s also jam-packed with nutrients! Asparagus is high in vitamins A, B6, C, E and K as well as folate and potassium. It’s also high in fiber.
What does all of that do for you? Asparagus is considered a natural aphrodesiac, helps your digestive system and can even boost your mood. The vitamin K in asparagus helps your body absorb calcium too, which is good for your bones, but also helps your blood clot properly.
But enough of this talk … let’s get on to the recipes, shall we?
Breakfast
I think asparagus and eggs are one of my favorite pairings, especially when you add cheese. So that means asparagus is perfectly suited for breakfast! Or brunch … or hey, what’s more fun than breakfast for dinner? Just scroll down to see some of my favorite breakfast dishes featuring asparagus. You’ll find the recipe links beneath the gallery.
- Swiss Ham & Asparagus Egg Bake – an easy way to make a hearty, hot pleasing breakfast for a crowd
- Baked Eggs in Asparagus Sweet Onion Nests
- Bacon Asparagus Breakfast Cups
- Air Fryer Asparagus & Mushrooms with fried egg – ok, this is really a side dish. But put an egg on it, and it transforms into a satisfying healthy breakfast!
- Bacon Asparagus Blue Cheese Tots
- Ham & Asparagus Breakfast Quinoa
- Ham & Asparagus Quiche with Hashbrown Crust
- Bacon Pepper Asparagus Souffle Cups
- Crab, Mushroom & Asparagus Frittata
- Asparagus Avocado Deviled Eggs
- Asparagus Avec Fromage – a smoked turkey asparagus omelet loaded with cheese and fresh dill. Oh and by the way, this was my very first blog post so please be kind.
Lunch
Aside from breakfast, asparagus is the perfect veggie to turn to for lunch. Delightful in soups, salads and sandwiches, asparagus adds flavor, flair and loads of health benefits to your mid-day meal. If you want a heavier meal mid-day, try one of the dinner recipes (below!)
- Parmesan Broccoli Asparagus Soup
- Lemony Roasted Asparagus, Rice & Pea Salad
- Bacon Asparagus Sun Dried Tomato Salad
- Roasted Pepper & Asparagus Salad
- Asparagus Crab Bisque
- Asparagus on Green Garlic Crostini
- Salmon Salad & Asparagus Sandwich
- Lemony Asparagus Quinoa Salad
- Asparagus Bell Pepper Tart
Snacks and Sides
Asparagus is not only the perfect side for almost any meal, it also makes a great snack! Again, scroll down to find the recipes to all these delightful options below the gallery of images.
- Four Cheese Garlic Roasted Asparagus
- Baked Sriracha Ranch Asparagus Fries
- Asparagus Dill Hummus
- Crispy Breaded Asparagus Spears
- Hotsy Totsy Summer Shrimp Dip
- Grilled Italian Garlic Asparagus
- Spring Crab & Asparagus Dip
- Asparagus Smoked Salmon Sushi – yes you can put asparagus in your sushi. It adds a really nice flavor and crunch.
- Asparagus Guacamole – asparagus gives avocado a healthy bright green boost!
Dinner / Supper
I know there’s some debate over whether the evening meal is called “dinner” or “supper”. And also whether that evening meal should be the heaviest meal of the day. Personally, I don’t even eat a meal in the evenings most days anymore. I prefer a light snack and a glass of wine in the evening. But I know most folks sit down to a proper dinner. And I know how much sitting down to eat together helps foster closeness in relationships. So I offer these suggestions incorporating asparagus into your BIG meal of the day. The time when you come together with family or friends and share flavors and conversations.
- Salmon Rolls stuffed with asparagus & cheese – such an elegant meal
- Creamy Barley Risotto with Asparagus & Sea Scallops
- Shrimp, Asiago & Asparagus Risotto with fresh dill – or try my baked brown rice version: Seafood & Asparagus Baked Brown Rice Risotto
- Pork with Asparagus, Mustard and Dark Beer
- Asparagus Pesto Rotini with Shrimp & Shrooms
- Bacon Asparagus Ribbon Pizza with Zucchini Crust
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[…] extra for lots of our friends and neighbors. Over the many years I have been blogging, I’ve posted sooo many asparagus recipes. Sometimes I feel as if there can never possibly be anything new left to share. But yes, once […]