Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Asparagus - A Sign of Spring

I'm not sure that seeing asparagus in the grocery store is a true sign of spring.  Since now, I seem to see it all year round.  For me, seeing fresh asparagus means that spring is not far away. 

Since Easter is coming up in a couple of days, I thought this asparagus recipe would be great for a nice dinner.  This is a recipe I made several years ago.  It was originally published in Cooking Light magazine.  A colleague made it and declared that her family gobbled them straight off the baking sheet.  What more can you say about a vegetable!

For more information on selecting, storing and the nutritional value of asparagus check out the Fruit and Vegetables More Matters website.  Also check out the Local Foods/Seasonal Eating section of UNL-Extension Food Website.  You will find more recipes for asparagus and other seasonal produce.

Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Browned Butter

Serves 8.

Ingredients:

2 pounds asparagus spears, trimmed
1 Tablespoon olive oil
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 Tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons low sodium soy sauce
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
Cracked black pepper, optional

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 400°F. 
 
2.  Arrange asparagus in a single layer on a baking sheet.  Coat with olive oil.  Rub asparagus to coat with olive oil.  Bake for about 10 to 12 minutes or until tender.

3.  Melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat.  Cook for about 3 minutes or until lightly browned, shaking pan continually.  Remove from heat and stir in soy sauce and balsamic vinegar.  Pour over asparagu, tossing to coat.  Garnish with cracked pepper, if desired.



4 comments:

  1. Patience is essential to success once planting asparagus seeds. Following 2 to a few years the bed are established and also the plants can reseed themselves annually, for a virtually continuous provide of tender, crisp asparagus. The tender shoots may be devoured raw or may be hard-baked, frozen or maybe preserved. several home gardeners place a fence round the bed to stay cervid and rabbits away. the primary tender shoots to be harvested from a replacement garden square measure known as upset.
    Kopi Luwak

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Wade;
    If you live in the midwest, check out this resource from one of our local nurseries.

    http://finkegardens.com/vegetable-gardening/success-with-asparagus/

    ReplyDelete
  3. As an acupuncture practitioner, I am consistently coaching my clients about diet and nutrition. Seasonal eating is one component of healthy living. Our bodies evolved to consume what was locally available, and this design has not changed. For a list of seasonal foods for the Mid Atlantic region or more information on living in harmony with the seasons, please read my pages under seasonal health on www.LisaFarley.com
    Lisa

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks Lisa, I must check out your pages. Please visit us again.

    ReplyDelete