Best Asparagus Recipes

This is a simple salad that celebrates spring produce. The key is to use incredibly fresh ingredients, particularly the white asparagus. White asparagus has a sweeter, less bitter flavor than green asparagus, and this minimalist recipe will really make it stand out in the dish. Asparagus can dry out if it’s left out in a supermarket or fridge, so try to find a local variety, preferably from a farmers market.

The true sign of spring in the food world is the abundance of many fresh vegetables. Asparagus is one of the quintessential spring vegetables. This cherished culinary pleasure is so flavorful that you’ll find it in all kinds of dishes. When purchasing asparagus, examine the tips for signs of freshness, as that is the portion most likely to break or spoil. Look for tightly closed tips and stalks that are not too dry. The young asparagus have purple tips and green stems and grow thicker as they ripen. If served cold, you can cook in advance, but be sure to shock them in ice cold water to stop cooking and keep flavor and color. My friend Holly Clegg was kind enough to share this recipe with us. See all spring vegetable recipes.

Here is a dish that can be put together in just around 10 minutes.  It looks beautiful and can be served as a main dish at brunch or as a salad for dinner.  As always, the fresher the eggs, the better the dish, especially in such a simple preparations as this. Note: Adding a bit of wine or vinegar to the poaching water helps the egg hold its shape by causing the outer layer of the egg white to congeal faster.  We recommend wine over vinegar, simply because it tastes better! Rioja pairing: Both asparagus and eggs are notorious for being difficult to pair with wine because they both contain sulfurous elements that can make wine taste vegetal, but difficult does not mean impossible!  Try this dish with a bright, fruity Rioja rosé, you will not be disappointed.

The spring staple asparagus finds its way into a cold-weather dish in this recipe, combining artichokes and mushrooms with smoky spices and Cheddar cheese. Click here to see more casserole recipes.

Were your eyes too big for your stomach this past weekend at the farmers' market? This asparagus soup recipe is the perfect way to make use of a surplus of asparagus. Eat it fresh or keep it frozen to enjoy well past asparagus season.