Remove the woody bottom of the stalk by bending it until it breaks at the point the tender top becomes tough. Whole Asparagus– There is probably no more attractive presentation than serving whole asparagus cooked to perfection.Technique: If you’re cooking them alone, toss with olive oil, salt/pepper in a baking dish, and then put them into a 375 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until tender.Cons: Easy to overcook, gotta turn on the oven.Pros: Easy - put in oven and forget Generally part of a casserole or other dish.Rotate the stalks, cook the other side for 1 – 2 minutes, until they are tender Lay perpendicular to your grill grate, and let cook for 2 – 3 minutes. Technique: Get your grill good and hot, and while it heats, toss the asparagus with some olive oil, salt and pepper.Cons: The stalks can slip through the grill they may burn on you if you don’t watch them.Pros: Adds a unique charred/smoky flavor pretty easy.Remove before they are tender, and cool immediately in an ice bath to stop the cooking process and set the color. Technique: Boil the asparagus a quart+ of salted water for 2 – 3 minutes.Cons: Only the first a two step cooking process.Pros: Let’s you prep ahead of time, sets a nice green color, saves time at dinner time.You can other other ingredients, like herbs, bacon, nuts, shallots and garlic as they cook. Toss in the asparagus, and saute with a dash of salt and pepper tossing every few minutes. Technique: Bring a saute pan up to temperature over medium high heat, and add a bit of olive oil or butter.Pros: Can easily add additional ingredients & flavors, Good way to get some caramelization.Drain, season with salt and pepper, a pat of butter and enjoy Technique: Drop the asparagus into about an inch of salted, boiling water for 3 – 4 minutes, until just tender.Unadulterated asparagus taste no chance to jazz it up Pros: Very simple to do, quick, and little prep work.You can use these different techniques to highlight or mute down the natural flavors and to add new ones.Īsparagus Cooking methodsSteaming Asparagus Others, like grilling will add smoky/charred elements. Some, like steaming, keep the asparagus in its most “natural” state. Cooking methods: Different cooking methods may impart their own distinct flavors.The easier it goes in and comes out, the more cooked the asparagus is With either, you can tell doneness by inserting a knife into a stalk. I lean towards the al dente while others may like a more tender stalk. What’s the “right” doneness?: There is room for preference in determine when asparagus is “well cooked”.And they start to taste more bitter and sulfuric. As asparagus get over cooked a few things happen – and they are all bad. Overcooking: With any cooking technique, one of the things you need to avoid is overcooking the asparagus.
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