Pan-Fried Asparagus: Quick, Easy, And Delicious

Asparagus is a delicious and healthy vegetable that can be prepared in a variety of ways. One simple and quick method is to cook it in a pan on the stove. This versatile cooking style allows you to season the asparagus to your liking and serve it as a side dish or add it to other recipes like frittatas, pastas, or grain bowls. In this article, we will explore different ways to prepare asparagus in a pan, providing you with a step-by-step guide to creating tasty asparagus dishes.

Seasoning: salt, pepper, and garlic

Preparing asparagus in a pan is a quick and easy way to cook this healthy vegetable. Here is a step-by-step guide to achieving the perfect pan-fried asparagus with a focus on seasoning:

Ingredients:

• Asparagus spears
• Salt (coarse or kosher)
• Ground black pepper
• Garlic (fresh)
• Butter
• Olive oil

Method:

• Wash the asparagus spears under cold water and dry them with a clean kitchen towel.
• To trim the asparagus, snap off the ends of the spears, or bend until the end snaps to find the natural breaking point, then trim the rest to match.
• Melt butter in a pan over medium-high heat. You can also add a little olive oil for extra flavour.
• Add the salt, pepper, and garlic to the pan and cook until fragrant, stirring frequently (around 30 seconds).
• Place the asparagus spears in the pan, ensuring they are in a single layer and not overcrowded.
• Cook the asparagus until it is fork-tender, turning the spears often to ensure even cooking. This should take around 10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the spears.
• Once the asparagus is tender and bright green, it is ready to be served.

Tips:

• For a stronger garlic flavour, add the garlic to the pan at the beginning with the butter and oil. For a milder taste, add the garlic towards the end of cooking.
• To check if the asparagus is cooked, insert a knife into the thickest part of the spear. If it comes out easily, it is ready.
• For extra flavour, sprinkle the asparagus with shaved Parmesan cheese before serving.
• To store leftovers, place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Enjoy your delicious and healthy pan-fried asparagus!

Cooking method: melt butter, add asparagus, and cook until tender

Cooking Asparagus in a Pan

Ingredients

To cook asparagus in a pan, you will need the following ingredients:

• Asparagus
• Butter
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• Garlic

Method: Melt Butter, Add Asparagus, and Cook Until Tender

• Prepare the asparagus: Wash the asparagus by placing it in a large bowl or clean sink filled with cold water. Swish it around to remove any dirt. To trim the asparagus, grasp the end of each spear and bend it until it snaps. The asparagus will naturally break at the right point, separating the tender stalk from the woody end. You can also line up the spears on a cutting board and trim them all to the same length.
• Melt butter in a pan: Place a skillet or frying pan on the stove and turn the heat to medium-high. Add a knob of butter to the pan and let it melt.
• Add olive oil, salt, and pepper: Once the butter is melted, add a drizzle of olive oil to the pan, along with a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir the ingredients together.
• Cook the garlic: If you are using garlic, add it to the pan now. Cook the garlic for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, stirring frequently, until it becomes fragrant. Be careful not to let it burn.
• Add the asparagus: Place the asparagus spears in the pan. Cook the asparagus for about 3 to 10 minutes, turning them occasionally to ensure even cooking. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of your asparagus spears. Thinner spears will cook faster, while thicker spears may take a little longer.
• Check for doneness: Your asparagus is done when it is tender and bright green in colour. To check if it is tender, pierce it with a fork or the tip of a knife. It should be soft but still have a slight bite to it.
• Serve: Once the asparagus is cooked to your liking, remove it from the heat and serve immediately. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.

Tips and Variations:

• For a simple side dish, serve the pan-fried asparagus as-is. It pairs well with meat, seafood, or eggs.
• For a pop of flavour, add a squeeze of lemon juice to the asparagus before serving.
• For a more substantial meal, top the asparagus with grated Parmesan cheese, sliced chicken or beef, shrimp, or a fried egg.
• To make a frittata or omelette, try adding the cooked asparagus to your egg mixture before cooking.

Storing: airtight container, up to three days in the fridge

Once you've cooked your asparagus, you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. It's best to eat it on the same day it's cooked, but if you have leftovers, simply pop them in an airtight container and store them in the fridge.

If you're looking to store your asparagus for longer, you can freeze it. To do this, cut the ends off fresh asparagus and, if you like, cut it into smaller pieces. Then, blanch the asparagus in boiling, salted water for 30-60 seconds, until it turns bright green, and transfer it to an ice bath. This process will help preserve the colour, texture, and flavour of the asparagus. Finally, pat the asparagus dry, place it in a freezer bag, and label the bag with the date.

When you're ready to use your frozen asparagus, cook it from frozen by sautéing or steaming it. This will ensure that you preserve the most flavour, texture, and colour.

Trimming: snap off woody ends

Trimming the woody ends off asparagus is a crucial step in preparing asparagus in a pan. This step ensures you only cook and consume the tender, edible parts of the asparagus spear. Here is a detailed guide on how to do it:

First, take one asparagus spear and hold it horizontally with one hand on the thin end and the other hand grasping just above the middle. Gently bend the spear until it naturally snaps. The asparagus will break at the point where the woody end meets the tender stalk. This natural breaking point ensures you remove only the inedible part of the spear. Repeat this process for all your asparagus spears, or you can use this broken spear as a guide for trimming the rest.

If you prefer a more precise approach, you can use a sharp knife to trim the ends. Line up all the spears on a cutting board and trim them all at the same point where the first spear snapped. This method ensures uniformity in the length of your asparagus.

Now that you have trimmed the woody ends, your asparagus is ready to be cooked in a pan. You can choose to sauté, pan-fry, or stir-fry your asparagus with some butter, olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic for a delicious and healthy side dish.

Remember to wash the asparagus thoroughly before trimming to remove any dirt. Enjoy your freshly prepared asparagus!

Serving suggestions: shrimp scampi, steak, or garlic butter

There are many ways to prepare asparagus in a pan, and it is a great side dish to serve with shrimp scampi, steak, or garlic butter. Here are some tips and serving suggestions for each:

Shrimp Scampi:

Shrimp scampi is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that pairs perfectly with asparagus. To make it even better, you can add the asparagus to the shrimp scampi and cook them together in one pan. Here's how:

• Line a baking sheet or pan with foil and lightly spray it with cooking spray.
• Add asparagus, along with other vegetables like tomatoes, and drizzle with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat evenly and spread in a single layer.
• Roast in the oven for 5-7 minutes, depending on the thickness of your asparagus.
• Meanwhile, prepare your shrimp scampi by mixing shrimp with garlic, lemon juice, butter, and seasonings.
• Remove the pan from the oven and push the asparagus to one side. Add the shrimp mixture and spread in a single layer.
• Top the asparagus and shrimp with cubed butter and roast for another 6 minutes or until the shrimp is cooked.
• Drizzle with lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve the shrimp scampi and asparagus with your choice of pasta, rice, zoodles, or bread.

Steak:

Asparagus is a great side dish to serve with steak. To prepare it in a pan, follow these simple steps:

• Melt some butter in a skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add olive oil, coarse salt, and ground black pepper to the pan and stir until fragrant.
• Add the asparagus spears and cook for about 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until they are tender.
• Serve the asparagus alongside your favourite cut of steak.

Garlic Butter:

For a delicious and flavourful side dish, you can prepare asparagus in a pan with garlic butter. Here's how:

• Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add minced garlic to the melted butter and cook for about a minute, being careful not to let it burn.
• Add the asparagus spears and cook for about 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until they are tender.
• Season with coarse salt and ground black pepper to taste.
• Serve the garlic butter asparagus as a side dish or with your favourite protein.

Frequently asked questions