Asparagus season: what to cook from the spring vegetable

Publication in the group: Vegetable dishes

Soy asparagus is superior in nutritional and energy value to the natural product. Its daily use allows you to normalize the activity of the cardiovascular, digestive and urinary systems, but you should take into account the high calorie content of the product (440 kcal per 100 g). Therefore, when preparing it, it is recommended to choose lower-calorie additional ingredients, otherwise frequent consumption of asparagus will cause obesity. Soy asparagus is not similar in taste to the original product, so it is not recommended to replace them in recipes.

Korean fuju recipe

Asparagus (recipes for preparing this dish are varied, but in the classic version only fuju is used) soybean differs from other types in its high protein content, so dishes based on it are nutritious and high in calories.

What ingredients will you need?

To prepare fuju in Korean in the classic version you will need:

Asparagus.
Cooking recipes are provided below. To make the dish spicy, you can add 2-3 g of ground red pepper.

Step-by-step cooking process

The process of preparing classic Korean fuju consists of the following steps:

1. The asparagus must be removed from the bag, cut or broken to the desired length and placed in a deep container.
2. After this, the asparagus should be poured with distilled cool water and left to soak for about 12 hours.
3. Then the asparagus needs to be removed from the water and transferred to a deep salad bowl.
4. Next, you need to cut the onion into half rings and fry in oil. Onions can be overcooked. This will make the oil more flavorful. After this, the oil must be poured into a salad bowl and the onion should be thrown away.
5. Bell peppers and carrots must be cut into thin strips. And also transfer to the asparagus.
6. Chop dill, basil and garlic using a knife. Mix and place in a salad bowl.
7. After this, you need to add salt, classic soy sauce and spices to the contents, stir for at least 2 minutes, as the ingredients should be distributed evenly.

Korean-style fuju should be infused in a cool place for at least 40 minutes. It is advisable to stir the ingredients periodically.

Rules for serving dishes, decoration

Korean-style fuju is an independent snack; the dish can also be served with meat, with porridge or vegetable stew.

Salad of dry soy asparagus, brown rice, peas

Asparagus (cooking recipes can be varied by using rice and peas) adds a piquant taste and satiety to this dish.

What ingredients will you need?

To prepare dry asparagus salad you will need:

Additionally, you can add dried thyme, it will add flavor to the dish.

Step-by-step cooking process

The process of preparing a salad of asparagus, rice and peas consists of the following steps:

1. The rice must be sorted, washed and allowed to drain completely.
2. Pour water into a saucepan, bring it to a boil over medium heat and add 1-2 g of salt.
3. After this, pour the rice into boiling water and boil for about 30-40 minutes (the exact cooking time is indicated on the package).
4. Then you need to drain the broth from the rice and rinse the ingredient.
5. Place the asparagus in a suitable container and fill with water. Leave to soak for about 3 hours.
6. If frozen peas are used, they must be taken to a warm place and thawed.
7. After the asparagus is soaked, it must be cut lengthwise into 2-4 pieces, and also 5-6 cm long.
8. Next, you need to cut the garlic into 2 parts and fry in a frying pan over medium heat in 50 ml of oil. Then you need to remove the garlic from the oil and discard it.
9. Place peas in garlic oil and simmer over low heat for about 3-4 minutes.
10. Next, add asparagus and rice to the peas, distribute the ingredients evenly in the pan and pour in the broth/water.
11. Cover the pan with a lid and simmer the contents for about 3-4 minutes. Be careful not to let the asparagus become too soft.
12. 1 minute before readiness, add paprika, coriander and pepper. Mix.

Sprinkle the finished dish with lemon juice. Serve the salad with boiled chicken, fish or fresh vegetables.

Features of cooking asparagus

The traditional way to boil asparagus is to place a bunch in a tall saucepan and simmer in a few centimeters of water. However, you will need a special pan for this. An easier way is to quickly boil in salted boiling water and rinse with running cold water. This will keep the asparagus crispy.

Salad and vegetable asparagus is eaten boiled in salted water with a little sunflower oil and sugar added to the water.

Oil is necessary to create a film on the surface of the water; boiling should be very quiet. In addition, the asparagus should be completely submerged to the bottom, and since it is light and floats, it is tied tightly into one bundle with threads, a pebble is placed in the middle of it, or a heavy porcelain teapot lid is tied on and boiled for 10-20 minutes, making sure that the asparagus did not float to the surface (cook in an open container).

Since these rules are never mentioned in cookbooks (in the West, where asparagus is as common as potatoes, they are simply known about them from childhood), attempts to distribute asparagus in our country have not yielded any results: although it is sometimes sold in markets. With conventional cooking methods, when it is simply thrown into water and even together with carrots or onions, it simply becomes tasteless. In addition, many are frightened by the sharp, unpleasant smell of urine within 24 hours after eating asparagus. That is why the consumer must be informed about all the features associated with the preparation and effects of asparagus.

Asparagus cannot be stored in the refrigerator: if you bring it from the market or store, it must be cooked immediately. Features of cooking asparagus:

1. Fresh asparagus requires little or no processing. Use a knife to remove the thin top layer if it is fibrous, but usually this is not required.
2. The shoots are tied into a bundle of 8-10 pieces. The bottom of the stem takes longer to cook than the top, so it is better to cook asparagus in a special saucepan, or in such a vessel so that the bunches are located in a vertical position in it, and the stem is cooked, and the stem is steamed. Asparagus should never be overcooked. The finished asparagus should be immersed in ice water. Then it retains color, vitamins and will taste amazing.
3. Cooking time varies individually and depends on the thickness of the asparagus; on average, cooking takes from 10 to 20 minutes. You don't need to add a lot of water, otherwise all the flavor will go into the broth. Also, you should not add any spices, only salt, sugar and a piece of butter (it is necessary to create a film on the surface of the water, the boil should be very quiet). Some people add a drop (no more) of lemon juice to the water to make the asparagus whiter.
4. They cook everything from asparagus: soups, side dishes, even desserts. But real gourmets consume it exclusively fresh and uncut. Moreover, it is advisable to harvest it this morning, because asparagus begins to lose its flavor immediately after being removed from the ground. But since eating asparagus just taken out of the ground is very problematic for us, we need to learn how to choose the freshest shoots.

You can distinguish fresh asparagus by sight and hearing: the skin should be smooth, shiny and tender to the touch, and if you rub the shoots against each other, they will “creak” like glass under the hand of a window cleaner. You need to buy hard stems with dense, closed heads. The diameter is not important, and the ideal length is 15-18 cm. You can store asparagus at home for two days in the refrigerator at a temperature of +1°C, wrapped in a damp napkin, but you should not delay consumption.

If you are already tired of eating asparagus in its natural form, or you are inspired by restaurant dishes made from asparagus and want to repeat something similar at home, try cooking:

Asparagus in Italian

You will need: 1.5 kg of asparagus, 125 g of Mozzarella cheese, 12 cherry tomatoes, 80 g of freshly grated parmesan, 80 g of l. butter, 5 tbsp. olive oil, 1 small bunch of basil. Boil asparagus until tender. Preheat the oven to 200°C. Place the asparagus in a colander, rinse with cold water and let drain, then place it in greased with 2 tbsp. olive oil shape.

Cut the mozzarella into thin slices, cut the cherry tomatoes in half. Cover the asparagus with mozzarella, distribute the tomatoes evenly on top, salt and pepper and sprinkle with Parmesan. Cut half the butter into flakes and distribute evenly on the surface.

Bake asparagus for 7 minutes. Heat 2 tbsp in a frying pan. olive oil, add and melt the remaining butter. Pinch the basil. Remove the asparagus from the oven, sprinkle with basil and serve.

Canned Asparagus Salad

You will need: 150 g fresh or canned asparagus, 150 g fresh tomatoes, 100 g fresh cucumbers, 100 g fresh or canned green beans, 100 g cauliflower, 30 g green salad, 1 cup mayonnaise, 1/ 2 cups thick sour cream, dill, pepper, salt.

Separately boil asparagus (canned ones do not need to be boiled), cauliflower and beans. After cooking, vegetables and decoctions are cooled. Cabbage is divided into small stalks, asparagus, beans and lettuce are cut into 2.5-3 cm pieces, cucumbers and tomatoes are cut into thin slices. All components are mixed, seasoned with a mixture of mayonnaise and sour cream, sprinkled with fine salt and pepper. Garnish with chopped dill.

So, when you buy asparagus, don’t forget to exfoliate it by wiping the juice on your face or applying a paste of the shoots for 10 minutes. And if your face is swollen, you can wipe it with the juice that appears on the cut of the shoot and apply thin slices to the eyelids and under the eyes for 10 minutes.

Asparagus salad with avocado, tomatoes and spinach

The asparagus in this salad is used ready-made, so the cooking process takes more than 20 minutes. Substituting ingredients in the recipe is not recommended.

What ingredients will you need?

Soy asparagus salad includes:

If ready-made asparagus is not available, you can prepare it yourself (the recipe is described above) without adding carrots.

Step-by-step cooking process

The salad preparation process consists of only 3 steps:

1. Cut tomatoes and avocados into cubes approximately 1x1 cm in size.

2. Place spinach leaves on the bottom of the salad bowl, avocado, tomatoes and fuju asparagus on them.
3. Season the ingredients with butter and sauce and sprinkle with sauce and pepper. Mix gently and garnish with sesame seeds.

The salad is recommended for breakfast.

Dry asparagus salad with bell pepper, cucumber, herbs

Soy asparagus salad with vegetables and herbs is recommended to be served as a side dish for meat or fish.

What ingredients will you need?

To prepare a dietary salad you will need:

Garlic vinegar can be replaced with garlic soy sauce.

Step-by-step cooking process

The process of preparing asparagus salad with vegetables consists of the following steps:

1. If the pickled asparagus is large in size, then it must be cut into smaller pieces and placed in a salad bowl.
2. Cut the cucumber and bell pepper into thin strips and add to the asparagus.

3. Chop the garlic cloves and parsley with a knife and also transfer to a salad bowl.
4. Add the remaining ingredients to the salad and mix well.

It is recommended to consume the dish within 3 hours, as the ingredients release a lot of juice and the salad quickly loses its appearance.

Asparagus in the arms of bacon

The culinary possibilities of asparagus are endless. White asparagus is canned and served as an independent snack. Green asparagus is a good side dish for grilled meat. If you add it to a regular omelette for breakfast, it will sparkle with new flavor facets. And asparagus goes well with bacon. Here's a quick and easy baked asparagus recipe that you can treat yourself and unexpected guests to.

Ingredients:

• green asparagus - 20 stalks
• bacon - 100 g
• olive oil for greasing
• sesame - 1 tsp.

We wash the asparagus well, put it in boiling water for 5 minutes, then take it out and dry it. We cut the bacon into thin strips 1.5–2 cm wide. We wrap the strips around each asparagus stalk in a spiral. Grease a baking sheet with olive oil, place the asparagus in bacon and place in an oven preheated to 200°C for 5 minutes. Then we turn the stems over to the other side and hold them for the same amount of time. Serve this appetizer hot, sprinkled with sesame seeds.

Salad with soy asparagus and egg

Asparagus (cooking recipes for the diet period is recommended to be prepared from a natural product) in this salad is used fresh, the energy value of which is only 16 kcal, so the dish is not only nutritious, but also low in calories.

What ingredients will you need?

Dietary asparagus salad is prepared from the following products:

For decoration, it is recommended to use chopped fresh dill.

Step-by-step cooking process

The process of preparing a dietary salad consists of the following steps:

1. Asparagus requires removing the tough part of the stem. To do this, you need to break it and cut off the upper part of the shoot from the break point.

2. Next, the asparagus must be tied into a bunch and placed in boiling water, the upper part of the stalk is boiled over steam (that is, it does not need to be bent and completely placed in water, the asparagus is boiled while standing). The process of cooking young asparagus lasts no more than 5 minutes.
3. Then the finished asparagus must be immediately rinsed under cold water, then the stems will retain their color.
4. After this, the asparagus needs to be peeled and cut into lengths of about 2 cm. Place the asparagus in a dish.
5. Next you need to boil the egg. Cooking time is about 10 minutes. The boiled egg must be immediately placed in ice water, then the process of separating the egg from the shell will be easier.
6. Peel the egg and cut into cubes approximately 0.5-0.7 cm in size. Transfer the egg to the asparagus.
7. The cucumbers must be peeled, then the salad will be more tender and cut into thin strips. Add cucumber to asparagus.
8. Cut the onion into half rings, cut the tomatoes into 2-4 parts. And also transfer to a dish.
9. Add sour cream and salt and ground pepper to the salad. Mix well.

Place the salad in a mound and sprinkle with dill.

How to cook asparagus on the stove

In water

There are two ways to prepare this product in water.

Method 1

Boil water in a saucepan. There should be enough of it so that the asparagus is covered with it and can float. Add salt to taste - a teaspoon is enough for 1 liter.

Place the sprouts in the boiling liquid. Cook green asparagus for 2-3 minutes, and white asparagus for about 10 minutes.

Method 2

Asparagus is often cooked vertically, and many consider this method to be correct.

To do this, you will need a tall and, preferably, narrow pan. There is even a special dish for cooking asparagus, consisting of a pan and a mesh in which the sprouts are laid out.

Photos: Mom's World / YouTube

Place the asparagus vertically into the boiling liquid so that it is covered above the middle with water. The fact is that the top cooks faster than the bottom. Therefore, the rising steam is quite enough for her.

For convenience, you can pre-tie the sprouts.

Cook green asparagus for 4-5 minutes, and white asparagus for 12-16 minutes.

For a couple

Boil water in a saucepan. Place the steam container on top. Place the asparagus there. Don't add too much at once, otherwise it will cook unevenly.

Photos: Foods101withDeronda/YouTube

Add some salt and cover with a lid. Cook green sprouts for 4-8 minutes and white sprouts for 15-20 minutes.

Pasta with soy asparagus and vegetables

It is recommended to prepare the dish in portions and consume immediately.

The recipe is below.

What ingredients will you need?

Asparagus contains the following ingredients:

Additionally, you can add pieces of fried ham to the dish and sprinkle with grated cheese.

Step-by-step cooking process

The process of preparing asparagus pasta consists of the following steps:

1. Asparagus must be soaked first. To do this, it must be placed in cool water for 3-4 hours and kept in a cool place. After this, rinse and let the water drain completely.
2. Cut the finished asparagus into approximately 2 cm lengths.

3. Boil the pasta until done. The cooking time is indicated on the packaging in the instructions. After this, the horns must be rinsed, drained and added 25 ml of oil. Mix. The oil will prevent the cones from sticking together.
4. Next, you need to cut large tomatoes and onions into small cubes.
5. Chop fresh parsley and garlic cloves using a knife.
6. If fresh chili peppers are used, they must be cut into thin strips.
7. Then you need to heat 25 ml of oil in a frying pan and put large chopped tomatoes in it. Fry until softened.
8. Place the finished tomatoes on a plate, add salt (1-2 g) and stir.
9. After this, place the asparagus in a frying pan with the tomato oil and simmer for about 4-5 minutes.
10. Next, add soy sauce, salt (1-2 g) and ground black pepper to the asparagus. Fry for another 1 minute.
11. Then you need to place the fried asparagus on a plate.
12. After this, you need to pour the remaining oil into the pan, add garlic and onions. Fry for 2-3 minutes.
13. Then you need to add cherry tomatoes (can be whole or cut into 2 parts), hot pepper, remaining salt and thyme to the garlic frying. Simmer over low heat for about 3 minutes. The tomatoes should become limp.
14. Next, you need to add boiled pasta to the frying. Fry over low heat for about 2 minutes.
15. After this, add fried tomatoes, asparagus and chopped parsley to the contents. Mix well and simmer for about 2 minutes.

Garnish the dish with fried ham or grated cheese. Serve hot.

Pilaf with soy asparagus

Soy asparagus pilaf is a vegetarian dish, and the nutritional value is higher than that of classic pilaf.

What ingredients will you need?

Vegetarian pilaf with asparagus is prepared from the following ingredients:

If desired, you can add 2 cloves of garlic at the end of cooking.

Step-by-step cooking process

The process of preparing pilaf with asparagus takes approximately 30 minutes and consists of the following steps:

1. Dry the soaked asparagus and cut into lengths of about 2 cm.
2. Boil the rice until half cooked. Rinse and drain the water.

3. Cut carrots and onions into small cubes.
4. Pour 25 ml of oil into a frying pan and fry the carrots and onions in it for about 5-7 minutes. After this, put the roast out.
5. Then add the remaining oil to the pan, add curry and turmeric. Simmer for about 30 seconds to allow the flavor of the seasoning to develop.
6. Next, add the asparagus to the oil and fry for about 7 minutes.
7. After this, you need to transfer the fried asparagus with butter, fried carrots and onions and rice into the cauldron. Pour in a small amount of water (it should cover the contents by half), add salt and simmer until the rice is ready (about 10 minutes).

You can stick garlic cloves into the finished pilaf, cover with a lid and leave the dish for 15-20 minutes. After this you need to add chopped parsley and cilantro.

Fuzhu with chicken

Asparagus salad with chicken fillet can be served as an appetizer during the holidays

What ingredients will you need?

To prepare a snack salad you will need:

To add spiciness, you can add freshly ground black pepper.

Step-by-step cooking process

The process of preparing asparagus and chicken salad consists of the following steps:

1. Cut the asparagus into lengths of about 5 mm. If the asparagus is wide, then it can be cut into 2-3 parts along the grain. Place in a salad bowl
2. Cut the bell pepper, apple and chicken fillet into cubes approximately 1x1 cm. Transfer the ingredients to the asparagus.

3. In a bowl, combine balsamic vinegar, oil and classic soy sauce.
4. Add salt to the salad bowl and stir. After this, add the sauce and mix the contents again.

Salad can quickly release juice, so it needs to be seasoned with sauce before serving. If desired, the finished salad can be sprinkled with ground pepper.

Royal sandwich

In Europe, Louis XIV had a hand in popularizing asparagus. He ordered the construction of a special greenhouse at the palace so that his favorite vegetable could be grown throughout the year. After this, asparagus began to be called the food of kings. So a sandwich with her participation can be considered royal.

Ingredients:

• round grain loaf - 1 pc.
• green asparagus – 200 g
• lightly salted salmon - 150 g
• curd cheese - 60 g
• cherry tomatoes - 5–6 pcs.
• radishes - 2-3 pcs.
• olive oil - 1 tbsp. l.
• salt, black pepper - to taste

First of all, boil the asparagus, put it in a colander and let the excess moisture drain. Chop the cooled stems into 2–3 parts. Cut the grain bun lengthwise, sprinkle with olive oil, and brown a little in a frying pan. Cut the radishes into thick circles and the tomatoes into quarters. Grease the halves of the buns with curd cheese, lay out asparagus stalks, slices of tomatoes and radishes. Salt and pepper the vegetables to taste. These sandwiches are perfect for a spring picnic.

Tips and tricks

Asparagus (cooking recipes do not always contain information about the nuances of choice and rules for preparing the product) will retain its nutritional properties and will be beneficial for the body if the following conditions are met:

• In order for soy asparagus to retain its nutritional properties, it must be soaked in cold water and in a cool place for at least 12 hours;
• If you soak asparagus for 2-3 hours, then after that you need to boil it for at least 30 minutes. In this case, some of the nutrients are destroyed;
• The fastest, but not the most useful, is to soak the asparagus in hot water for 2 hours. But then the benefit from the product will be minimal;

• When choosing a product, it is important to pay attention to the production date, composition and color of asparagus. It should be white to cream.

The most useful is home-cooked asparagus, but this process is quite long and labor-intensive.

Asparagus does not have a special taste or aroma, but it is a nutritious and satisfying product, so it is recommended to include it in the daily diet. People who are on a diet are recommended to replace meat products with soy asparagus, then the dish will be more nutritious and healthy when prepared. Asparagus is a unique product that can be used as an independent dish (fried or boiled with the addition of spices), and also used as a side dish or ingredient in recipes for salads or soups.

Author: Kotlyachkova Svetlana

Asparagus - what kind of vegetable?

Culinary experts classify this plant as a dessert vegetable. Its main types are white and green asparagus. The first type is very popular as canned food produced by the food industry. The second type - green asparagus is eaten as an independent dish or added to soups.

Most often eaten are young sprouts, pinkish-greenish or white, appearing from the end of April to the end of June. Only young shoots can boast a delicate texture and taste. When an adult plant develops from the sprouts (by the end of summer), it is used as a “garnish” herb for flower bouquets.

In cooking, salad and vegetable asparagus is simply eaten boiled in salted water, cooked in various sauces and added to salads.

French asparagus is considered to have the best taste, since it is grown in open ground, and not in greenhouses, as in other countries.

The variety and quality of asparagus can be easily determined by color and color: light green or pale purple asparagus will have a delicate taste.