Asparagus

I just cut it up and steam it. Serve with butter salt and pepper.

Added:
You shouldn't cook anything in the microwave--it kills the vitamins.

Try it raw in a salad **yummy**!!

There are those microwaveable steamer bags that are awesome! I wash it, throw it in the bag wet, add a tiny bit of olive oil, spices and voila! Very good and cooked perfectly. Truly a no-brainer!

When I just want asparagus, I sautee in butter (I know, bad me!) or steam.

Unfortunantly, my husband HATES asparagus when it's not 'in' something so I usually end up putting it in a veggie/beef/shrimp stir fry.

I've made asparagus every which way (including sticking it in quiche), but hands down, my fav is dry pan roast on a griddle. Heat the griddle (or any flat frying pan), put in the asparagus dry (no oil or spray or anything), cook, turning a few times until it's at the texture you like (firm but cooked through is my favorite way) and slightly charred here and there. Salt, pepper, done. It brings out the natural flavors of the asparagus, adds no extra fat and is super easy, similar to grilling it, but with more control. Roasting in the oven with olive oil is my second fav way, topped with shaved parm for a bit of extra flavor.

Baking. Drizzle with olive oil, salt, pepper and some parmesan cheese and you have a feast.

Throwing it in a pan risks burning it. If you want to cook it on the stove, stand it up in a few inches of water and cook it that way.

steaming it is great!!

sauteeing it with olive oil is great too!!!

I've never baked it...ooohhhh that wold be good!!

It's too hot to bake anything in an oven right now. :) So I vote for steaming or sauteeing it!

We boil it in water with olive oil and salt in it. It takes a lot of the bitter out of it. Then when it's done put a little bit of olive oil on it depending on what we taste and salt on it. I love asparagus, so yummy. Before I started boiling it I would throw it in a pan with some water and olive oil/salt and steam it.

I like to partially steam it then throw it on the old George Foreman for a few minutes with seasonings! Yum.

I put it in a baking dish with a little olive oil and crushed garlic and roast it in the oven.

I cut mine up in thirds, add it in a pan with a small amount of olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper and a small amount of water. Cover and stir a few times. Only needs to cook a few minutes.

To keep the nutrients and bright green color, blanch it by putting it in boiling water for a little less than a minute, then putting it in ice water for a few minutes. Then cook it.

I like to toss it with olive oil, lemon pepper, red peppers, and zucchini slices, and then broil it in the oven for about 12 min. LOVE it this way, and then I squeeze some fresh lemon juice over it after I take it out of the oven.

Neither. Steam it so that it's bright green, and don't over do it. Then either put butter, salt, and pepper on it, or a hollandaise sauce.

I put it in the frying pan with EVOO and partially cook it, or I put it in a pot and boil it, but only to take the edge off it. I like a little crunch in it.

Good luck to you and yours.

I wash it, cut it into bite sized pieces (leave off the bigger end of the stem if it's woody), and steam it.
From there I'll either serve it with a little butter (it's good with Hollendaise sauce) or with pasta/olive oil/garlic and it's great in scrambled eggs, too (you can use it in a fritata with mushrooms, summer squash, onions and zucchini).
You can always eat it raw (use it with dips) - it has a sweeter taste raw and is nice and crunchy.

Hi Molly,

I LOVE Asparagus! But that means I will eat in any way I can get it even in a can!

However, we (meaning my hubby and I) usually steam them or saute them. If I steam them I put a little butter, garlic salt & pepper or I will put a little olive oil and coat them lightly (in place of butter) then salt and squeeze a little lemon on them sometimes. If we saute it is with either butter or olive oil with fresh garlic (just til al dente- you don't want them soggy) then toss with a little garlic salt. AWEOME! The squeeze of lemon on both I seen on the Food Channel so I tried it and LOVED it!! But then again I happen to love lemons too! LOL!
Now my hubby does not squeeze a little lemon it is whatever your preference is I would try it at least once or maybe on a few and see if you like it. When cooking the key is to not cook them too long- nothing worse then soggy asparagus which could easily do if you over cook them. So watch that.

So to answer your question I would saute them only because I have never personally baked them- but again I would probably like that too I just have never cooked them that way.

I hope I was able to help.

A.

I like my asparagus al dente. I steam it, bake it, grill it, and pan sear it. I've found that all of those ways give it a distinctive flavor and texture. What texture are you trying to acheive? That will tell you how you should prepare it. It's practically a failproof veggie!

combine those two. roast it. drizzle with olive oil. sprinkle with course salt and pepper. maybe a little garlic and parmesan. google steak oscar. its my favorite incarnation of asparagus

I do three things:

1 - boil it with garlic powder, salt and the juice of a lemon
2 - Bake it in the oven with olive oil and breadrumbs
3 - grill it with butter and garlic powder - they don't take long and do get a little black but it adds to the taste - grilled is the best!

Get some of the steamer bags for the microwave. They are great for vegetables! It only takes about 2 minutes and afterward I season the asparagus with olive oil salt and sometimes parmesan cheese.

I steam it just about five minutes with some julienne carrots and then just before serving I saute them in a little olive oil and butter and lightly salt. The color contrast is nice and they taste good together.

Blessings...

Hands down, lay flat on a grill pan/jelly roll pan. Spray it with pam, salt & pepper. Bake 15 minutes @ 400 degrees. Or use a table spoon of oil.

Variation: add finely chopped garlic to the asparagus after you oil it and mix it through, lay flat on pan, salt & pepper. 15 ____@____.com!!

Microwave in a small amt. of water, when done about a minute or so, (depends on cook level), salt, pepper, butter.
Great with a cheese sauce, those who don't like asparagus will eat that way.

Asparagus is great in STIR FRY, veggies, cabbage, zucchini, celery, carrots, green pepper, broccoli, (choices) then use a "chinese" seasoning with chicken and serve with brown or long grain rice.
Tender raw asparagus is good in fresh salads too. Also great for dipping on veggie tray.

I have a wok with a metal steamer tray in it. I lay the asparagus stalks out on the tray and then team them for a few minutes. I try to make sure not to overcook them. Then eat them with a little margarine and salt.

Hello, I'm sure either way is great. I've only done stove top and love it.
This way you don't need to turn the oven on. One tablespoon each butter & olive oli, crushed garlic (fresh or minced), salt and pepper. Always good.....