Mark Bittman, New York Times food columnist and author of "How To Cook Everything," shares four ways to make asparagus, a vegetable that was once enjoyed just in the spring, but is now eaten year-around. He shows how to make asparagus steamed, roasted, grilled or stir-fried — and the flavors that suit each cooking method.
Recipe: Asparagus four ways (on this page)Related:Matt asks: Why does asparagus make urine smell?
Note: You'll want to use 1-1 1/2 pounds of asparagus per recipe
Steamed
With brown butter. Put asparagus in a covered pot with an inch of water (they may stand, lean or lie flat) and turn heat to high. Put 2 to 4 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan over medium heat; stir occasionally until foam subsides and butter turns nut brown. When asparagus is done, drain, drizzle with butter and serve.
Grilled
With lemon marinade. Heat a grill with rack 4 to 6 inches from flame. Combine 2 tablespoons olive oil and zest and juice of 1 lemon; brush asparagus with this. Grill asparagus crosswise, turning once or twice and brushing with sauce until done. Garnish: lemon wedges.
Stir-Fried
With chicken and shiitakes. Skip shallots. When pan is hot, add oil, then 1/2 pound cubed chicken thighs; cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, then remove. Add more oil if pan is dry, then add asparagus and 1/2 pound trimmed and sliced shiitake mushrooms; proceed with recipe, substituting oyster sauce for the fish sauce. Add chicken back to pan along with oyster sauce and water. Garnish: more oyster sauce.
Roasted
With or without bacon. Heat oven to 450 degrees F. Toss asparagus with 2 tablespoons olive oil (more if you don't use bacon) and 4 ounces cubed bacon (optional) in a roasting pan. Roast, turning once or twice, until done. Garnish: grated Parmesan
4 servings
© 2013 NBCNews
How many stars would you give the dish? If you made changes, tell us how you customized it.
Melissa d’Arabian shares how LACTAID® helped her entire family fully enjoy dairy.
A mother who sought shelter in a 7-Eleven that collapsed under the force of tornado winds, killing both her and her four-month-old son, are among the victims whose names were released by Oklahoma's chief medical examiner Wednesday.
video Jodi Arias sits down with Diana Alvear after her day in court. In this extended interview, she talks about her comments in court and her thoughts of suicide.
“ ”