Spring is almost here, and very shortly we’ll see the start of the short asparagus season.
Of course, you can buy this vegetable at the supermarket, but it is always worth hunting out those fresh green spears from a local food market or even fresh from the field.
Once you have them, the question then turns to how to prepare them? We have an answer to that question with these tasty asparagus recipes.
1. Bean salad with roasted potatoes, asparagus, and pesto
Discover whole new flavor combinations with this simple everything salad. You can make this salad according to the recipe or be more adventurous, by replacing ingredients that are readily available in your kitchen.
Ingredients:
– 1 tbsp. pesto
– 1 tbsp. olive oil
– 1 can cannellini beans
– 1 medium tomato, sliced
– 1/2 cup roasted potatoes, cubed
– 1/2 cup asparagus, sliced
– 10 olives, halved
– 2 cups lettuce, chopped
Instructions:
In a large bowl, add the pesto and olive oil and mix until smooth. Add all the rest of the ingredients and toss until everything is coated with the sauce. Serve and enjoy!
2. Asparagus with pumpkin-seed salsa verde
Try this tasty and healthy asparagus recipe. For the pumpkin seed salsa, only a few ingredients are required to generate a soft and creamy salsa.
Ingredients:
– 1 bunch of asparagus, trimmed
– 3 tbsp. capers or olives
– 1 tsp. nutritional yeast flakes
– 3 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
– 2 handfuls of pumpkin seeds
– Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions:
For the salsa verde: put the capers (or olives), pumpkin seeds and yeast flakes into a food processor and mix until smooth. Add the olive oil and pulse again until well incorporated. Steam the asparagus for 2 minutes, then serve with the salsa drizzled over, or as a dip on the side. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Asparagus soup
This asparagus soup has lovely green color and crunchy rolls. This soup will tempt even asparagus haters!
Ingredients:
– 1 onion, chopped
– 2 tbsp. olive oil
– 500g fresh asparagus, trimmed, chopped
– 250ml vegetable stock
– 1 clove minced garlic
– Salt and pepper, to taste
– 250ml soy milk
Instructions:
Microwave onion and olive oil for 2 min. Add asparagus, vegetable stock, garlic and season with salt and pepper. Microwave, covered, on high for 10 -12 min. Puree in blender and return mixture to microwave safe bowl, stir in milk and microwave until heated through.
4. Grilled lemon asparagus with feta
This recipe is seriously easy to make and delicious. Simply grilled asparagus with a touch of fresh lemon juice, feta cheese, and olive oil.
Ingredients:
– 1 lb. asparagus stems trimmed
– 1 tbsp. olive oil
– 1.5 tbsp. lemon juice
– Salt and pepper, to taste
– 1/4 cup reduced fat feta cheese
Instructions:
Toss the asparagus with olive oil, salt and pepper, and grill for about 2 min. on each side. You can also prepare the asparagus in a 400-degree oven for about 10 min. Toss in lemon juice and top with grilled lemon slices and feta cheese. Done. Enjoy.
5. Foil baked salmon with asparagus
Sometimes simple recipes really are the best, and this foil baked recipe really couldn’t be easier. Everything is baked or grilled together in one easy to make foil packet that you can throw together in just 10 minutes.
Ingredients:
– 1.33 lbs. raw salmon
– 2 lemons
– 4 tbsp. olive oil
– 4 sprigs dill
– 1.5 lb. asparagus
– Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 400 F. Make 4 large pieces of foil and spray with cooking spray and divide the asparagus between the foil packets. Place the salmon on top and season with salt and pepper. Place 1 tbsp. olive oil on top. Then add 2-3 slices of lemon and lose the foil packets and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Done!