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This is a discussion on Asparagus within the Food forums,----- I saw the article on the homepage and I was thinking of adding Asparagus to my diet...but I am no ...
I saw the article on the homepage and I was thinking of adding Asparagus to my diet...but I am no whiz in the kitchen, so I've got a couple of questions for ya:
1: What is the difference between Green and White Asparagus? Taste? Macros? Nutrients?
2: How the hell do I cook it?? Growing up my mom would just boil it and I could NOT choke it down...How do you make it tasty??
You can bake it or "roast" it in the oven. Preheat the oven to about 400, line a cookie sheet with foil spread out the asparagus and sprinkle with EVOO, a little salt and pepper and maybe some garlic powder (thats what I do). And cook it until it the consistency you like. Its a lot easier to eat it that way (for me anyway).
Aww... Baby you want me to come over and cook you a week's worth of food? I'll bring all my gadgets with me.
I like the taste, so I steam mine for 10 mins, which preserves the vitamins/minerals.
If you find it too bitter, you could always sprinkle it with a bit of citrus juice and cracked sea salt after it's done. Other options include pan sauteeing, or you could even simmer it for 5 or so minutes in a broth to impart some extra flavour. However, you'd lose some micronutrient value by immersing in a liquid during cooking.
Didn't read the article on the webpage, so I'm not sure if it discusses prep work at all. To prepare it, just clean in cold water. You'll want to "trim" off the un-usable, overly fibrous thick ends of the stalk. To do so, simply hold one end of the asparagus in either hand and bend, until it snaps. The drier, inedible part of the stalk is less hydrated, so Mother Nature will cause it to snap right at the point where the edible/inedible sections meet. Nifty, no?
Btw, the white asparagus tends to have a milder, sweeter flavour than the green variety. If you're shopping, you'll want to look for narrower stalks, regardless of the colour you choose. Thicker stalks tend to be more fibrous and will steam unequally, with the top becoming soggy while the stalk will be under-cooked.
Last edited by alphawoman; 06-03-2010 at 08:59 AM.
You can bake it or "roast" it in the oven. Preheat the oven to about 400, line a cookie sheet with foil spread out the asparagus and sprinkle with EVOO, a little salt and pepper and maybe some garlic powder (thats what I do). And cook it until it the consistency you like. Its a lot easier to eat it that way (for me anyway).
Aww... Baby you want me to come over and cook you a week's worth of food? I'll bring all my gadgets with me.
That oven thingy sounds pretty simple...Crazy question, Can I make it on George??
Quote:
Originally Posted by alphawoman
I steam mine for 10 mins.
Didn't read the article on the webpage, so I'm not sure if it discusses prep work at all. To prepare it, just clean in cold water. You'll want to "trim" off the un-usable, overly fibrous thick ends of the stalk. To do so, simply hold one end of the asparagus in either hand and bend, until it snaps. The drier, inedible part of the stalk is less hydrated, so Mother Nature will cause it to snap right at the point where the edible/inedible sections meet. Nifty, no?
Btw, the white asparagus tends to have a milder, sweeter flavour than the green variety. If you're shopping, you'll want to look for narrower stalks, regardless of the colour you choose. Thicker stalks tend to be more fibrous and will steam unequally, with the top becoming soggy while the stalk will be under-cooked.
Thats what I'm confused on...How hard/soft it should be? If white is sweeter, maybe I should try that!
Hmmm.... I wonder... Maybe try this take some foil and make a little packet with the asparagus and put it on georgie and close the lid give it a little bit and then check on it. My guess is that instead of grilling it, it might kind of steam it which would be good too right and in that case you could get a little fancy and spray a little olive oil (do you have a sprayer? If not let me know I'll bring you one) and slice some garlic and put that in there too with a little sea salt.
Also, to further what Alpha said, make sure the tops are not dried up. Basically it should look nice, neat and tight, if its not then its not fresh. It should be sitting in some ice or water at the grocery store.
I chop up however much I want, put it in the microwave for 2-3 min depending on the amount. Then I sprinkle a bit of sea salt on it and it is ammmazzzing!!
The Following User Says Thank You to KKKRRR For This Useful Post:
Hmmm.... I wonder... Maybe try this take some foil and make a little packet with the asparagus and put it on georgie and close the lid give it a little bit and then check on it. My guess is that instead of grilling it, it might kind of steam it which would be good too right and in that case you could get a little fancy and spray a little olive oil (do you have a sprayer? If not let me know I'll bring you one) and slice some garlic and put that in there too with a little sea salt.
Also, to further what Alpha said, make sure the tops are not dried up. Basically it should look nice, neat and tight, if its not then its not fresh. It should be sitting in some ice or water at the grocery store.
Oh...cooking it on Georgie sounds fab! I think I'll pick some up tomorrow
Quote:
Originally Posted by KKKRRR
I chop up however much I want, put it in the microwave for 2-3 min depending on the amount. Then I sprinkle a bit of sea salt on it and it is ammmazzzing!!
Simple...I like the way you think!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mattsmom
I prepare mine the way mermaid described but I grill mine on the bar-b-que!...so Nic, your George should work!
I agree with all the girls. However you make it, it tastes lovely. Make sure it is crispy, not wilted. Also, green has far more nutritional value because it is grown above ground, hence the green color. White asparagus is grown beneath the soil. Sunlight=nutrients.
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Mama sa mama sa Mamakusa
The Following User Says Thank You to kjdavis For This Useful Post:
You're gonna LOVE it! it does make your pee stinky but it's worth it....I have eaten a bundle of asparagus in one day before SO GOOD!!!
Only an estimated 40-50% of people some people have the gene marker that causes the body to react to the methyl mercaptan in asparagus or cause a chemical change resulting in the smell...depends on which theory you follow. Nic--you may be in the clear on the stinky pee issue!
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