It is possible to freeze wild asparagus raw or cooked to have a ready-to-use stock.
Asparagus
Asparagus are spring vegetables, available from March to June.
They are rich in fiber.
Wild asparagus or field asparagus, unlike cultivated asparagus, grow naturally, are thinner, and have a more intense aroma and flavor.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 1 bunch wild asparagus
Suggested Tools
- 1 Colander
- 1 Knife
- 1 Cutting board
- Paper towels
- Food bags
- Plastic wrap
Preparation
You can freeze wild asparagus raw whole or in pieces.
Freezing whole raw wild asparagus
Clean the wild asparagus:
• wash the asparagus under running water and let them drain in a colander;
• remove the cut and damaged ends of the stalks.Freezing raw wild asparagus in pieces
Clean the wild asparagus:
• wash the asparagus under running water and let them drain in a colander;
• separate the tips to the most tender part of the stalk and cut them into pieces;
• retrieve the sprouts from the stem, discarding any thorns if present;
• remove the cut and damaged ends of the stalks.They must be well dried
Pat the whole or chopped raw asparagus with kitchen paper towels.
Once well dried, you can store your raw wild asparagus in the freezer inside the appropriate bags or wrapped in plastic wrap.
The frozen raw wild asparagus, both whole and chopped, separate easily, allowing you to take the needed amount.You can freeze cooked wild asparagus after sautéing or blanching them:
• how to cook wild asparagus.
Whether sautéed or blanched, once cold, you can store your cooked wild asparagus in the freezer divided into small and convenient portions inside the appropriate bags or wrapped in plastic wrap.
Storage
Wild asparagus are available from March to June, in the south they can be found as early as December-January; early in the season, they are more tender.
They grow spontaneously in uncultivated places and along roadsides.
They are mainly found in the central, southern, and island regions.
Why freeze asparagus?
There’s nothing better than a freshly picked bunch of asparagus.
But if you’re lucky enough to gather a large quantity, you can preserve them by freezing.
Preferably consume within 6-8 months, up to 12 months maximum.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
How do you defrost frozen wild asparagus?
There is no need to defrost frozen wild asparagus.
I use my frozen wild asparagus raw or cooked straight from the freezer.Using wild asparagus stalks
Do not discard the wild asparagus stalks.
The end part of the stalks can be used to:
• flavor pasta cooking water → pasta with wild asparagus;
• cook risotto → risotto with wild asparagus;
• prepare a vegetable broth;
• make a detox herbal tea.
