Butter asparagus is a simple and delicately flavored side dish, great to pair with roasts, grilled meat, and even some fish dishes, such as baked salmon or steamed. If you are looking for an easy and quick recipe to cook asparagus in a slightly different way, butter asparagus can be a great option: the asparagus, briefly boiled in a pot, are finished cooking in a pan along with a bit of butter slightly flavored with garlic. For convenience and to achieve even cooking of the asparagus, one solution could be to divide the asparagus in half: this way, you can cook the tougher, fibrous stalks a few minutes longer and only add the tips, which require just a few minutes of cooking, later on. Furthermore, it will be easier to toss them in a pan, without the need for a very large one.
You might also be interested in:
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 5 Minutes
- Portions: 4 servings
- Cooking methods: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Spring
- Energy 114.75 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 4.07 (g) of which sugars 1.93 (g)
- Proteins 2.23 (g)
- Fat 10.55 (g) of which saturated 6.82 (g)of which unsaturated 3.73 (g)
- Fibers 2.06 (g)
- Sodium 99.76 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 95 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients to make butter asparagus
- 1.3 lbs asparagus
- 3.5 oz butter
- to taste salt
- to taste pepper
- 1 clove garlic
Tools
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Knife
- 1 Pot
- 1 Pan
- 1 Slotted Spoon perforated
How to prepare butter asparagus
To prepare butter asparagus, start by removing the bottom part of the asparagus where it snaps (1). Wash them thoroughly and cut them in half (2), keeping the stalks separate from the tips. Bring a pot of water to a boil, lightly salt it, and add the asparagus stalks (3).
Let cook for 4 minutes, then add the tips (4) and boil everything for another 8 minutes. Meanwhile, put the butter in a pan (5) and let it melt over low heat. When melted, add a peeled garlic clove, tilt the pan on the burner, and let it sauté gently for about a minute (6). This way, it will release its aroma without burning.
If you prefer a stronger garlic flavor, you can either finely chop it or crush it with a garlic press after removing the core. When the asparagus are cooked but still “al dente,” drain them with a slotted spoon (7) and transfer them to the pan with the butter (8). Season with salt, add a grind of pepper, and let them soak in the flavor for a couple of minutes, gently tossing them to absorb the seasoning (9).
Turn off the heat, remove the garlic clove, and serve the butter asparagus immediately.
Storage
If there are any leftovers, you can store the butter asparagus in the refrigerator in a glass container for two to three days. Then you can briefly heat them in the microwave before enjoying them, or use them for other recipes. They are great, for example, for preparing a delicious asparagus risotto or a nice plate of asparagus and gorgonzola gnocchi.
Tips and Variations
If you want to add a little extra touch to your asparagus side dish, once ready, you can sprinkle them with a bit of grated Parmesan cheese. If you have an asparagus steamer, you can cook the asparagus “standing up” in the designated basket. You will then need a very large pan to toss them with the butter.
