Question regarding cooking asparagus?!
Secondly.. if used with boneless skinless chicken, about how many spears should I get for two people to eat as a side?
Answers: Firstly.. what are some good ways to cook asparagus as a side?
Secondly.. if used with boneless skinless chicken, about how many spears should I get for two people to eat as a side?
Snap off the woody bottoms of the vegetable with your hands. Trim the edge and simmer in a frypan with just enough water to cover. Do not salt the water. Cook for only 2 - 3 minutes so that you do not lose the bright green color of the vegetable. Lift out with a slotted spoon and sauce with Butter and a squeeze of fresh Lemon Juice or slather a dollop of Nayonaise or Mock Hollandaise over the spears and kiss it with paprika.
Or you can marinate them in Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Lemon Juice and fresh herbs and grill them quickly.
Jus get one bundle for two people.
Roasted Asparagus
Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis
1 pound asparagus, trimmed
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Snap or cut the dry stem ends off each asparagus and place on a heavy baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss. Roast until the asparagus is tender, about 15 minutes. Cool slightly and serve warm or at room temperature.
If it's big, 2 spears is enough, if not 4 small ones. I steam mine. Bend them before cooking and where they snap, you cook the top part and discard the bottom.
Depends on the size of the spears. If they are thin and small sized you could go with 8 spears and it would be fine. Bigger I'd stick to about 4-6
how to cook them: steam them in a pot with a collander for a few minutes and shock them in cold ice cold water to retain crispness and color.
you can roast them as well or even boil them. I prefer them steamed myself. just add butter, salt and pepper and they are good to go
Most cooks recommend searing asparagus in a hot pan or griddle, It gives wonderful flavour and doesn't over cook it - delicious. I'd go with 8 fine stems or 4 /5 large ones.
I could make a whole meal outta asparagus. I cook mine in an old, stove-top coffee percolator, works great!
Here's my recipes for asparagus:
1 bunch asparagus
2 Tbs. soy sauce
2 tsp. sugar
2 cloves garlic (minced)
2 tsp. sesame seeds
Mix soy sauce,sugar and garlic til dissolved.
Place asparagus in skillet and add marinade. Saute asparagus til desired tenderness.
Top with sesame seeds.
slice about 1/4" off each end (if it's still white, you can peel it down to the green with a vegetable peeler)... then lay them in a single layer in a shallow pan. Put about 1/4" water in; cover with wax paper and microwave about 3-4 min. They should turn bright green, and be tender but not limp. Then just drizzle with REAL butter and a little salt... The flavor is so good, that you don't want to disguise it with sauces:) .... It depends on the size of the asparagus, how many per person:) If they're the big, fat ones then about 5 per person ... 8-10 if they're the skinny little ones.....
i suggest a bundle for two people..i cook it right next to the chicken on the bbq. i clean the asparagus first. lay them in a piece of tin foil with lots of butter..about 3 tablespoons and minced garlic..about a tablespoon..roll the tin foil over to cover and put on upper shelf of bbq. i usually let it cook for about a half hour turning it twice and it comes out great every time!!!
According to the principles in kitchen chemestry, you get a better asparagus flavour when frying them in oil or butter, rather than boiling or steaming them.
Pre-fry 5 thin spears per person, just give them a quick sautée. Let them cool enough to handle, and tie them in bundles with a rasher of bacon. Fry till the bacon is cooked to your preference. Serve at once!
For some reason, the taste of bacon is fabulous with chicken :)
For two people I would at least make 1 bundle. Cut the hard part of the stems off. Melt a little butter in non-stick Pan. Add asparagus. Saute'until tender. Season with salt and pepper.
My husband likes it made this way. He would eat the whole bundle if I would let him. It is very easy and quick to make and it's Delicious!!!!
First thing you do is preheat the oven to 350, then you toast up some pine nuts which should take about 5-7 minutes. Take them out and then raise the temp. to 450. Snap or cut the ends of the asparagus off and then toss with EVOO, salt, pepper, and some shallots (minced or roughly chopped). Roast in the oven for about 10-15 min. making sure to stir them around once or twice. While those are roasting, put about 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar on the stove at med high heat and reduce it until it becomes like a syrup (about 5 minutes) Take the asparagus out and top with the pine nuts and drizzle on the balsamic vinegar. Soooo good.