Asparagus and Spring: Great Recipe Ideas

March 23, 2010

With a peak season in March and April, I think the vegetable most closely associated with spring is asparagus.   It seems to grace the cover of every magazine.  Everyone is tired of root vegetables after this long and snowy winter and the image of a green asparagus just screams spring.

History of Asparagus

Asparagus is a member of the lily family – see very spring.  This vegetable has been around for centuries and was popular among the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians. Emperor Augustus is said to have coined the phrase “as quick as cooking asparagus.”  Louis the XVI also loved the plant and had his gardeners grow it year round in green houses, stemming  its modern romance.  Thomas Jefferson had a whole garden reserved for growing asparagus.

How to Purchase and Store Asparagus

Asparagus is on the expensive side and tends to be a party food. That’s because you can’t harvest an asparagus plant for the first three years, and it is labor intensive to grow.  It is high in Folic Acid and a good source of potassium, fiber, vitamin B6, A and C, and thiamin.

Many people are a little unsure of what to do. When selecting asparagus, choose firm stalks with deep green tips that are closed.  Asparagus with slimmer stalks tends to be more tender.  Store them with the bottom wrapped in a damp paper towel in the coldest part of the refrigerator.  As with all fresh things, eat as soon as possible to get the most  flavor and nutrients.

5 Great Recipes Ideas

As the Romans knew, cooking asparagus is a snap.  Just steam or drop a bundle in boiling water for a couple of minutes, until bright green.  You can also spray with a little oil and grill for a short period.  Asparagus can be used in a variety of ways – straight as a salad with a little dressing, as a crudités with any dip or in other interesting recipes.  Here are two salad dressings you can use with asparagus, and three other delicious Two Sisters Gourmet recipes.

Five Great Recipes to Show Off Asparagus

1. Oh Honey! Dill Vinaigrette
2. Onion Chive Herb Salad Dressing
3. Asparagus Spears Wrapped in Prosciutto
4. Smoked Salmon Asparagus Wraps
5. Asparagus Tomato Bake

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Filed under: Easy Meal Ideas, Healthy Living, Holidays

Tags: : asparagus, asparagus recipes, easy recipes, PartyLite, quick recipes, recipe ideas, spring recipes, spring vegetables, Two Sisters Gourmet, vegetable recipes