Food of the day: Asparagus

OK, this was something my old healthy eating group used to do and I loved it.  Every once in awhile they'd come up with a new food to focus on and give recipees, health information, etc.  It was a great way to learn about new foods and find out about new things to try!

So, if you're interested, what do you know about asperagus?  Good ways to prepare it?  Fun facts?

I read once that it is loaded with antioxidents so it is an antiaging food.  I LOVE stirfrying it with zuchini and shrooms and teriaki sauce and mixing it with a little chicken and some brown rice.  Cut up some ginger root and toss that in and YUM!  Oh, and don't forget the bamboo and waterchestnuts (otherwise knowns as "crunchies" in our household.)

My mother-in-law grows it in her garden here in MN and it is a very early harvest vegi, probably best in season here in May or June.

Anyone else?

I LOVE asparagus.  I don't do anything fancy with it like you though.  I generally steam it a bit or throw it on the grill for a few minutes.  I tend to like my food plain so I don't use a sauce or anything.

Try leftover asaparagus in an EggBeater omelet. Unbelievably good.

I love it too, 99% of the time I just eat it as it is.  However, my favorite sandwich is chicken and asparagus, they go so well together!

Oh ya, I'd die without my steamer!  I normally do that too - I just was trying to come up with something fancy for the post. LOL!

I bet it would be great in an omelet though!

It makes my pee smell funny!  Makes me laugh.

I had amazing asparagus at a restaurant the other night but it was hardly health food. It was grilled (YUM!) with a toasted parmesan sauce on the plate with oyster mushrooms. TO DIE FOR.


So my suggestion (since the parmesan sauce is probably tough to make unless you are a gourmet) is grilled with a little oil. Top them with Herbamare vegan seasoning if salt is needed.

I also LOVE them grilled then chilled and in a vinaigrette.

I also love asparagus sushi rolls.

andievan- that is seriously all I know about asperagus, and it makes you gassy....

Anyway, it is very good for you- has some good phytochemicals, but I can't handle the taste or smell.

I love the idea of a Food of the Day discussion!

love, Love, LOVE roasted asparagus.  so very tasty.  i eat it really simply, roasted in the oven.  just a little olive oil, salt and pepper, lay them out on a sheet pan and into the oven for a few minutes until tender and the edges start getting a little crisp.  fantastic!

I steam them until just crisp/tender and keep them around to nibble on, cold, like you would carrot and celery

Interesting asparagus fact:

Asparagus makes your pee smell funny. I think that's pretty common knowledge? The interesting part is that some people are insensitive to the smell. So while they have asparagus pee just like everybody else, they can't tell!

I think I read that on the wikipedia article for asparagus.

Steamed, with pasta and shrimp and tomatoes, garlic, lemon, spinach, a tiny bit of good olive oil, salt and pepper- mmmmmm!

I have a great recipe for Asparagus with Pasta that is in the recipe section.  Really delicious.

I used to make a great salad with strawberries and asparagus that I forgot about...didn't remember until I saw this thread.  I'll have to go looking for it.  I'll post it when (if) I find it.

Also, though I haven't been ti Macaroni Grille in a loooong time, last time I was there, they would let you substitute grilled asparagus for the pasta on their dishes.  Yumm!  Grilled is still the best way to go!!

strawberries and asparagus, that sounds like it has good potential!  definately post it if you find it msspeach!  i'd be interested in giving that a try

asparaguacamole-

Frozen asparagus defrosted in the microwave until just thawed

Puree it in the food processor until it is the consistency that you like in your guacamole

Add one or two diced tomatoes, I like alot of tomato

Add one diced onion

Add one packet of guacamole spices

Mix well and refrigerate for a couple of hours.

This is an excellent way to get your guacamole without all the fat and calories.  I eat the whole bowl.  :)

Another interesting fact about asparagus:

Asparagus does not necessarily make everyone's urine smell funny, only a percentage of the population. In addition, only a small percentage of the population can then actually smell the odor that is excreted. It is said that Babe Ruth had this phenomenon, thus, if you are one of the people that excretes the odor and can actually smell it, you are considered quite a rarity and it can be a measure of how closely you may be related to Babe Ruth!

i eat it 2 or 3 times a week, diet or not.  i just love it. 

i just put it in a frying pan with a bit of boiling water and sort of steam it making enough for three or four portions seasoned with a tablespoon of real butter, lil salt, garlic powder and some diced garlic too if it's on hand and a  lil pepper.

super simple and everyone loves it.  oh and i dont panic over the use of real butter.  i dont use fake stuff.  it equals to a teaspoon or less in my calorie count - not a whole lot and it tastes fantastic.

anyone else cook there's til it's soft.  i like bendy asparagus. :P  it's fine firm too but i prefer it on the soft side. 

another option steaming them til they are nearly done than adding a few drops of olive oil and diced garlic and sauteeing.

yay for asparagus!!

I recently tried asparagus that's steamed for a couple of minutes (just barely tender) then put in a pan with dijon mustard and a tiny bit of real butter and rolled around for a minute or two. It makes this fantastic glaze. My boyfriend normally hates aspargus and I'm only okay on it but he loved it, and my brother even ate all of his when I made it for him. It's super yummy.

Love the idea of a food of the day!  Great thread!  Oh and kylam, the dijon glaze sounds incredible.  I may have to try that tonight.

I tend to be an aparagus purist -- I like it steamed with a bit of salt and a squeeze of lemon juice over it.  Love to eat it with grilled salmon -- it's such a nutritious dinner and the flavors really complement each other. 

Here's another fact about asparagus for y'all:  My friend is an asparagus farmer and one day we were shopping and I chose a bunch of skinny spears of asparagus.  She asked me why and I said "Aren't the skinny one more tender?"   NOPE!   The asparagus grows out off the grown at whatever thickness it ultimately reaches, it doesn't pop up skinny and grow wider as it matures.  Thus THICK asparagus is every bit as good as those scrawny spears -- sometimes even better.  You just have to remember to cook it a bit longer. ;o)

Roasted Asparagus --- Yum

Preheat oven to 400. spray or lightly oil a baking sheet with olive oil. roll the asparagus in the oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake for 7 - 12 minutes. Yummy!!!!

I do it like fatdoc too.   I put EVOO it and some salt and pepper and grill it.

I do this for brocolli too, only I steam it  first then grill.