10 recipes that will teach you how to cook asparagus like a pro

If you want to know how to cook asparagus, this is a great place to start. Asparagus is the workhorse of the spring kitchen. Unlike the more fussy favorites (I still love them), field beans, peas, and artichokes, all of which require a lot of prep time. Asparagus is relatively easy. Rather than engaging in tasks like peeling, trimming, and de-tangling, asparagus can be at its peak with a simple trimming, quick blanching, drizzle of olive oil, and salting. We get asparagus as thin as a pencil, asparagus as thick as a candle – and everything in between. Here are a series of asparagus winners to teach you how to cook asparagus like a pro. Happy spring and have fun!

1. A Simple Asparagus Soup – (101 Cookbooks)
A great starter recipe. Everyone should have a good asparagus soup in their pocket. This one is tops – fresh asparagus, new potatoes, some green curry paste and coconut milk are mashed to make this spring favorite. Get the recipe here.

2. Avocado Asparagus Tartine – (101 Cookbooks)
An excellent impromptu spring lunch tartine: avocado on toasted day-old slices of sesame bread layered with arugula and garlic-cumin-skillet, simmered asparagus + roasted pepitas. Get the recipe here.

3. Grilled Asparagus Platter + Cilantro Pepita Pesto – (germ cuisine)
Cheers to Sprouted Kitchen’s Springtime products. Love this easy grilled asparagus concoction with a special pesto. It has a surprise chipotle kiss in it, along with a hint of lime. Perfection. It’s great as a side dish or as a component in something like a cereal bowl. Get the recipe here.

4. Weeknight Ponzu Pasta – (101 Cookbooks)
All greens in a quick weeknight pasta variation. It’s comfort food that won’t weigh you down – garlic chili ponzu dressing, green veggies, and your choice of pasta. Swap the asparagus for the green beans here and you’re good to go. It’s a recipe that shows how to cook asparagus (or other tender green vegetables) in your existing pasta water. Get the recipe here.

5. Walnut Miso Noodles With Asparagus – (101 Cookbooks)
A hearty pasta bowl recipe. Whole wheat pasta and asparagus are tossed with a creamy walnut miso dressing and a dollop of chili paste. Get the recipe here.

6. Asparagus Pan – (101 Cookbooks)
A popular pan recipe. Asparagus and tofu form the basis, but it also has a lot to offer. You get a hint of spiciness from the lime, heat from the red chilies and fresh ginger, mint and basil cool things down, and a touch of hoisin sauce gives you just enough sweetness to balance it all out. Get the recipe here.

7. Broad Bean and Asparagus Salad – (bon appétit)
I love this recipe from Alison Roman. It’s the kind of thing you need to make when you’re ready to use your vegetable peeler. Also a good opportunity to fix your fava shelling. Get the recipe here.

8. Asparagus Cilantro Salad – (101 Cookbooks)
I love this salad so much. And if you don’t absolutely loathe cilantro, you have to try it. Simply cilantro leaves and stalks tossed with a simple shallot and soy sauce dressing, along with peanuts and asparagus. So good. Get the recipe here.

9. Grilled Asparagus Spring Rolls – (Bojon Gourmet)
Yes to spring rolls. Yes to ginger lime dip. This recipe will also walk you through grilling asparagus. Get the recipe here.

10. Asparagus Panzanella – (101 Cookbooks)
An Easy Asparagus Panzanella – a quick mustard and buttermilk dressing accents good asparagus, along with crunchy toasted bread crumbs and a sprinkling of sesame seeds. Crack a hard-boiled egg on top and you have an even richer meal. I also love using grilled asparagus, especially when the weather is getting better and the grill is getting dusted off. Get the recipe here.

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