Asparagus is probably one of the most underrated vegetables, but it also happens to be one of the most versatile ones out there. You can easily pair asparagus with any dish and it would make sense. Whatever it is that you have in mind, you can rest assured that asparagus will add a nice, yummy flavor to it. However, it might take some trial and error for you to cook it correctly. Since it’s not common knowledge, we’ve written down the easiest ways for you to cook asparagus along with the directions. It should be very easy to follow these. Read on to know how to cook asparagus!

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One of the most common ways to cook asparagus is to roast it in the oven. It’s not even a hard method, it’s actually very easy to get the hang of. All you need to do is watch the time very closely because asparagus can easily burn.

To correctly oven roast asparagus you need to gather a couple of things. First, you need to preheat your oven to 400º. Next, you’ll need a large baking sheet. Other than the Asparagus itself, you need olive oil and salt and pepper. 

The baking sheet size depends entirely on the amount of asparagus you’re roasting. To be on the safe side, get a slightly larger baking sheet. This way, you can place your asparagus spread out on it so all sides will cook evenly. 

First things first, you should wash up your asparagus very thoroughly. You don’t want any dirt getting in the way of your cooking. Next thing you should do is dry them up because wet asparagus won’t allow the oil to stick to it.

Start by oiling up the baking sheet. Try not to put too much oil though. You don’t want the whole thing to be too greasy. 

Afterward, start brushing the asparagus with olive oil (or any type of oil you prefer) and ensure that you cover all sides. This is very important because any uncovered part isn’t going to cook as nicely as the rest. 

Now, most people will stick to the common seasoning when it comes to asparagus. So salt and pepper are the easiest choices. However, some people sometimes add garlic powder to give it a nice little kick. Some people also add a little paprika and some ground cumin. 

Seasoning is very important because it enhances the taste of the asparagus. People also sometimes add balsamic vinegar, mozzarella, and even maple syrup as taste enhancers! 

Whatever you add, just make sure you don’t add too much. You don’t want your additives to overpower the taste of your asparagus

After seasoning, place it in the oven, and set the kitchen timer to 25 minutes. However, you should check every now and then, because it might cook a bit earlier. Well-done asparagus will be tender and slightly charred when done. 

Carefully take it out and place it on a suitable plate, and enjoy!

How To Bake Oven-Roasted Asparagus

Stove-top is another really simple way to cook asparagus. Stove-top cooked asparagus requires less time than roasted ones. It’s also the most common way to cook it. 

The great thing about cooking it on the stove is that it concentrates its flavor, unlike boiling and steaming. These methods end up diluting the taste of this otherwise flavorful vegetable. 

Stove-top asparagus doesn’t require many materials to prepare. All you need is a non-stick pan, butter, olive oil, minced garlic, your preferred seasonings, and water (if needed).

Now I prefer it uncut, but most people would trim the asparagus for easier cooking. However, most chefs recommend you not to trim it because it affects its taste. 

The first thing you need to do is to place the butter on the skillet. Add a few drops of olive oil and leave it a minute or two to melt. 

Now the butter alone will do the trick of cooking the asparagus. The reason why we place olive oil is to prevent the butter from overheating. It also prevents it from succumbing to said heat and burning. Butter easily burns so this is just a precaution. 

The next thing is to add your asparagus. Once you feel like the butter/olive oil mixture is heated enough, add the minced garlic and stir it until it turns a golden color. Try not to overheat it because garlic easily burns.

Next, add the asparagus gently so you won’t hurt yourself by splashing the oil/butter mixture. Stir it into the fat mixture and try coating it with the garlic in the skillet. 

Now it’s time to add your seasonings. Most people stick to salt and pepper. We recommend that you add a little paprika and a little onion powder to give it flavor. Try not to add any garlic powder though, because too much garlic can overpower the taste of the asparagus. 

Cover the skillet and cook until tender and green, for about three minutes.

Gently remove the skillet from the heat and add the asparagus to your serving plate. Season it with salt and pepper again, if needed, and serve it as a side dish or as an appetizer.

How To Cook Asparagus on the Stove-Top

Boiled asparagus is the easiest type. It’s basically two steps, and they’re both very easy to do, that a child could easily get the hang of it. On a side note though, don’t let a child in the kitchen unsupervised!

The first thing to do is to prepare your asparagus. If you’re boiling it, all you need to do is to wash it thoroughly. Dirt might be sticking to it, so make sure that you really wash it well before starting the cooking process.

While doing that, put some water in a pot and leave it to boil. You can add some salt to the water as well. 

Add the asparagus very carefully so you don’t splash yourself with the boiling water. Leave the asparagus to cook until tender. This usually takes 3-4 minutes.

After the asparagus is fully cooked, add it to your plate and season it with a little salt and pepper. Enjoy your tasty appetizer/side dish!

How To Boil Asparagus

Cooking asparagus, as you can see, is pretty simple. All it takes is a few minutes of attentiveness and you’re good to go. For baked/roasted asparagus, all you need to do is coat it with olive oil and leave it in the oven for about 25 minutes.  

For stove-top asparagus, you just need to cook it for a few minutes in a skillet with olive oil and butter and minced garlic. After a few minutes of stirring, it’ll be done. And finally, for boiled asparagus, you just need to add it to boiling water for a few minutes, and then voila!

We hope this guide helped you prepare a stunning asparagus side dish for you and your family!

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