How to Cook Asparagus in a Pan

The first time I tasted asparagus, I absolutely hated it. It was mushy and stringy and did not taste good at all. I swore that I would never taste the vegetable again. But it was a chance tasting of steamed asparagus with hollandaise sauce that converted me and turned me into an asparagus fan. There is a trick to cooking this delicate vegetable so that you can taste its lovely flavor. Ideally, asparagus should be steamed or blanched. But you can stir fry them, grill them or add them in risottos, quiches and tarts. While selecting asparagus from the grocery store or supermarket, make sure that the spears are fresh and the tips are tightly closed with no hints of flowering or withering. Let us take a look at the procedure for cooking asparagus in a pan.

Cooking Asparagus in a Pan with Olive Oil

One of the best ways to savor the tender asparagus stalks is to saute asparagus in a bit of olive oil. The slight caramelization that you get when you cook asparagus in this way gives it a rich flavor. To make the perfect sauteed asparagus, you will need to make sure that you do not overcook them. Sautéed asparagus should be slightly al dente. First trim the asparagus ends and clean them in running water. Next heat a medium-sized pan and add a bit of olive oil in it. Now add the trimmed and cleaned asparagus on to the pan and cook for about 1 ½ to 2 minutes. When it is cooking, make sure that you do not poke or try to turn the asparagus spears. After 2 minutes, turn the spears to the other side. You will see that the asparagus is nicely browned on one side. Add salt and pepper and after a minute or so, remove the sautéed asparagus into a plate. For more flavor, you can sauté the asparagus in garlic infused oil.

How to Boil Asparagus in a Pan

A good cooking technique that you can employ for preparing asparagus is boiling them in a pan of water. To boil asparagus first clean and trim the stems and then place them in a pan full of water. Make sure that there is enough water in the pan or the asparagus will stick to the bottom. Avoid adding any salt to the water as it will make the asparagus stringy. After you have added the asparagus to the pan cover the pan with its lid. After 7 - 10 minutes, remove one asparagus stalk and check whether it's cooked through. The asparagus should be tender but still have a bit of bite. Remove asparagus from water and serve them in a plate after adding salt and pepper. If you are going to use the boiled asparagus in cold salads, then it is best to transfer them to a bowl of ice-cold water after boiling them. Doing this will retain the vivid green color of the asparagus and will stop them from overcooking.

How Long to Cook Asparagus

Once you know how to cook asparagus, you can create tasty asparagus recipes by adding ingredients like cheese and balsamic vinegar. However, you also need to know how long to cook them in a pan. Asparagus spears are very delicate and overcooking them will turn them into a very unappetizing color and they will also become mushy and tasteless. For stir frying asparagus in olive oil or butter, you should cook them no longer than 2 - 3 minutes on each sides. For larger spears, 4 - 5 minutes on each side is sufficient for cooking them. If you are going to boil asparagus in a pan then 7 - 8 minutes is enough to cook them. If the cooking time is more than this the asparagus spears are going to turn too mushy.

Cooking asparagus in a pan is not that difficult and the only thing that you have to take care is not to overcook them. Whether you stir fry asparagus in a bit of butter or serve them wrapped in prosciutto, there are many ways to enjoy this vegetable.