Why You Shouldn’t Snap the Ends Off Asparagus and Why You Should Overcook It | What's Eating Dan?
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- Опубликовано: 3 июн 2024
- Asparagus is such a widely popular vegetable, that even the oldest surviving cookbook features a recipe for it. Dan chats about how it's grown, how to prepare it, and the absolute best ways to cook it.
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*For those of you contemplating planting asparagus to eat this summer, know that if started from seed, asparagus will take about 3 years to become productive.* One-year-old asparagus crowns will need two years of growth prior to harvesting and two-year-old crowns, just one year. But as other commenters have typed, once started it doesn't stop!
Any tips on getting thicker stalks as opposed to thinner?
And make sure you don't plant in heavy clay! After 6 years I still get grass size bolting spears. Last year I saw an spear that looked like it would do but when I returned 2 hours later it had bolted.
@@lenabreijer1311 Don't plant anything in heavy clay!
@@kenmore01 well that is what we have. I added compost and garden soil I got and lots of mulch. Other vegetables do fine, carrots can be a bit stunted and hard to get out of the ground though. We probably should add sand but it is expensive. So my asparagus is basically a pretty perennial fronds, I have given up on them and inter plant flowers and herbs and they make a nice back drop.
@@lenabreijer1311 We used to have that clay too. Look into vermiculite.
When I was 7 or 8 living in rural Michigan, I stumbled across a large field of asparagus on a hillside near our farmhouse. I used to cut some for supper almost every day. One thing I discovered that intrigued me was how fast asparagus will grow. I used to lie down and watch the movement of an asparagus spear as it grew! I'd never seen anything like that before and I'm surprised no one has mentioned it. What a wild experience for a young boy to stumble on in amazement.
😍 luckyyyy
Oh I love that !how children express what they find ?
"and watch the movement of an asparagus spear as it grew!" are you saying you can watch it growing in a few minutes???
@@ARCSTREAMS Absolutely! You can see it physically move. I was fascinated.
@@ArtJorgensen well ive seen plant in hawaii that moves when touched but are we talking moving or actually growing before your eyes?
I have been peeling the stalks and cooking them in a frying pan with a small amount of water. When they are almost tender and the water is gone I add butter, garlic and parmesan cheese. So tender and tastes amazing.
Sound yummy, will try that, I usually saute in butter. My wife boils it,???
Omg this sounds incredible! I’m definitely going to try it as well!
I cut the tougher ends off & put them in my food processor, then use it in soups or other dishes-no waste at all!😊
This reminds me of the large shade over a friend's fenced-in area, where he was growing the tender stalks, protecting the crop from too much direct sun. He pointed to the shade and explained to me, "This is the awning of the cage of asparagus, cage of asparagus..."
🤣🤣🤣🤣
LOL! Took me a second!
Groan. Good one.
Pun of the Year Award Winner🏆🥇🤣
Ok Joel. You win. Perfect.
My 6 year old and I love watching ATK and “What’s Eating Dan.” He wants to be a chef one day, just like Dan. At dinner he likes to take a bite and say “this is how to eat (whatever we are eating).”
We love this 🥺
Haha, that is so cute!
❤️
His girlfriend's and eventually his wife are going to be so lucky no matter what career he chooses Bravo🍤🍗🍝🍛🍢🍜🍮🍋🍉🌽🍠🍆🍍bon appetit 🍽 😋
We have a 100+ year old asparagus patch on our Wisconsin farm. The yield is very generous every year. To keep the spears thicker, I pick every one or two days depending on the weather. I pick the asparagus from mid May through early August when I let the plants go to seed. The spears tend to get thinner towards the end of the season, but I still harvest them. I prefer cutting the asparagus with a sharp knife close to the soil to prevent the stalks going to seed early. Steaming the asparagus is the healthy way (low in calories), but we do like to grill them with olive oil, salt, plus garlic and onion powder, too.
Lucky you - so easy to grow too!
When we were house shopping, we looked at our present house and learned it had a big garden. I said to the realtor, "If there is an established asparagus bed in that garden, then we will take this house." There was and we did and we are STILL harvesting asparagus! I snap the stalks and have never peeled them but might give it a try after watching your video. Tonight I made macaroni and cheese with portabella mushrooms and asparagus....YUMMY!!
Did you serve the mac separately from the portobello and the asparagus, or all mixed together?
Great to know. I often imagine my garden getting bulldozed when I shove off and someone else buys my house.
so do I-they snap off easily!
Roasted with olive oil, garlic, ginger, shaved onions and cherry tomatoes. Then serve sprinkled with feta cheese, and a squeeze of lemon.
Actually, braising asaparagus is the traditional way of preparing it here in germany. We mostly use white asparagus and cook it in a braising liquid made of water, butter, salt and sugar. Serve it with hollandaise, potatoes and a nice piece of fish or a steak. And there you have a beautiful dinner! Also, white asparagus is usually peeled and the peel is used to make a flavorful broth which we use to make the most amazing asparagus cream soup! Man i just love asparagus but it is so expensive
When I was in grad school in Germany, the days when they had Spargelcremesuppe at the Mensa were some of my favorites
You need to go hunting in Grocery stores. Sometimes you can get white Asparagus in the Glass. Positively not as good as the Original.
I introduced my American Wife to it and she loved it.
There is one BIG problem in this country. Anything kitchen related is positively a challenge.
@@itzel1735 My wife is from Saginaw. She never told me. We live in California. I had my father in law FedEx his smoked Fish to us :)
I've been wondering where my in-laws learned to serve asparagus with Hollandaise.
Repent to Jesus Christ
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Hu
My name is Joyce. I planted 1 year old asparagus roots and the next spring I had asparagus popping up and I was able to cut it and grilled it. It was great. I purchased the roots at Tractor supply (TSC). They are available in March. I live in middle Tennessee. I planted them in early spring and the next year I had a lot of asparagus. Last year my husband made our bed twice as big. It’s worth growing your own.
In the Netherlands we love the white asparagus as seasonal vegetable in May and June. I learned to select the biggest widest ones, because they are the juiciest and have relatively little loss from peeling. We boil or steam them, serve with potatoes and ham (á la Flamande) or salmon, and Hollandaise sauce. Season with salt, pepper and optionally nutmeg.
Roasted. Olive oil, salt, maybe a touch of garlic powder, cayenne. When done, sprinkled with lemon juice. At a restaurant, we once had them deep fried in panko as a munchie. Yum!
I particularly like it that exact way, but sprinkle a mix of cheddar and parmigiano reggiano on it, too. Absolutely delicious, and changed me from hating asparagus to loving it. This said: canned asparagus is still a horrendous crime.
@@hypermagical_ultraomnipotence Agreed 100%. I think maybe I was late to the party loving asparagus because I grew up watching my dad eat the canned version. Seemed grey and horrible. On our first dinner at home date my now husband made me fresh asparagus. I ate it just to be polite but it started a 20 year so far love affair with this vegetable. Sometimes I eat just a whole plate of roasted asparagus for dinner like french fries, yum!
A little bit of pepper in addition to the salt, olive oil, and garlic powder. Lemon juice and grated parmesan after cooking are a nice touch. I didn't grow up eating asparagus, but discovered it in college.
Yesssss to both
Had the panko deep fried one wish I could remember where ..it was fantastic
Chili flakes, couple garlic cloves, white wine vinegar, dill, Himalayan salt, extra virgin olive oil.
I chop the asparagus, chopped baby Bella mushrooms, fresh garlic, 2 tablespoons of butter, and a splash of water in a covered sauce pan. Roughly ten minutes cook. Add a splash of heavy cream.
Season to taste. Delicious.
I was on the fence but you got me there at the end... "heavy cream"
Sounds wonderful ! I think I'd prefer it without the cream.
I grew up in Germany with white asparagus. Restaurants have special asparagus menus during the season (April/May). Love the green one that we can buy in the USA all year round. I always snapped it but won't do it anymore after watching this video. Thank you for being informative and fun!
We've been growing Asparagus for 30 years and my favorite recipe is wrapping the largest spears w/ bacon and baking.
I grew up in rural Minnesota. On our large property we had several patches of, presumably wild (though possibly the feral result of a long-forgotten farmer's attempt at a kitchen garden) aspargus that popped up in early May every year in sunny patches of grass at the edge of wooded areas on our land when there was sometimes a little unmelted snow still on the ground. My job as a 4 year old kid, who was always wandering in the woods and meadows and who knew every tree, bush, and twig, was to be on the lookout for the young aspargus shoots hiding in the grass and harvest them for supper. My mother and I loved them raw also steamed or braised with butter. My dad and my younger sister were not so convinced. Still today, 70 years later, asparagus -- along with artichokes -- are my favorite vegetables.
What an awesome memory! Thank you for sharing.
Also in Minnesota, my dad has feral asparagus growing near the dirt road, under large trees. Maybe it's a better survivor plant than we had hoped?!
@@micheleolson9914 I love the idea of feral asparagus! 😆
We definitely had to watch where we walked!
Back in 3rd grade, around 1964 we had a Show and Tell in class that was "Bring in your favorite food." I brought in artichokes & asparagus (I could not pick only one). I don't think the other kids had ever seen an artichoke before and probably they were only familiar with horrible canned asparagus. To this day- I love the 3 A's - ARTICHOKE, ASPARAGUS, AVOCADO!
I used to snap, but now I cut. My favorite way to make asparagus is to lay them out on a baking sheet, brush them with melted butter and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Bake until they smell done (about 10-15 minutes). Yummy
Nancy Wheeler: At what temperature do you bake the asparagus? Thank you.
@@Jerry-rf8bn I like 450° and get them crunchy in spots! I often do broccoli and carrots at the same time in the same way. Cauliflower is great roasted with way too.
I usually bake a full sheet like that for at least 30min
@@Jerry-rf8bn usually 350-400. It really depends on if I have anything else in the oven at the same time. 😉
Needs a bit of garlic,everything else i do the same
Can muricans not use cheese on everything for a second
As a former snapper, I now only cut the smallest bit off the end. To cook, I cut each stem in half, steam the bottom halves for 5 minutes, then add the top halves for another 5 minutes. Remove from the pot onto kitchen towel to dry a bit, then quickly put onto the plate and drizzle melted butter seasoned with Real Salt (from Utah). Yummmm!
I was also lucky enough to have a neighbor with a well established garden of asparagus. I had always learned to cut the end off, and peel up the stalk a bit for maximum tenderness. But I was spoiled, we would cut it off, and immediately begin cooking it. We would also can a reasonable quantity once the garden began shutting down for the winter. Christmas canned asparagus was a delicious treat!
Dan is great at providing commentary and humor, in addition to being a culinary expert. The trifecta!!!
I ❤ him here!
He is the BEST 😊 I watched ATK but I've never seen this side of him. btw, I once found pickled asparagus in the grocery store. I 💙💙💙 it but was never able to find it again.
@@shariontipler5542 I enjoy asparagus but noticed the smell referenced in the video and therefore avoid it. A suggestion for those who do eat asparagus, It is delicious cooked on the barbecue grill!
He sure is
Ya'll I'm blushing over here.
@@weston.weston I gotta ask, Weston… why eschew something so amazing for a temporary issue?
I'm French from Alsace and I never had grilled asparagus, we usually boil them and eat them with some mayonnaise or vinaigrette.
Also asparagus soup is the best, with some mushrooms and cream !
You are making me soo hungry !!!!
"I'm French from Alsace"
So was his asparagus garden, apparently.
Oohhh, asparagus soup! Sounds great 👍.
@@sabinesears2065 sounds great, I'm from Helsinki Finland. We now live in Canada. Cheer's
Grilled is amazing. But I like them any way you can cook them.
I never even thought about peeling the ends of the stalks to eliminate those bites where you find yourself chewing forever and end up spitting it out because it's too tough. Great tips! I will be trying the brazing this week.
"Great tips", haha
Gh
Pepin was saying to do this decades ago but no one listened I guess
So why still cut so much off for??
@@NullRefernce1 😉
Summary: Shouldn't snap off because you can break off too much - suggested replacement technique is to cut off 1 inch and peel (w/ a peeler) around the bottom edges of the stalk. Overcook it because it lets the seasoning permeate into the asparagus.
1:34 Interestingly, anthocyanins are not responsible for the color of beets (as shown in one of the photos). Beets are part of the Caryophyllales order, which use a different class of pigments- betalains. Other members of the Caryophyllales which get their reddish color from betalains are cacti, amaranth, bougainvillea, and even weird little things like venus flytraps.
Wow I’m so glad I’m not the only one who wanted to “um, actually” on a photo that appeared for a fraction of a second of the video. Haha. Thanks for the PSA
Great catch, David. You are spot on.
@@johrathbun no, the color of blueberries comes from anthocyanins, not betalains. Blueberries, being so heavily pigmented, have among the highest concentrations of anthocyanins in common fruits. That's why many people consider them to be so healthy.
@@davidonfim2381 who was talking about blueberries?
@@wernerbeinhart2320 "joh King", who apparently deleted his comment.
The funny thing is, me and 1 other particular person I know, we prefer asparagus to be more crunchy, we cook them stovetop in salted butter and olive oil for a few minutes and then enjoy them slightly crunchy without any of the disturbing mush factor
Good both ways, imo
400 degrees for seven minutes, you’re welcome.
I like crunch in all my veggies. Hubby thought I was crazy for along time for eating raw asparagus. Then I got him to try a spear. Big smile.
@@rms5993 TOTALLY agree about the necessary Crunch in the veggies!!! So many people around me Constantly Overcook them to the point of pointlessness. How are they of any health benefit they were intended for, if they're soggy. And so not tasty by that point.
Although, I do recognize that cooking them down can certainly add flavor to the dish, which is why I use two sets of veggies when cooking chilis or stews and soups, etc. One set of veggies, I add in the beginning to middle of cooking the meal, and the second set I add right as I'm turning off the eye of the stove.
😋👍🏾HappyCrunchyVeggie!!!
I've seen some catering companies serve raw asparagus with ranch dip on veggie trays. Yum!
I snap, but have been suspicious that I was wasting some asparagus in the process. Thank you for this wonderful, entertaining tutorial!
I also snap because when I cut I find I end up with chewy bits I can't eat but I suspect the peeling suggested here will prevent that! Definitely trying that next!
I tend to snap down low on the thickest spear in the bunch, then use that spear to mark where to cut with the rest of the spears. I generally have little waste that way, and often need to cut back a bit more.
Thanks, Cameron. Don't want to waste any of this wonderful veggies if I can help it!
I grow my own, and have never had a woody stem. Store bought is a different story. I believe you could safely say it's a question of how long since it was harvested and how it was handled on the way to the store shelf.😊
... meaning I don't cut or snap the ends off of asparagus from my garden EVER 😊
In North Central Washington (Okanogan Valley) we have "wild" asparagus that was first planted by the Chinese back in the early twentieth century. It now grows in many fallow fields. It does especially well along the flood plains of the Okanogan river. This "wild" asparagus is so much better than store bought. It is insanely delicious! I put all my asparagus ends in soup.
From Winthrop! When I drive to Seattle in sprig I always try to pull off the highway and harvest some
Wow!! That sounds amazing!!
What a great find!
OMG I want some!
I often find it through the methow valley as well.
My favorite way so far has been tossing with olive oil, lemon pepper (and lemon zest if you're up for it), and salt, then baking at high temp, like 400 F for 20-25 minutes until dark and slightly shriveled. They're like asparagus fries and my wife and I love them.
One of my favorite Japanese restaurants adds asparagus to the list of veggies to batter and fry up as tempura. Dipped in their tasty, umami laden dipping sauce, OMG, wonderful!!
In South Philly I had tempura battered asparagus with a Dijon Hollandaise sauce. That was awesome!
My 3 favorite green vegetables to make tempura at home: asparagus, green beans, and broccoli. Served with home made tempura dipping sauce. Vegetables transformed!
swak yaby Do you then deep fry in a wok? What oils do you use? Thank you!
I’m 43 and I’ve never had raw asparagus before. Will be trying on salad. Thank you.
Asparagus are my favorite vegetable and I cook it in different forms. Thank you for exposing me to other ways of cooking and for the education portion.
Also, thank you farm workers who ensure this tasty vegetable is available to me. Harvesting asparagus is back breaking and I witness it every year
Thanks for the ideas. I have been growing our asparagus patch for 35 years, my neighbour gave me the roots and I have no idea how long he had been growin his patch. Every year I dig up and split the roots in any spots where the spears are too thick and crowded. I have transplanted them all over the yard, we also plant the seeds, so now there are several patches.
Whenever we went to see the grandparents in the spring, our mom would have Dad stop on a certain country road. We'd all get out and pick the asparagus growing along the ditch. Good times. I'll keep your experience at hand when I start a new bed. Thanks.
@@sealyoness My Dad did the same thing ('60's). I guess with so much use of herbicides along roads that's probably no longer an option. Oh well, I still have great memories and a lifelong love of asparagus.
Well thanks for solving that mystery for me - We always wondered who was helping themself to the asparagus patches we planted!!
Thanks for the brine tip before grilling. Never thought about it. Going to pair it with terryaki beef filet.
So good to see Dan live! Like, better than just a serious illustration. He's a cool person!
Being from Germany my grandfather and later I would go to the open market that was 3 times a week in my home town. All the farmers from around the area came to sell their produce. We always looked for the white asparagus and the heads could not be discolored. After bringing it home (and trust me asparagus was not cheap due to the extra work of having to keep it covered so no color would show) my mom would cut off the ends peel it and then bundle them with some thread and cook them in salt water. When the asparagus was nice and tender she made a false hollandaise sauce to go with it. The sauce was made with milk, flavored with salt some nutmeg and butter and then after this mix was hot thickened with an egg yolk, cornstarch and heavy whipping cream that was mixed and then slowly poured into the hot milk mix and stirred till it was thickened. Then the sauce was poured over the asparagus and served. The same recipe btw goes well for cauliflower too which I am having tonight. Unfortunately getting white asparagus here in the US is almost impossible and I wish it was offered more often. The canned kind can not compete with the fresh kind at all.
In Germany we even have a special Asparagus server as you can see here loeffelland.de/en/products/versilberter-spargelheber-besteck-zur-82699
I have always been über-revolted by the sight of white asparagus from the very first time I saw a photo in a magazine. The stalks look like worms to me. My reaction was immediate & continues. It pains me that white asparagus is supposed to be a delicacy; I know I will never be able to eat it. I do, however, adore green asparagus, especially pencil-thin, tender stalks.
@@aurorakangaspuu Thats unfortunate for you. I've never heard of that syndrome before. Any other foods? What about Lychees looking like boiled ox eyes? I think most people think the fat white ones look like penises to be frank with you, only more delicious.
That's my kind of heaven. The green ones taste and smell like cat urine. they miss that divine asparagus flavour entirely.
@@aurorakangaspuu Try to get over it because it is delicious especially with the sauce that I make with it
@@MystiqueULH I am 100% positive your asparagus dish, with your special sauce, is at least passable. But, I eat with my eyes, & I can so easily get turned off on a food item.
I know I will never be able to eat white asparagus - again, those stalks look like over-fed, sickly-pale, blind, eyeless worms you find slithering in soil. Likewise, I cannot eat those tiny larvae-like shrimp. I do love specialty food, often costly, & indulge often. White asparagus looks sickly, deformed & creepy.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE asparagus!!! Grilled or just on the stovetop with olive oil, a little salt, maybe some garlic powder, and lots of pepper. I planted 16 Martha Washington two year old crowns last spring. Hopefully next year I’ll be able to start to harvest. Asparagus like to be left alone in the garden for at least two or three years before harvest. But once they’re there, you’ll be eating garden fresh spears for years to come! Oh and Im a maker and a smeller
I also grew up harvesting asparagus from the garden :) My grandma would take this beautiful, freshly harvested crop and... saute it in a lb of butter for 20-30m. It was basically asparagus butter. and it was glorious on toast :) I could get behind the braise method. Feels nostalgic.
Now that sounds amazing! I am not into the mushy spears but mashed on top of a crusty piece of sourdough sounds delish
🌺thank you for this information. I love that you included cooking instructions too ✨
My grandmother used to make me asparagus. It was my favorite side, growing up. I'm definitely going to try to grow some. Thanks for the tips.
When I was a kid the backyard backed up to a ravine that was a railroad right of way. Asparagus grew at the edge of the yard. My mother was in heaven! We had asparagus at least once a week for months. I hated it, still do. My dad was ok with it once or twice a year, but my mom was so happy.
My kids love saying "asparagus is hilarious" and love eating it. I like how you bring science and cooking together. Very Alton Brown like
I love asparagus!! Thanks for showing it's diversity! I used to snap them...I will now cut! I do peel, but never brined them. Excited to try!
I do not eat Asparagus...ever. But I love Dan Souza so much I will watch him break down any food item.
As of this vid post, I'm now a reformed snapper. I'll be a cutter from this day forward! Thank you Dan for reforming my ways. I've never peeled, but worth a try now as well. How have we lived so long without this critical information?? It feels like Dan was holding out on us.
I have always been a snapper, it was a rule. I hated the waste, now I know I have options! YAY. Thanks a bundle!!
Funny how much we are creatures of habit in the way we are taught, resisting much too long the new direction we know we should take!
@@billlewis8711, Yes, I am a Republican now, too! Yay asparagus!!
If you snap make soup with your leftover veggies!
DON'T LISTEN TO THIS GUY. DO NOT EAT ASPARAGUS RAW, IT NEEDS TO BE COOKED IN ORDER FOR THE BODY TO ABSORB THE NUTRITION.
ALSO THE BOTTOM PART THAT WON'T SNAP IS INDIGESTIBLE AND IT WILL CLOG YOUR COLON AND YOU WILL HAVE TO PULL IT OUT MANUALLY, UNPLEASANT.
ALSO THE BEST WAY TO COOK IT IS IN THE OVEN IN OIL OR BUTTER. BUT IN A PAN YOU CAN COME CLOSE IF YOU COOK IT SLOWLY.
DO NOT USE EXTRA MOISTURE AND DO NOT STEAM IT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
just start trying to snap from the very bottom, and keep moving up until it DOES snap. no wastage that way. Then into a bag in the freezer with the fibrous stem bits to save up for soup stock.
I love my asparagus as ice cream. Shoutout to my childhood city, Stockton, CA-home of the Asparagus Festival.
Thank you so much for this video!! Asparagus is easily in my top 5 favorite veggies and now I have several new things to try with it!!
When SNAPPING I have NEVER had a woody stem. When cutting them, I always have several. And if you hold both hands close together at the end of the stalk, it either breaks or it doesn't. Move up the stalk until it does. Perfect stalk for cooking and eating.
I do the same! And…I chew the cut end of the snapped off bit to make absolutely sure I haven’t missed a bit 😄
Exactly, David. I felt like I was cooking "wrong" hearing from Dan. You saved me. 🤣
I agree, no stringy tough ends when snapped, when I don't, it's practically dental floss......also. I've started saving the ends and dehydrating them, then making powder from the dried ends. It can be used to flavor soups.
@@heathermiller1248 what a great tip. Asparagus powder. You’re a genius!
@@heathermiller1248 - Awesome tip!
Would add stir fry. Takes the best of braising while keeping them a bit charred and firm.
My mother was a genius with stretching food. Steamed asparagus in a buttery white sauce on lightly toasted whole wheat bread is still a favorite meal.
I love your videos Dan (the food science man)! I cut & lightly peel asparagus, and I can't wait to try the salad you made! Thanks!
I love asparagus. There are two prefered ways for me. Cooked in my cast iron pan with a mixture of butter & olive oil with salt & pepper. Or cut into small pieces & cooked like before & then make a frittata. Put freshly grated parmigiano regiano or pecorino romano. hen either eaten by itself or on a piece of toasted Italian bread. The post eating smell isn't the greatest but reminds me of how much I enjoyed the meal.
I roast asparagus on a baking sheet with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Comes out amazing. No snapping, no peeling, tho I will cut off any visibly woody ends.
Really surprised you didn't mention roasting.
Yes! It's really the only way I cook them, although sometimes I'll also add a little grated parm. Pop them in the oven and I'm free to finish making my other dishes stove top
Same, but I cut off the bottoms. I'm cheap and don't like wasting perfectly good (and somewhat expensive) things. Snapping always seemed so wasteful to me. 400 degrees works well.
I'm trying this tonight. Can't wait to try it.
Your presentation was ADORABLE! What a pleasure to listen to your relaxed, informative message. I will definitely try to stop SNAPPING!
Thank You! I have always just steamed asparagus, so thanks for opening my eyes to the many delicious possibilities.
I saute in butter and olive oil with a pinch of salt and pepper. Large spears. Brown on side and flip and brown the other. By the time your done you have a lovely browned butter sauce to go on top.
It creates a delicious nutty taste without the overcooked texture from the braised asparagus.
Too much fat for me.
I cut my asparagus and my favorite way to cook is steam them and dress with salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice. I also grill them with olive oil, salt and pepper and once off the grill a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.😋
When I was a very young lad, say 4-5 years old, I would go with my grandparents and pick asparagus along the canal banks in my farming community. A couple large paper grocery bags of asparagus was our usual take! I continued this practice with my own children and my wife would make cheesy asparagus soup with bacon, delicious! I now live in an area where there is no asparagus except in the grocery stores but I still love it! Excellent video!
My favourite is wrapping the stalks in prosciutto and baking them on a sheet. The prosciutto is crispy and salty, and the asparagus is so tender! Very interesting video! Thanks!
I learned years ago that blanched then ice water chilled asparagus is a fabulous addition to a crudite platter with dip. Yum!
I prefer to just toss the green asparagus into a a pan with hot olive oil, let it sir from two sides (getting the top brown is the best), let it sit outside for a bit then cover with lemon juice. Et voilá!
And in regards to your question. I cut it. Don't even bother to peel, I do like some crunchiness added to the skin.
Not only was this interesting, it was funny as well. Great way to keep me watching. I absolutely love asparagus and learned something new as well. I cut mine at the bottom and will be using my veggie shaver too now. Thanks for posting!!
This asparagus plating tip was awesome, since I started digging up the garden a few days ago to build a vegetable patch! Thank you!
This is one of the best and most informative America’s Test Kitchen videos that I have ever watched- great job!
Please don’t ever stop making videos like this, Dan!!
The one thing that my grandparents did that bothers me now is they served us canned asparagus. I thought it was the worst thing ever and made me think it was all like that. It wasn't until I was in my 30's that I tried grilled asparagus. I am now a proud Maker and Smeller so watch out ladies!
Canned is disgusting !
I also hated asparagus as a kid because my mum made sandwiches with tinned asparagus and they were all I'd tried
I have ALWAYS snapped as my mom did, but seeing how easy it is to keep more asparagus and just peel the tough, stringy bits off I am a convert. Thank you. Very enlightening.
I don’t even waste the 30% of the end after cutting. I lightly peal the end and cook. Great video !
I trim about 1/2 inch from the end of one stalk, and bite the cut end to see if it is edible or inedible. This is most reliable guide to see where to to cut. If your wife must insist on using the wasteful snap method, I save the offcuts and check as above. Excellent to cut on bias for stir fries.
Great to see that there are others who cut instead of snap. I usually inspect my asparagus bunch to determine where to make that optimal cut (not always 1 inch from the bottom: could be more, could be less), and go from there.
Just received my Cook's Illustrated July August 2022 issue ... and in your Letter From the Editor I see you have a RUclips channel ... OMG this is wonderful !!! Dan you are so smart and I have learned so much from you with the physical magazine subscriptions (as well as enjoyed a chuckle or two) ... now I am really excited to search your RUclips channel. THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!
Dan is great! The writing of his show is wonderful. Really enjoy his performances.
Interesting. .. I just learned something To get tender asparagus, peel it... I literally never knew.
Thanks for doing this video. Was more interesting than I expected.
Literally literally, or figuratively literally?
@@mikemondano3624 "Literally"... my dad was telling me how much he loved Asparagus, & I tried cooking it, & thought it was horrible,
he never told me, you had to "Peel" the skin on the vegetable like you do a potato or any other veggie.. So what happened, was not only
did I do it wrong, but I over cooked the asparagus, so I had a soft mush inside, and the fiber on the outside, still sucked.. in "mouth feel" it was like trying
to eat wood fibers.
Agree.
@@MRSketch09 If you pick the right stalks, you won't need to peel them, either. It's not easy to tell sometimes, but the younger ones are always tender.
Looove asparagus, looove this video and the wonderful cooking tips from you as well as from your viewers! I’m a snapper, but I don’t throw away anything. I toss the ends in a bag of vegetable peelings and stems that I keep in the freezer to flavor my future homemade stock. 😋
After trying the various ways, this is what I’ve settled on, too. 😊 The most reliable to get luxuriously tender spears.
Loved this video! Love asparagus! Finally learned about the smell thing. I want asparagus NOW!
Never even thought of peeling/braising, trying it right now. Thanks for the information and stories 👍🏼👍🏼
I inspect each piece to decide where best to cut then go from there. I like to cut the stalks into 2 inch pieces (heads/crowns always left intact) then saute in butter with salt, pepper, minced garlic, and a splash of lemon juice. Serve once the stalks are tender and just begin to wrinkle.
I never peel them - I like the slight bite that outer layer gives each piece.
- Cast iron on HIGH heat. Put dry asparagus in when pre-heated.
**No oil yet**
- Give the pan shakes and redistribute the asparagus, you're looking for a deep char like when grilling.
- When they're still a bright green and nicely blackened in spots, test one with your knife in the thickest part.
- When they're al dente, remove from heat, carefully splash maybe a 1/2 - 1 tsp or so of oil and shake to combine. Could smoke a bit at this point.
- Immediately season with salt and pepper (fresh pink pepper is nice), it'll stick now.
- Don't leave in pan, it'll continue cooking.
Now I'm hungry.
This is how I like my asparagus as well. Slightly charred, tender-crisp, with nice salt and pepper. Sometimes I add a silky Hollandaise...especially for brunch.
@@dcmc7383 Hollandaise is perfect I'm just too lazy for that! Might just top with a fried/poached egg and a sprinkle of fresh tarragon or chives instead.
@@adamthemute Haha. I am too. Too much whisking and worrying about scorching. I do the 1-minute Hollandaise in a wide-mouth mason jar and an immersion blender....then i just heat it up in the mason jar in a water bath. #easypeasy
@@dcmc7383
Me too. 142f in an immersion circulator warms it nicely with no chance of curdling.
What a fascinating and informative video. Thank you Dan.
I grew up in Hadley, MA -- definitely the Asparagus Capital of the World -- until, sadly, the Hadley grass was devastated by fusarium (root rot). When I was a kid just about the entire town was out on the fields by 5 a.m in the spring, picking grass. The town school even opened later during Asparagus season so kids could pick asparagus, go home and shower, then get to school. I've been a lifelong snapper, but will definitely try the cutting method after watching this video. I just hope my Babcia isn't rolling over in her grave by this act of asparagus treachery!
it's amazing how you can learn something new about something you've eaten your entire life. Thank you for this video.
I always commandeer the ends removed from asparagus and freeze them in a bag. I put a few pieces in when I'm making a nice chicken bone broth. They impart a delicate flavor to the broth. I bet peelings would have some flavor to give me, as well.
Thanks for this useful video!
You may want to rethink that chicken bone broth. Some studies suggest that it may be the cause of rheumatoid arthritis... Something about "we don't break down that type of collagen very well," or something... I'm still gathering data...
@@aartudituu8215 thank you for the "heads up."
I learned so much from this video. I’ve been snapping but I’ll try cutting next time. The salad looks especially intriguing. Thanks, Dan.
Entertaining, too.
I cut the ends, trim off the tips, and cut the rest into matchsticks. Then stir fry in oil and butter, with garlic and salt. SO good!
Sounds like way too much work.
A love to coat mine with some oil, salt, and pepper, then grill into it gets some color. Finish with lime juice. The crisp tip and the roasty base are such a flavorful combination.
We’ve been braising asparagus all of our married life, 50 years. We don’t like it crispy, we like the luxurious, silky spears that pair well with a Hollandaise sauce, and bits of a good prosciutto.
My life with Asparagus: Snapper b/c "that's the way we always did it." Growing up, asparagus was my favorite vegetable for my birthday dinner. Every year. I will keep my counsel where I fall on the after-party scale, but the Myers-Briggs comparison made me laugh. Judy Blume also wrote a description of the after-effects of broccoli in one of the Fudge books. That was a giggle-worthy read-aloud. All I can think of when I see white asparagus is Bunnicula.
I've always broken the ends off but experimented with each stalk to see where it went from crisp to "bendy". I'm going to try cutting and peeling as well as trying the recipes you provided. Thanks!
I have never tried the asparagus ribbons. Looks so yummy. Asparagus is my favorite vegetable. I roast or braise it. I will try the brining. What a smart way to season it.
An easy way to add a delicious starter:
Don't throw away the cut parts and peelings, but make a simple soup out of them: fry some onion in oil, add the asparagus cuttings and salt and before they burn, fill up with water or stock. After 15 minutes (or more), strain through a sieve and add some cream, lemon juice and herbs.
I've done that. It's great!
Oil and cream are damaging your vascular system.
Lobster are not inanimate objects. Interesting how animal eaters try to remove this aspect of the food they eat in order to avoid cognitive dissonance. Lobsters definitely feel pain and have a will to live.
@@Fearzero and they are delicious with butter
@@nilo70 They are full of chemicals like dioxins and pcbs.
I have always snapped but you have convinced me otherwise. I haven't peeled but that braised recipe sounds amazing! Thanks Dan!
Hi Dan, just love your presentation on asparagus. You are a really knowledgeable chef. I always enjoy your segments on the regular TV show.
I used to snap, but learned that cutting was better, so now, that's what I do.
I also save up the trimmings in the freezer, and when I have enough, cook them in lots of water, puree them, strain out the fiber, and use the liquid for the basis of a *DELICIOUS* cream of asparagus soup.
@Super Geek mmmm Cream of Asparagus Soup.. As a kid, I used to eat it all the time. I'll have to try making it.
Do you have a particular recipe you would be willing to share?
@@merryworld4776
All that I do is cook the saved up cut offs in a saucepan in enough water to cover them by about an inch (2.5 cm.). Included in the cut offs are the cut offs from a small bunch of fresh asparagus. I generally simmer them tor about 20 minutes, then mash them with a potato masher, simmer for another 20 minutes, or so, then puree the whole thing in a blender, or with a stick blender. This part is a real pain, since the fibers tend to clog up the blender's blades.
Then, strain out all of the fibers through a large sieve (pressing the pureed asparagus with the back of a large spoon to get out as much liquid as possible.)
Chop the remainder of the fresh asparagus into bite sized pieces, and put them into the saucepan along with the asparagus broth/stock. Season. (I like salt, pepper, and either savory or thyme - preferably savory.) Return to a gentle boil, and simmer for about 5 minutes. Stir in about half as much heavy cream as asparagus stock/broth, adjust seasonings and serve, garnished with a fresh grating of nutmeg.
That's how I do it. I hope that you like it, too.
.
I grew up with asparagus in the yard too, and I think the childhood availability helps create the adults who love to eat it.
I don't think I ever tried asparagus until I was at least in my teens, but it's one of my favourite vegetables now!
I grew up with homegrown asparagus and it was my job to weed the patch and then harvest it! I LOVE asparagus. I have had the white variety while stationed in Germany and really didn't care for it. Now to your question- I use to cut the ends but then read an article and began snapping it and noticed a fair amount of loss so now I am going back to cutting the ends and checking. I have never braised it but will try it but more so, I want to make the raw salad and peel it!!! Great video!
So nice...I love this and have to definitely have to try. Thanks!
I can't believe there was no mention of frying in a pan with a bit of butter and some garlic. Still, a well done and entertaining video to watch
that's how I cook it but I use oil spray or olive oil. I usually add garlic and rosemary.
My favorite way with some lemon pepper.
nah you need to spend a couple hours braising, cutting, and peeling! /s
Nothing wrong with the traditional way, but I find it interesting to sometimes use other options to see what I'm missing. :)
@@GLesbihonest I forgot about lemon pepper. Delicious indeed
Love Love Love Asparagus ❤️ ❤️. Especially great when you're in a pinch. Also, I learned from RRay to prep them then stick in a glass w/water covered with a Baggie into fridge & they'll last freshly quite longer . 😀 In a real hurry... pop them in a shallow container small amount of water , whole or cut & microwave briefly. (Microwaves vary) Then dress them or add to whatever you've got cooking. 🤗 Thanks Dan for answering some questions re:color, thickness & history. 🥰
Loved the video. Entertaining & learned new stuff-great! Sadly, I'm a bit of a lazy cook and peeling those spears, yeesh!, but I will give it a chance. My favourite cooking method is to grill them outdoors after tossing with olive oil & kosher salt. I finish them up with a squeeze of lemon. I'll try brining next time I get some.
Oh my gosh. This is the BEST!!!!!
As a Michigander, this speaks to my soul!
Grill all winter long (in summer guess use fridge) so getting seasonings to stick is easy. In a 9" metal cake pan melt butter & minced garlic &/or what ever herbs , spices you like (pepper, old bay, lemon, wine, balsamic, curry, cinnamon- coriander, garlic jam, soy etc...) 1 to 3 is sufficient. Then chill pan so butter thickens, rattle them around, voi la grill 4 min. Heat up what's left in pan on grill pour on top.