Asparagus is incredibly easy to eat and highly nutritious, making it a favorite vegetable for many. Get ready to cook asparagus! Here's how you can prepare asparagus ready for sautéing, grilling, or pan-searing - any way you want to eat it!
Asparagus - a popular and highly nutritious vegetable widely loved
Asparagus is a delicate and versatile vegetable. Unfortunately, grit and sand can get trapped in its tips and tender leaves. To clean asparagus, rinse thoroughly and scrub off any dirt. Alternatively, plunge them into boiling water to release any grit. You can also peel away the outer layer to remove any dirt or sand clinging under the tiny leaves.
Method 1: Cleanse with Water
Step 1: Hold the asparagus under running water.
Take a bunch of asparagus and remove the elastic band. Rinse each stalk under cool water. Thoroughly wash the tips where sand and grit can hide.
Step 2: Trim the tough ends of the asparagus.
Hold a bunch of asparagus with one hand, gripping the middle. Use your thumb and index finger of the other hand to hold the tough end of the stalk. Gently bend the asparagus towards the end until it snaps off. Discard the woody ends of all cleaned asparagus spears.
- If using thick asparagus, you may need to trim about 5 cm from the base. Thinner asparagus may only require trimming 2.5 cm.
Pat the asparagus dry with a kitchen towel.
Spread a towel on your work surface. Lay the cleaned asparagus on the towel in a single layer. Place another kitchen towel over the asparagus and gently press down. They will dry as you sandwich them between the towels.
4. Explore the wonders of using or preserving asparagus.
Delve into the versatility of cleaned and trimmed asparagus. Grill them in the oven or on the stovetop, or roast them. You can also store cleaned asparagus in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
Method 2: Whitening Technique
1. Bring a pot of water to a boil.
Take a large pot and fill it with about three-quarters full of water. Cover the pot with a lid and place it on the stove. Turn the heat to high and bring the water to a boil.
2. Immerse the asparagus in the boiling water.
Use tongs to hold several spears of asparagus. Lower the asparagus into the boiling water and keep them there for a few seconds. Lift the asparagus out of the boiling water and continue to submerge the remaining part of the asparagus. The hot water will soften the tips slightly to make it easy to remove any grit.
3. Rinse the asparagus under cool running water.
Place cherry tomatoes in a strainer or colander and set over sink. Pour cold water over cherry tomatoes to prevent them from ripening. Cold water will also help cherry tomatoes retain their bright color.
4. Use cherry tomatoes or store in the refrigerator.
To store cherry tomatoes, wrap the trimmed ends in damp paper towels to prevent them from drying out. Stand the bunch of cherry tomatoes upright in a jar or container with the damp towels at the bottom and place in the refrigerator.
Method 3. Peel
1. Rinse the baby corn under cold water, ensuring to remove any dirt.
Gather the baby corn heads and rinse them under the faucet. Wash the baby corn with cold water, making sure to clean the grit from the heads.
Use a vegetable peeler to peel the baby corn.
Place the cleaned baby corn on a working surface. Take a vegetable peeler and peel each cob from the soft end to the tough end. Avoid peeling the soft end that you have already rinsed. Repeat this for all the baby corn.
To handle slippery or difficult-to-peel asparagus, consider patting them dry with a kitchen towel before peeling.
Only remove the thin outer layer of asparagus, or you might end up discarding too much of the stalk.
Trim away any tough ends.
Take a bunch of asparagus and hold the middle part with one hand. Use your thumb and index finger of the other hand to grip the tough end of the stalk. Gently bend the asparagus downwards until the tough end snaps off. Discard the woody ends of all cleaned asparagus stalks.
- When dealing with thick asparagus, consider trimming about 5 cm from the base.
4. Utilize shaved asparagus in your cooking recipes.
You can incorporate cleaned asparagus into dishes requiring tender asparagus. Since these spears are trimmed and prone to burning, avoid leaving them on the grill. Consider sautéing or roasting them in the oven instead.
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Wishing you all a joyful day filled with happy meals!
Source: Collected