Properly cooking veggies like asparagus can seem intimidating, but when you prepare these bright green stalks simply and in a healthy manner, you really can’t go wrong. Asparagus has elegant texture and taste and doesn’t require fancy bells and whistles to enhance it.
All you need is a large pan for boiling and then sautéing the asparagus in olive oil, and you’ll create the ultimate fresh and nutritional side dish.
This method of how to cook asparagus on the stove is quick and delivers satisfying results.
Step #1. Prepare the Ingredients
Prepare all of the ingredients before starting to cook:
- 8-10 asparagus stems
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- Freshly ground sea salt & pepper
Step #2. Cut the Asparagus Tips
Cut the asparagus tips (leaving just the greenest parts).
Step #3. Peel off the Hard Parts
Using a potato peeler, remove any hard parts so the stems are very soft to the touch.
Step #4. Bring Water to a Boil
Bring water to a boil, add a pinch of salt and add the asparagus.
Step #5. Boil the Asparagus
Boil the asparagus for about 5 to 10 minutes (depending on the thickness), or until they are bright and tender.
Step #6. Remove Asparagus
Remove the asparagus from the water and reserve.
Step #7. Fry Some Garlic
Remove the water from the frying pan. Turn the heat down to medium and add the olive oil. Once the olive oil heats, add the garlic cloves and cook them until they are brown.
Step #8. Return Asparagus to Pan
Return the cooked asparagus to the pan and mix them thoroughly with the olive oil and garlic.
Step #9. Season the Asparagus
Sprinkle with some sea salt and pepper.
Step #10. Serve
The long, green stalks are packed with excellent nutrition including protein, iron, calcium, fiber, folate and Vitamins A, B6, C, E and K. This fresh veggie is all about good health. In addition, eating asparagus offers another bonus; it’s a natural diuretic. The versatile veggie helps reduce common belly bloat by flushing out excess fluid and salt from the body.
Lastly, cooking up a pan of yummy asparagus can put you in a better frame of mind. That’s right; the veggie is filled to the brim with tryptophan. The amino acid can elevate one’s mood.
Now that you have a simple, nutritious recipe for asparagus pan-sautéed in olive oil, is this a hearty side dish you’re tempted to try?
How to Cook Asparagus on the Stove
Ingredients
- 8-10 asparagus stems
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves - chopped
- Freshly ground sea salt & pepper
Instructions
- Cut the asparagus tips (leaving just the greenest parts).
- Using a potato peeler, remove any hard parts so the stems are very soft to the touch.
- Bring water to a boil, add a pinch of salt and add the asparagus.
- Boil the asparagus for about 5 to 10 minutes (depending on the thickness), or until they are bright and tender.
- Remove the asparagus from the water and reserve.
- Remove the water from the skillet. Turn the heat down to medium and add the olive oil. Once the olive oil heats, add the garlic cloves and cook them until they are brown.
- Return the cooked asparagus to the pan and mix them thoroughly with the olive oil and garlic.
- Sprinkle with some sea salt and pepper.
- Serve
Equipment
Nutrition
Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not everyone will notice a smell in their urine after eating asparagus, but if you do, it’s because the asparagus breaks down into byproducts containing sulfur. When you pee, the byproducts immediately evaporate and give off an odor.
Asparagus can give your urine a slightly greenish tinge and this is thought to be due to the pigments not being damaged in the digestive process, possibly because of lower acidity in the stomach.
Uncooked asparagus can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It’s time to throw them away when the ends become dark/mushy. If you want the asparagus to stay fresher longer, trim the ends and stand them up in a jar or container with an inch of water so that the ends stay moist. Alternatively, you could wrap the trimmed ends in moist paper towel inside of a zip-top bag. Cooked asparagus should last about 3 to 5 days in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.
Looking to further enhance your cooking skills? Check out…How to Cook Crispy Bacon
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