Delicious Asparagus Recipes

Asparagus is one of my favorite vegetables. It is low in calories, contains no fat or cholesterol, and is very low in sodium. It is also a good source of folic acid, potassium, and fiber. Not to mention, it is a breeze to cook! My favorite way to eat asparagus is to simply blanch it, and then dip the crunchy stalks into mustard, but I also have several great recipes that are a little more detailed. They're all still very easy to prepare. Two of them are light meals, perfect for warm weather, and the other two are great side dishes.

Grilled Asparagus

1 pound asparagus

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 cloves garlic, finely minced

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

1/4 teaspoon paprika

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Trim asparagus. In a small bowl, combine oil, garlic, zest and paprika and stir with a fork. Lay asparagus side by side and pierce on 2 wooden skewers to form a raft. Place rafts on the grill and brush with oil mixture. Cook to desired tenderness and season with salt and pepper.

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Orange Soy Beef with Asparagus

1 bunch of asparagus, trimmed

12-oz. flank steak

3 Tbsp. lite soy sauce

1 tsp. each grated orange peel and ginger

1 tsp. minced garlic

1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper

Coat grill with nonstick spray, then heat. Meanwhile, put all ingredients in a gallon ziptop bag and turn to coat. Place steak on grill; close and grill 6 min. for medium-rare. Remove to cutting board. Let rest 5 min. Meanwhile, place asparagus on grill; close and grill 5 min. until crisp-tender. Slice steak thinly across the grain.

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Spicy Asparagus Pasta

5 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp. dried red pepper flakes

2-3 dashes Tabasco

1/4 c olive oil

1 Tbs. butter or margarine

1 lb fresh asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces

Salt to taste

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 cup shredded Parmasan (I prefer Romano) cheese

1/2 lb penne, cooked and drained

In a skillet, cook garlic, red pepper flakes, and hot pepper sauce in oil and butter for 2-3 min. Add asparagus, salt and pepper; saute until asparagus is crisp-tender (about 8-10 min.). Add Parmasan cheese; mix well. Pour over hot pasta and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

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Marinated Asparagus

This recipe was given to me by my husband's aunt and does not have any specific measurements; however it's so simple that you really don't need any!

Bring equal parts of white vinegar and water to a boil. Drop asparagus in boiling vinegar/water for about 3-4 minutes. Remove asparagus and drain well. (Dry on towel). Add olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and a little crushed red pepper. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight. Serve cold or at room temperature.