How to cook asparagus
Learn how to prepare and cook asparagus in a range of dishes. The delicate spears of this seasonal vegetable can be blanched, griddled, sautéed, roasted or served raw
Wondering what the best way to cook asparagus is, and how long to cook it for? Get the best from this seasonal veg by cooking it as soon after it’s picked as you can. Use our below guide to find out more about each cooking method.
When is asparagus in season?
Asparagus is typically available for just two months of the year, from late April to June, so be sure to make the most of it while it lasts.
The earliest shoots are called ‘sprue’. They’re thinner and usually tender all the way through. The later and thicker shoots can have very woody ends that need to be removed. Simply bend each stalk with both hands, gently, until it snaps – the break will happen where the woody part meets the tender part. Sometimes what needs to be discarded can be quite substantial – you can use these ends to make a stock for soups and stews.
See our ideas for how to serve asparagus below, and also check out our collection of asparagus recipes.
Discover the best way to grow asparagus, at GardenersWorld.com.
How to prepare asparagus
Watch our video guide for how to prepare asparagus, and follow these simple steps:
- Break off any woody ends by bending the asparagus spears until they snap at their natural breaking point.
- Trim off any uneven ends with a sharp knife.
What is the best way to cook asparagus?
Asparagus can be cooked in various ways, each bringing out different textures and flavours. Roasting asparagus in the oven is a hands-off method almost guaranteed to give you a juicy interior and crispy exterior, making it a great addition to salads or grain bowls. However, it can take longer than other methods and may dry out if overcooked. Boiling on the hob is one of the quickest and simplest ways to cook asparagus, resulting in a tender, vibrant green spear—ideal for serving with butter or hollandaise. The downside is that it can become soggy if left in for too long, and some vitamins are water-soluble, so you lose nutrients using this method. Griddling is perfect for adding a smoky, charred flavour and a slight crunch, making it an excellent side for a roast chicken dinner or other mains. However, thicker spears work best for this method, as thin ones can scorch quickly. The cooking time will vary with each method, so it’s worth considering the texture you wish to achieve and what dish you’re pairing it with. See our five ways to cook asparagus below.
Boiled asparagus (blanch and refresh)
A method we’ve gleaned from restaurant cooking is called blanch and refresh. This is useful for lots of vegetables (particularly green veg), as it helps them to retain their bright colour and flavour after cooking.
- Fill a bowl with water and ice cubes and set aside.
- Plunge your asparagus spears into a pan of boiling water.
- Cook for 1-2 mins or until tender.
- Remove the asparagus with tongs or a slotted spoon and place directly in the bowl of ice water.
Store in the fridge until needed, then simply drain and reheat in a pan with a little butter when you want to serve.
Griddled asparagus
Another way to cook asparagus is to char it, either on a griddle pan or on a barbecue – if the weather allows. Slightly scorching the asparagus brings out a nutty flavour while keeping its distinct texture and vibrancy.
- Coat the asparagus spears in a little olive oil.
- Put your griddle pan over a high heat. When it's heated through, add the asparagus spears and season with salt and black pepper.
- Cook for 1-2 mins, turning occasionally until tender.
Check if the asparagus is done by lifting a spear out of the griddle pan with a pair of tongs. If it bends slightly, it’s ready.
Roasted asparagus
Roasting asparagus is one of the easiest ways to cook this vegetable. Simply drizzle with olive oil and pop in the oven.
- Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
- Snap any woody tips off the asparagus where they naturally break apart. Put on a roasting tray, drizzle with oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Roast for 12 mins until tender.
Sautéed asparagus
Sautéing asparagus is a quick and straightforward way to bring out its natural flavour. Just cook in a pan with a little oil or butter until tender.
- Heat a drizzle of olive oil or a little butter in a large frying pan over medium-high heat.
- Snap any woody tips off the asparagus where they naturally break apart.
- Add to the pan in a single layer.
- Season with salt and pepper, then cook for 5-7 mins, depending on how tender you like them, tossing occasionally.
Steamed asparagus
- Put the asparagus in a steamer basket and cover.
- Place over a high heat. Once steam forms, cook for 2-4 mins until the asparagus is bright green and tender.
- Put the asparagus into ice water to stop the cooking process, if not eating right away.
Peel raw ribbons
Asparagus can be eaten raw, too, as part of a salad. It works very well sliced into ribbons using a vegetable peeler.
- Start by removing the tougher outer skin and discarding it.
- Peel off long ribbons until you get to the middle, then turn over and repeat on the other side.
How to store asparagus
- Wrap the asparagus in damp kitchen paper, put in a perforated paper bag or wrap and keep in the salad drawer of the fridge. This will keep for up to five days.
- You can also store it in a glass or jug of cold water in the fridge, with a loose covering on top.
Top 10 asparagus recipes:
1. Asparagus fries with baconnaise
An indulgent celebration of asparagus, the coating of crisp breadcrumbs adds texture without distracting from the flavour and pairs wonderfully with the rich bacon mayo.
Discover more bacon recipes.
2. Quinoa with roast asparagus, eggs & capers
With quinoa, asparagus, eggs, beetroot, beans and courgettes, this filling veggie salad packs in all of your five-a-day.
Discover more quinoa salad recipes.
3. Asparagus pancakes & smoked salmon
Frame your asparagus spears in these golden pancakes for a picture-perfect brunch dish.
Discover more savoury pancake recipes.
4. Asparagus, avocado & quinoa tabbouleh
This stunning platter of fresh greens makes a lovely side dish for sharing, and it's a great way to serve asparagus raw.
Discover more tabbouleh recipes.
5. Sesame grilled asparagus rafts
Here's a simple recipe for grilling or barbecuing your asparagus. Fixing a row of spears together makes them much easier to work with.
Discover more delicious barbecue recipes.
6. Asparagus, feta & dill quiche
Make the most of eggs in this versatile veggie quiche. Baked with feta and asparagus, it's encased in a cheesy pastry and makes a perfect addition for a picnic.
Discover more quiche recipes perfect for picnics or entertaining a crowd.
7. Best ever asparagus & pea risotto
This vibrant risotto takes a little more effort to make, but it's completely worth it to have the flavours of spring bursting from every mouthful.
Discover more vegetarian risotto recipes.
8. Tuna, asparagus & white bean salad
This healthy, gluten-free salad makes the perfect quick lunch, as it only takes 15 minutes to prepare. Enjoy as the star of the show or as the accompaniment to some barbecued meats.
Discover more salads that use storecupboard ingredients with our bean salad recipes.
9. Lemon roasted spring chicken with asparagus
Pop all the ingredients for this lemon roasted chicken into a roasting tin. With asparagus and peas, the colours and flavours sing spring.
Discover more simple traybake dinner recipes.
10. Herbed broad bean & feta crostini with asparagus
Make the most of seasonal broad beans during the summer months with this vibrant bean and feta crostini. Ideal as a starter, it's best topped with asparagus.
Discover more crostini recipes.
Try more awesome asparagus recipes
Asparagus recipes
How to serve asparagus
3 quick dinner ideas with asparagus
10 recipes to make you feel like spring is here
The health benefits of asparagus
Have you tried any of our asparagus recipes? Leave a comment below...