Blanching is a cooking method that involves cooking food in boiling water and immediately cooling it in ice water. Blanching is perfect for asparagus because it retains its flavor, texture, and color. After blanching the asparagus, you can serve it straight away, store it in the refrigerator for 3-5 days, or place it in the freezer for up to a year. With a little preparation, you can eat fresh and nutritious asparagus.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Cooking Asparagus
Step 1. Wash the asparagus in cold water to get rid of any adhering dirt
Before blanching, make sure the asparagus is clean. Wash the asparagus under running cold water in the sink for 10 to 30 seconds.
Step 2. Cut off the base of the asparagus
To make cutting easier, place the asparagus on a cutting board and arrange so that all the bases are level. Next, cut off the bottom of the asparagus stem using a large, sharp knife. Remove the thick, white base of the asparagus stem. Make 1 lengthwise cut across the entire stem of the asparagus to make it easier for you to remove the base.
The base of the asparagus is not very flavorful and tough to eat
Step 3. Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat
To blanch the asparagus, put tap water in a large saucepan until it's half full. Next, place the pot on the stove and bring the water to a boil over high heat.
The water will boil in about 5 minutes
Step 4. Add salt to the water if you want to increase the taste
Add salt to the water immediately after the stove is turned on. Use about 2 tbsp. (30 grams) of salt for every 1,400 ml of water.
Although this is only optional, adding salt can enhance the taste of the asparagus and help retain its nutrients
Step 5. Put the asparagus in the pot when the water starts to boil
When the water in the pot starts to boil, add the cleaned and chopped asparagus to the water. Next, use tongs or a slotted spoon to completely submerge the asparagus in the water.
Be careful when doing this so you don't scald your skin with hot water or steam
Step 6. Cook the asparagus for 2 to 4 minutes
The asparagus will be fully cooked after about 3 minutes of cooking. While cooking the asparagus, keep an eye on the color.
Asparagus is ripe when the stems have turned bright green
Part 2 of 3: Soaking Asparagus in Ice Water
Step 1. Prepare ice water for soaking while the asparagus is cooking
Once the asparagus is submerged in the boiling water, place the ice cubes in a large bowl. Next, pour cold tap water into the container. Place a container of iced water near the stove so you can move the asparagus easily.
Step 2. Transfer the asparagus to the ice water as soon as it is cooked
After three minutes or so have passed, take tongs and use them to remove the asparagus from the pan. Make sure the asparagus has turned a bright green before you remove it from the water. Immediately after removing it from the water, place the asparagus in a container of ice water. Soak the asparagus for about 1 to 3 minutes until completely cool.
- If it's overcooked, the asparagus will become mushy and turn dark green in color.
- The ice water will stop the ripening process and soften the asparagus.
Step 3. Place the asparagus on a clean kitchen towel after you have soaked it for about 3 minutes
Once cool, remove the asparagus from the iced water and place it on a paper towel or clean kitchen towel. Pat the asparagus dry to remove any remaining water.
Part 3 of 3: Serving and Storing Asparagus
Step 1. Eat blanched asparagus as is if you want a healthy snack or side dish
Once the asparagus is dry, grab a fork and start eating it! Sprinkle a little pepper and salt if you want to add more flavor.
For example, you can serve this unseasoned asparagus with vegetables for a delicious appetizer. Add carrots, broccoli, celery, and cauliflower for a nutrient-packed mix of vegetables. Don't forget the vegetable sauce
Step 2. Chop the asparagus if you want to add it to the lettuce
Take a sharp knife and chop the asparagus into small pieces. Next, mix the asparagus pieces with the romaine (a type of lettuce) and/or chopped spinach. Add toppings, such as dried cranberries and goat's milk cheese for a delicious and healthy dish.
You can add asparagus to any lettuce you like
Step 3. Cover the asparagus with balsam vinegar if you want a delicious sauce
You can do this by placing the asparagus on a tray or serving plate. Mix 3 tbsp. (45 ml) balsam vinegar, 2 tbsp. (30 grams) chopped onion, 2 tbsp. (30 ml) olive oil, 1 clove of minced garlic, and a pinch of black pepper. Next, pour this mixture on the asparagus.
- It makes a delicious side dish or appetizer.
- This mixture is perfect for pouring over 4 servings of asparagus.
- To serve the asparagus warm, place the mixture in a medium skillet and heat for 2 to 3 minutes.
Step 4. Serve the asparagus with olive oil and parmesan cheese for a delicious topping
Place the asparagus in a bowl, then add 2 tbsp. (30 ml) olive oil, 2 tbsp. (30 grams) grated parmesan cheese, and 1 tsp. (5 grams) grated lemon zest. If desired, you can add pepper and salt to taste. Stir all ingredients until well blended, then serve on a tray or serving plate.
If you want to serve the asparagus warm, don't soak the asparagus in ice water and mix all the ingredients while the asparagus is still hot
Step 5. Store the blanched asparagus in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days
For best results, refrigerate asparagus within 2 hours of blanching. Wrap the asparagus in plastic wrap, then place in an airtight container (such as Tupperware). Tighten the lid, and place the container in the refrigerator.
Eat asparagus in about 3 days or put it in the freezer'
Step 6. Put the asparagus in the freezer if you want to store it for a long time
Spread parchment paper on a baking sheet, then place the asparagus on top. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 1 to 3 hours until the asparagus is frozen. After that, remove the pan containing the asparagus from the freezer. Place frozen asparagus in a freezer-safe bag. Press down on the plastic bag to get as much air out of it as possible. Place the bag in the freezer. In this way, asparagus can last for 8-12 months.
- When placing the asparagus on the baking sheet, allow some space between each asparagus stick.
- Alternatively, place frozen asparagus in a freezer-safe container, such as a Tupperware container.
- If you prefer, you can use a marker to write the freezing date on the bag where the asparagus is stored.
- If you want to cook frozen asparagus, take asparagus stalks as needed.
