17 Asparagus Recipes to Make Again and Again
Asparagus is one of many delights of spring. And while you can certainly simply drizzle it with olive oil, season it, roast it, and call it a day, there are so many other wonderful ways to prepare it—and this asparagus recipe roundup celebrates the vegetable in all its forms. Turn it into a pseudo carbonara, use it as a topping on pizza (grilled pizza, at that), or serve it in a fresh salad. No matter which recipe you choose, you'll get wonderful results.
Triple-Pea and Asparagus Salad with Feta-Mint Dressing
"This salad brings fresh flavors to the plate with confidence and swagger," Hetty McKinnon writes. "Barely blanched peas mingle with pan-fried sugar snaps, snow peas, and another of my favorite spring ingredients, asparagus, which are cooked on high heat until just tender yet still crisp with the slightest hint of charring to add smokiness."
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Asparagus Carbonara
Cookbook author Melissa Clark riffs on classic carbonara, swapping out the pasta for thin asparagus spears. It has that same irresistible pancetta-cheese-egg flavor, but with bright green asparagus at the center.
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Pasta with Asparagus and Mushrooms
Allowing the pasta dough to rise (just like a bread dough) before rolling and shaping gives the cecamariti pasta in this dish its characteristic texture and flavor.
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Asparagus with Toasted Almonds and Garlic
Pencil-thin asparagus and slivered almonds come together in this tasty side dish.
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Morel-and-Asparagus Salad with Frisée and Butter Lettuce
This light, simple salad highlights poached morels and asparagus with a combination of frisée and butter lettuces.
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Asparagus Soup with Parmesan Shortbread Coins
"I adore savory cheese cookies with creamy asparagus soup," says Carla Hall. "Both are dead simple to make."
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Asparagus with Scallops, Browned Butter and Prosciutto
Asparagus serves as a bright contrast to the savory scallops and prosciutto.
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Roasted Asparagus and Mushrooms
A drizzle of syrupy aged balsamic balances the earthiness of the mushrooms and slight char on the asparagus.
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Seared Lamb Chops with Seared Endive, Asparagus, and Tahini Dressing
"To round out this springtime dish, I add some more spring produce—seared endives and asparagus—which I garnish with fresh mint (a nod to my parents, who would always add mint jelly when lamb was served)," Klancy Miller writes. "I drizzle the vegetables with a tangy tahini dressing, loaded with lemon juice, which adds a bright, acidic finish."
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Grilled Asparagus Pizzas with Gremolata
The heat of the grill can wilt the freshest toppings, so Daniele Uditi spoons something bright—a blend of fresh herbs, crushed red pepper and garlic—over the pizza once it comes off the grate.
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Asparagus-and-Zucchini Frittata
Chef Chris Behr's versatile frittata with crisp spring vegetables can be eaten warm or at room temperature. Serve for brunch with an accompanying platter of crusty bread, fresh fruit, cheese and salumi, or for lunch with a green salad.
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Shrimp-Asparagus Risotto
This easy, fresh-tasting risotto is studded with delicate shrimp and pieces of plump asparagus, and delicately flavored with saffron.
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Spring Asparagus Salad with Feta
This lovely salad combines both fresh and blanched asparagus with peas, pea shoots and edamame in a creamy, bright, lemony dressing.
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Grilled Asparagus with Taramasalata
Taramasalata is a Greek dip or spread made with salted fish roe, olive oil and bread (or sometimes potatoes). Chef Zoi Antonitsas's creamy version is a perfect accompaniment for grilled asparagus.
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Stovetop Asparagus Frittata
For this single-serving frittata, Nancy Silverton cooks the eggs gently, then tops them with asparagus, prosciutto and crème fraîche.
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Golden Fried Rice with Asparagus and XO Sauce
Stir-frying rice with egg yolks is a technique that hails from Chinese imperial cuisine, says chef Lucas Sin of Junzi restaurant, and gives the dish a buttery richness and beautiful golden color. A generous amount of onions, garlic, scallions, and fresh ginger builds a foundation of flavor, while a spoonful of spicy seafood-infused XO sauce and plenty of freshly blanched asparagus make this fried rice even more delicious.
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Skirt Steak and Asparagus with Salsa de Semillas
Loaded with pumpkin seed kernels, cashews, and sesame seeds, salsa de semillas is a lesser-known but beloved Mexican nut-based salsa.