Sauteed Asparagus (BEST Recipe with Garlic Butter!) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

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Garlic Butter Sauteed Asparagus - easy and healthy asparagus recipe that takes only 10 mins from prep to dinner table. Quick, fresh, and delicious!

Sauteed Asparagus (BEST Recipe with Garlic Butter!) - Rasa Malaysia (1)

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Asparagus

I love asparagus, especially the ones with tender stems.

Asparagus is a sustainable vegetable mostly grown and harvested in the United States, in the state of Michigan and Washington.

Asparagus is easy to prepare and cook. All you have to do is to trim off the bottom part of the stems.

There is no need to peel the hard skin and leaves on the stems.

Sauteed Asparagus (BEST Recipe with Garlic Butter!) - Rasa Malaysia (3)

Other Healthy Recipes You Might Like:

  • Garlic Butter Sauteed Zucchini
  • Garlic Butter Sauteed Broccolini
  • Garlic Butter Sauteed Spinach

Sauteed Asparagus Recipe

What is the best way to cook asparagus?

I love healthy sauteed asparagus in a skillet on stove top. This simple recipe calls for only a few ingredients:

  • Asparagus
  • Butter
  • Garlic
  • Salt and pepper

Cooking asparagus takes only 8 minutes from start to finish.

Sauteed Asparagus (BEST Recipe with Garlic Butter!) - Rasa Malaysia (4)

How Do You Saute Asparagus?

First, heat up a skillet and saute the fresh asparagus.

Next, add some butter and lots of minced garlic.

Cook the asparagus just as soon as they are slightly wilted. Season with salt, ground black pepper and lemon juice.

Sauteed Asparagus (BEST Recipe with Garlic Butter!) - Rasa Malaysia (5)

Green Asparagus Vs. White Asparagus

Do you know that green asparagus and white asparagus are from the same plant? Yes!

Asparagus is planted about 10 inches below the soil surface.

Asparagus spears are white until they poke out from the soil and the sun photosynthesis process turns them into green color.

Hence, white asparagus are harvested by farmers from the ground right before the asparagus sprouts to the surface.

Due to the labor intensive process, white asparagus is generally more expensive.

Sauteed Asparagus (BEST Recipe with Garlic Butter!) - Rasa Malaysia (6)

Cooking Tips

Asparagus is in season now. This is one of the best sauteed asparagus recipes and here are my tips:

  • Always choose young asparagus. You can tell the difference between young vs. old asparagus from the diameter and width of the stalk. If the stalk are thicker, they are old asparagus. They are not ideal for sauteing, because the stalk are fibrous, tough and woody.
  • Buy organic asparagus if you can as organic asparagus are always younger and more tender.
  • Trim 1-2 inches off the bottom of the stalks before cooking.
  • For young asparagus, you don’t have to peel off the skin. If you have big and fat asparagus, you might want to use a peeler to peel off the skin on the stalk to reveal the white, tender part of the stalks.
Sauteed Asparagus (BEST Recipe with Garlic Butter!) - Rasa Malaysia (7)

Toppings for Sauteed Asparagus

You can add a variety of toppings to jazz up this recipe. For examples:

  • Shaved Parmesan cheese such as Parmesan asparagus recipe.
  • Bacon
  • Panko or breadcrumbs
  • Lemon
Sauteed Asparagus (BEST Recipe with Garlic Butter!) - Rasa Malaysia (8)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Use White Asparagus for This Recipe?

Yes, you sure can.

As mentioned above, white asparagus and green asparagus are harvested off the same plant, they are the same vegetable. I prefer white asparagus because they are more tender compared to green asparagus.

Is Asparagus Healthy?

Asparagus is one of the healthiest vegetables with well-balanced nutrition.

You can learn all about it Michigan Asparagus Board.

Asparagus is especially healthy for pregnant women as it’s the leading supplier of folic acid.

It is also packed full of nutrients, such as the following:

  • Low in calories, about 4 calories per spear.
  • Contains no fat or cholesterol.
  • Low in sodium.
  • A good source of potassium and fiber.
  • Loaded with vitamin B6.

How Many Calories per Serving?

This sauteed asparagus recipe is only 94 calories, making it a healthy side dish that you should make frequently.

What Dishes to Serve with This Recipe?

Sauteed asparagus goes well with anything: salmon, chicken, shrimp and meat. If you like roasting in the oven, try this roasted asparagus recipe.

For a wholesome meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.

Garlic Chive Butter Grilled Steak

Baked Salmon

Cajun Chicken

Skillet Garlic Butter Steak

How to Make Sauteed Asparagus?

Please refer to the recipe card below for detailed step-by-step method on how to make cook asparagus in a skillet, on stove top.

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Sauteed Asparagus (The Best Recipe)

Garlic ButterSauteed Asparagus- easy and healthy asparagus recipe that takes only 10 mins from prep to dinner table. Quick, fresh, and delicious!

4.56 from 67 votes

Print

By Bee Yinn Low

Yield 4 servings

Prep 3 minutes mins

Cook 5 minutes mins

Total 8 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 10 oz. (280g) young asparagus
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • salt (to taste)
  • 3 dashes ground black pepper
  • lemon juice (optional)

Instructions

  • Cut the bottom part of the asparagus stems, about 1-2 inches (2.5cm-5cm).

  • Heat up a skillet on medium heat and add the melted butter. Saute the garlic until slightly browned before adding the asparagus. Toss with a spatula to combine well with the garlic.

  • Add salt and ground black pepper. Add a squirt or two lemon juice, if using. Once the asparagus becomes tender and just cooked, remove from heat and serve immediately. DO NOT overcook the asparagus.

Course: American Recipes

Cuisine: Healthy

Keywords: sauteed asparagus

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Sauteed Asparagus (The Best Recipe)

Amount Per Serving (1 g)

Calories 94Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value*

Fat 8g12%

Saturated Fat 5g31%

Polyunsaturated Fat 3g

Cholesterol 20mg7%

Sodium 209mg9%

Carbohydrates 5g2%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 3g6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

Sauteed Asparagus (BEST Recipe with Garlic Butter!) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

FAQs

Sauteed Asparagus (BEST Recipe with Garlic Butter!) - Rasa Malaysia? ›

It is not necessary to trim asparagus. On some spears, especially fresh, pencil-thin stalks, the woody ends may tenderize once cooked. But on larger stalks, the ends of the asparagus are often woody and dense—Which makes them difficult to chew, no matter how soft the asparagus is after cooking.

Why you shouldn't snap the ends off asparagus? ›

It is not necessary to trim asparagus. On some spears, especially fresh, pencil-thin stalks, the woody ends may tenderize once cooked. But on larger stalks, the ends of the asparagus are often woody and dense—Which makes them difficult to chew, no matter how soft the asparagus is after cooking.

What is the best way to cook and eat asparagus? ›

Asparagus is great quickly stir-fried or sautéed over high heat. You could sauté spears in butter or olive oil with delicious results, but throwing some chopped herbs or sliced chiles into the pan adds wonderful flavor. Both of these methods produce juicy asparagus that retains its crunch.

Should asparagus be soaked in water before cooking? ›

I trim the ends and then rinse the stalks and let them sit in cold water for five minutes. It hydrates the asparagus, and they cook more quickly, for they are already wet with some moisture within them. Do not soak them for thirty minutes, you are not trying to get them soggy.

Do you wash off asparagus before cooking? ›

One thing you definitely don't want to do is wash asparagus before storing it—the added moisture will cause the spears to get slimy. When you're ready to cook, just give them a quick rinse under cool running water and pat them dry with a kitchen towel, as Pradhan recommends.

What happens if you eat a lot of asparagus? ›

Because of its high fiber content, asparagus can cause flatulence, stomach cramps, and gastric upset in some people. Asparagus contains asparagusic acid that may break down to sulfurous compounds and lend a funny smell to your urine.

How many stalks of asparagus should you eat? ›

For asparagus, a standard serving size is six medium spears, a 1/2 cup of pieces, or just over three ounces cooked.

What is the most popular way asparagus is eaten? ›

Asparagus develops a rich flavor when roasted, making this one of the most popular ways to eat the vegetable.

What is the healthiest way to eat asparagus? ›

Try adding shredded, raw asparagus to pasta dishes and salads. Alternatively, enjoy the spears lightly steamed or sautéed in a frittata, or as a stand-alone side dish. Asparagus is a nutritious choice, regardless of whether it's cooked or raw. Try eating a combination of the two for maximum health benefits.

What are three ways to cook asparagus? ›

Try roasting, sauteing, grilling and more to bring out the flavor in this crowd-pleasing vegetable. The harbinger of very early spring, asparagus stays in season through the summer. Its elegant, snappy stalks stand up well to a variety of preparations, including roasting, steaming, sautéing and grilling.

How to cook asparagus so it isn't stringy? ›

Remove woody ends: We recommend trimming off the woody ends because they're difficult to chew and result in stringy roasted asparagus. Cook at a high temperature: A higher temperature is what produces the lovely grilled flavor and al dente texture. We prefer 450 F / 232 C.

How to cook asparagus so it's not bitter? ›

I like to grill asparagus. Putting a little char on the stalks makes the flavor more complex and less bitter. Start by blanching asparagus, cooling them and then hitting them with a little oil, salt and pepper. You can cook them on a hot grill or in a very hot sauté pan.

What happens if you don't cut asparagus? ›

What happens if you don't harvest asparagus spears soon enough? Asparagus grows quickly, becoming too tough and fibrous to eat once it gets much taller than 6 inches. Unharvested asparagus spears will develop into feathery foliage or ferns that can grow up to 6 feet tall.

Can you eat the stems of asparagus? ›

What can you do with asparagus ends? Use them to make soup. A creamy asparagus soup made from woody asparagus stems was the first lunch special I ran as a line cook. If you have asparagus and don't want to compost the woody stalks, this (and variations of it) is the best recipe I have for you.

Should I cut the tops off my asparagus? ›

If you have issues with disease or insects, it's best to cut the tops off of your asparagus. You should not need to remove the entire fern. Before the new spears appear in spring, remove the old tops.

Should you cut or snap asparagus when harvesting? ›

Harvesting can be accomplished by breaking the spears off or using a pronged knife. If not using a tool, break the spears off by hand near the soil level. If using a special pronged knife to cut below the soil surface: Cut carefully to avoid damaging the neighboring developing spears and the crown.

Can you eat the tough ends of asparagus? ›

Although there's nothing wrong with eating the asparagus ends, you may want to ditch them anyway due to their tough, chewy texture. Snapping the end off of one or two stalks first will help you figure out where to cut the rest of the stems.

Is it better to harvest asparagus cut or snap? ›

The fastest and most efficient way to harvest asparagus is by hand. All you need to do is grasp the stalk near the ground and snap it at the point where it is tender. This method reduces the shelf life of your asparagus, but it's less likely to cause damage to nearby spears than using a knife.

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