What to do with Asparagus?

Any brilliant ideas? Just trying to make it more interesting as a side dish....probably serving with some stuffed or breaded split chicken breasts and some kind of rice or somethin....

Re: What to do with Asparagus?

This is delicious. It's from Giada's cook book. Not a side but definitely something different and it went over really well when I made it

Giada's Penne with Sausage, articokes, and asparagus

Ingredients

3/4 cup drained oil packed sun dried tomatoes, sliced, 2 tablespoons of oil reserved
1 pound hot italian sausage
2 (8oz) packages frozen articoke hearts
1 cup asparagus, trimmed and cut in 1 inch pieces
2 large garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 cup dry white wine
12 ounces penne or other tubular pasta
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup chopped fesh basil
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
8 oz fresh mozzarella, cubed (optional)
salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

Heat reserved from tomoatoes in a large, heavy frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook until browned, beaking up the meat into bite size pieces with a fork, about 8 minutes. Use a slotted sppon to transfer to a bowl. Add the articokes, asparagus, and garlic to the same skillet, and suate over medium heat until the garlic is tender, about 2 minutes. Add the broth, wine, and sun dried tomatoes. Boil over medium heat until the sauce reduces slightly, sirring occasionally, about 8 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta in boiling water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Drain the pasta.
Add the pasta, sausage, 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese, basil, and parsley to the articopke mixture. Toss until the sauce is almost absorbed by the pasta. Stir in the mozzarellsa, if using. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve, passing additional parmesan cheese.


Here's another an interesting one too. This I have never made.

Roasted Asparagus Wrapped in Prosciutto

1 pound asparagus (about 19 stalks), trimmed
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 to 8 paper-thin slices prosciutto, halved lengthwise

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Snap the dry stem ends off of each asparagus and place on a heavy baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss. Roast until the asparagus is tender, about 15 minutes. Cool completely.

Wrap each asparagus with 1 piece (about 1/2 a slice) of prosciutto, exposing tips. Arrange on a platter and serve at room temperature.

Re: What to do with Asparagus?

Ive only made it grilled - on the BBQ or on the George Foreman grill. Its good warm or cold the next day

Re: What to do with Asparagus?

Toss with olive oil, salt, pepper and minced garlic. Either grill or bake at 350.

Mix mayo, lemon juice and minced garlic: makes a great aioli for veggies

Re: What to do with Asparagus?

I usually just saute with olive oil and garlic till tender. If I am trying to be fancy I wrap a piece of prosciutto around a bundle of 3 or 4 spears.

Re: What to do with Asparagus?

I like to coat with olive oil and then sprinkle iwth bread crumbs and grated cheese and bake

Re: What to do with Asparagus?

top with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, grated cheese, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper - bake at 350 for 15 minutes. YUMMY

Also, yummy added to an omelette!

Re: What to do with Asparagus?

Bake it in the oven for about 15 minutes; and on the stove make the sauce:

2 tablespoons butter (I use ICBINB)
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons soy sauce

Brown the butter for about 3 minutes, then remove from heat and add in the balsamic and soy.

Toss asparagus in the sauce.

Re: What to do with Asparagus?

I love to toss them in olive oil, coars salt and fresh rosemary and roast them in a 400 degree oven until tender....anywhere from 10-20 minutes depending on their thickness!

You can do this with any veggie and they come out fantastic!

Re: What to do with Asparagus?

I never bake my asparagus, i always steam it and drizzle some olive oil and lemon on it. However, I did bake it tonight as an experiment. IMO I like better steamed/boiled. It gets too dry when its baked.

Re: What to do with Asparagus?

thanks for all the suggestions ladies!