Farmers markets are flooded with asparagus right now. This versatile early spring vegetable can be roasted, grilled, steamed, sauteed or even shaved and eaten raw atop a salad. Here are some of our favorite ways to cook asparagus:
1. Asparagus pesto can be used as a sauce for pasta or served as a spread or dip with bread, crackers or fresh vegetables.
2. Top roasted asparagus with a poached egg and a lemon-dill butter for a decadent vegetarian entree.
3. Roasted lemon pesto transforms basic roasted asparagus into a showstopping side.
4. This asparagus and green onion pizza screams spring.
5. This marinated asparagus antipasto is so simple to make, it almost doesn’t need a recipe (but we made one for you, just in case).
6. This lemon-cashew cream sauce is so rich, they’ll never know this asparagus penne dish is vegan.
7. Forget crispy onions – crispy fried asparagus shavings take this leek, potato and asparagus soup to the next level.
8. This Tuscan kale, asparagus and snap pea slaw is a trifecta of springtime goodness.
9. Went a little overboard at the market? Pickled asparagus will last months and is perfect salads or bloody marys year-round.
Catherine Klene is managing editor, digital at Sauce Magazine.
This article appears in May 2019.