How To Make Blanched Asparagus

Blanched asparagus is a wonderful way to prepare this yummy veggie because it's nearly impossible to overcook. Why? Because you're simply waiting for the asparagus to turn a bright green. When this happens, it's usually done cooking. Easy, eh?

Blanching is a good technique to use when you'll be using your asparagus in another dish, such as a stir-fry. This will allow you to add your cooked asparagus at the very end of cooking your stir-fry (or other dish) without fear of overcooking your stalks so they turn to mush.

Before you begin, be sure you select, clean and prep your asparagus. You can learn how to do this on the Asparagus main page.

You can use either whole asparagus, or cut the asparagus into 1- or 2-inch pieces.

Have a large bowl of ice water ready to go.

Now, place your asparagus in a large pan. Add water to cover. Cook until the asparagus turns a bright green. It should be cooked at this point, but test by pushing a fork into the stalk. It should be tender with a nice firm bite to it.

Remove asparagus from the pan with a slotted spoon or tongs and place into ice-water bath to stop the cooking process. This will tenderize the stalks a bit more, but they'll remain deliciously crunchy. ;O)

Add your blanched asparagus to any dish. Or use the Asparagus "Vegan Flavor Matches" to create your very own asparagus recipe.

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