EST. 2011 BY LIZ RUEVEN
Seasonal Snippet: Asparagus

Seasonal Snippet: Asparagus

Katy Morris

April showers bring May flowers and asparagus! While local farmers are gearing up for their spring harvest, we found one veg that is in peak season now…Green Asparagus.

Eaten raw, stir-fried, boiled, or steamed, as a side, in salads or soups, this versatile, tender veggie of the Lily Family has been highly prized for centuries. It is packed with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant nutrients, provides digestive support, and is delicious.

What’s not to love?

How does it grow?

stalks in the field

Asparagus is a “perennial” vegetable, which means that it can live for several years without having to be replanted  (most other veggies must be planted each year). Starting from the root of the asparagus, stems grow upward underground until they develop into spears and emerge through the soil – this is when they are harvested.

seedling

It takes almost three years from the time the seed is planted to the first harvest of the stalks!

Did you know that the asparagus plant has a gender? That’s right, it can be either male or female; the female ones produce seeds (which makes their stalks smaller), and the males are larger and tend to be more desirable at harvest.

asparagus picked

When is the prime time for asparagus?

Now! Although you can get it all year round in most places, early spring is the really the best time to get the highest quality stalks.

 

What should I look for when buying them?

You want green asparagus stalks that are firm, straight, relatively thick, smooth, and of a vibrant green color. Be sure the tips are closed. Stay away from stalks that have a dull, light color and look limp. If you are cooking them all at once, it’s wise to choose stalks of the same size so you will have some uniformity when cooking.

tips (1)

OK, I bought some beautiful local asparagus. How should I store them?

Green asparagus shouldn’t be stored for too long; we recommend cooking them soon after buying. If you must store them, you want to make sure they get enough moisture, so try wrapping them in a wet paper towel  (closer to the end of the stalk) and seal in a zip lock bag. Stored this way they should stay fresh for about 3 days.

 

What about cleaning?

Before cooking, rinse the stalk and especially the spears under cool water to get rid of any remaining dirt or bugs that might be stuck. You may snip off the bottom inch of the stalk and use the rest as you wish (whole, diced, sliced, etc.) depending on the recipe. Note that if you have asparagus that has a tough outer skin, you may opt to peel away the coat with a vegetable peeler, but this is not necessary.

 

What’s the best way to cook them?

There are many ways to cook them. Try coating them in olive oil, a pinch of sea salt and pepper and roast in the oven…super simple and delish. Adding a pinch of parmesan cheese on it is also great.

You may also use the spears alone in salads, or poach them, use them as a side for a fish dinner or even with eggs for a perfect brunch.

Check out below for another one of our favorite recipes using green asparagus.

IMG_3283

OK, I have to ask. Why does my “you know what” smell after eating asparagus?

Don’t worry, we were wondering the same thing. This doesn’t happen with everyone, but if you do experience this, you aren’t alone. Scientists say that this happens because the sulfurous amino acids from the asparagus break down into different sulfur-containing components that often, well, smell bad.

Let us know where you are finding local asparagus and how you like to prepare them. We want to know!

Makura owner, Orna took us on a walk through her farm. Here she shows us how pomegranates grow.
Makura owner, Orna took us on a walk through her farm. Here she shows us how pomegranates grow.

Liz’s note:

I was in Israel for Passover last week and began my quest for asparagus soon after arriving in the Haifa area.  We decided to visit a small olive oil producer named Makura, where we met the farmers and bought some beautiful ceramics from Orna, the owner (along with husband, Guy),  last year. Somehow, Orna has a little spare time to throw bowls after tending to the acres and acres of olive trees (some from the Roman era), grapes, oranges, persimmon, lychee and avocados.

ceramics and edibles in Kerem Maharal
ceramics and edibles in Kerem Maharal

Makura did not have asparagus but Orna made a quick phone call to her friend Anat Avitar, who has been growing many acres of asparagus in the next village, Kerem Maharal, for more than 20 years. We visited with Anat the next day, and after seeing rows and rows of seedlings next to her ceramic studio, we drove out to the sunny fields which were brimming with acres of feathery foliage of the asparagus plants.

in the field

Not only did Anat share fascinating facts about asparagus but she is ALSO a talented and prolific ceramicist. Next time, I’m bringing an extra suitcase and plenty of bubble wrap!

photo

 

7 Comments

  1. When we were in Sonoma we happened upon a farm and the asparagus was off the charts good. I’m convinced that fresh picked asparagus is significantly better in texture and flavor. Thanks for sharing. Btw, did you come across white asparagus?

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  3. Inspired and setting out today with one goal in mind. Buy & prepare local asparagus! I’m convinced, and will try recipe with anchovies (even tho I usually omit the slippery dudes).
    Thanks Liz, photos are outstanding!

    Reply to this comment

    • You are so right! Like with any vegetable, farm fresh is always superior. Glad that you mentioned texture. When asparagus are not fresh they can be woody.. not a pleasant mouth feel! No, we didn’t happen upon any white stalks. I love them and will keep searching here in CT, though.

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SIDE DISH
Photo by Jerri Graham Photography

Hi. I’m Liz and I welcome you to Kosher Like Me.

When I’m not caressing fruits and veggies at my local farmers’ market you’ll likely find me chatting with like-minded eaters, probing the scene in NYC or seeking inspiration in my spice cabinet. Life outside of this blog is all about my family, tasty travel adventures and power walks deep in the CT woods or along the shore.

Please brew a fragrant cup of tea, grab a nosh and stay a while.