Asparagus is more than just a tasty treat. Six spears contain about 25 per cent of your daily requirement of folate, the B vitamin linked to lowering the risks of birth defects as well as heart disease.
Asparagus also contains vitamins B6 and C, potassium and the antioxidant glutathione - all this in only 25 calories. As well, six spears also contain a palnt-derived carbohydrate called inulin, a prebiotic that improves the health of your gut by stimulating the activity and growth of healthy, beneficial probiotic bacteria. Inulin is also a soluble fibre that helps lower cholesterol.
How to choose and cook with asparagus
- Choose firm stalks with deep green or purplish closed tips.
- Store in refrigerator with woody ends wrapped in damp paper towel to prevent drying out.
- Use within 2 days of purchase for best flavour.
- Trim off woody ends before cooking.
- Boil in large pot of boiling salted water, covered, until tender-crip, about 4 minutes. Drain and arrange on plate.
Harvest asparagus from your garden
For care and harvesting tips of fresh asparagus from your garden, or to plant some asparagus for next spring, read this article from our sister site CanadianGardening.com - Sweet Repeat: Asparagus spearheads the start of another delicious season
Asparagus recipes from The Canadian Living Test Kitchen
• 3 minute VIDEO: Tofu and Asparagus Stir-Fry
Asparagus side dish recipes
Asparagus main recipes
- Asparagus Lasagna
- Asparagus Frittata
- Asparagus Carbonara
- Eggs Benedict with Asparagus
- Asparagus Cream Soup
- 100+ more asparagus recipes from our recipe database
Visit Seed to Supper for more in-season gardening and cooking tips. Seed to Supper is a joint collaboration featuring Canadian Gardening's growing expertise and Canadian Living's Tested Till Perfect recipes.
