Perfectly Steamed Asparagus - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this tasty side dish. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

• Fresh asparagus: I like to use medium-thickness spears when making this recipe. I find that the very thick ones are not as tasty, and the very thin ones are somehow less satisfying.
• Melted butter: You can also drizzle the asparagus with olive oil.
• Lemon juice: For the best flavor, use freshly squeezed lemon juice.
• Seasonings: Kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.

Steaming asparagus is easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

• Pour 1 inch of water into a saucepan. Fit a steamer basket into the saucepan. Bring the water to a boil.
• Trim the asparagus. Place it in the steamer basket. Cover and steam until tender-crisp, about 5 minutes for thicker spears, and 3 minutes for thinner ones (like the ones photographed here).
• Season the cooked spears with butter, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

If the asparagus is ready before you are ready to serve it (perhaps the main dish is still cooking), you should still remove it to a serving plate. Cover it with foil to keep it warm.

It's better to serve it crisp at room temperature than to overcook it in an attempt to keep it warm.

How long does it take to steam asparagus?

Not long! Once the water has boiled, place the spears in the steamer basket. Cover and steam until the spears are just barely tender, about 5 minutes. Thinner spears will require just 3 minutes of steaming.

Is steaming a good cooking method?

Yes. Steaming is probably the gentlest cooking method you can use. I happen to think it's also delicious! As long as you don't overcook the asparagus, it comes out perfectly cooked and wonderfully tender-crisp.

What pairs well with asparagus?

The best way to vary this recipe is to change the dressing you add to the cooked asparagus. You could use olive oil, for example, instead of butter. And white wine vinegar can replace the lemon juice in this recipe.

You can also add various seasonings, including onion powder, dried thyme, and red pepper flakes.

Another tasty option is to sprinkle the finished dish with some dry-grated parmesan cheese.

Anything goes with this side dish. It's truly versatile. But I usually try to serve it with a main dish that I can make on the stovetop so that I don't have to use both the oven and the stove. So I often serve steamed asparagus with any of the following main dishes:

• Gluten-free chicken tenders
• Chicken patties
• Spicy meatballs

The leftovers keep in the fridge in a sealed container for about 3 days, but they won't be as good as fresh.

I prefer to chop them cold and add them to a salad, such as this asparagus salad, rather than try to reheat them. Sometimes I wrap them in prosciutto slices for an improvised cold version of prosciutto-wrapped asparagus.

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Perfectly Steamed Asparagus

This simple steamed asparagus, dressed with melted butter, lemon juice, and garlic, is a surprising delicacy.

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 70kcal

Nutrition per Serving

Serving: 5spears | Calories: 70kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 142mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g