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Botanical name
Asparagus officinalis
Other Names
Sparrow Grass
Description
Asparagus is more than just the vegetable that can make your pee smell. It is packed full of vitamins and health benefits. It is a perennial flowering plant. Its young shoots are used as a spring vegetable.
Vitamins and Minerals
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin K
- Folate
- Potassium
- Phosphorous
- Vitamin E
- Iron
- Zinc
- Riboflavin
- Flavonoids: quercetin, isorhamnetin and kaempferol
- Amino Acids: asparagine
Health Benefits
- Blood pressure lowering
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antiviral and anticancer effects
- Supports fetal development
- Lowers risk of depression
- Lowers homocysteine which can lower the risk of heart disease.
- Preventing osteoporosis
- Increases urine output
Background and History
Asparagus has been used as a vegetable and in medicine due to its diuretic properties and as an aphrodisiac.
A recipe for cooking asparagus is given in one of the oldest surviving collections of recipes (Apicius’s third-century BC De re coquinaria, Book III”).
By 1469, asparagus was cultivated in French monasteries. Asparagus appears to have been noticed in England in about 1538 and in Germany, in about 1542. It became available in the New World around 1850.
Flavor Profile
A unique flavor; bright and clean with earthy undertones.
Quick Tip
If asparagus tastes bitter or sour, it could be because it was past its prime or overcooked.
Smaller “shoots” are more tender and have a milder flavor.
Pairs Well With
- Butter
- Lemon
- Bacon
- Rice
- Ham
- eggs
Storage
Asparagus will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 2-4 days when it is stored in the crisper drawer.
Quick Tip
To get a few more days out of your asparagus, instead of placing your asparagus in the crisper drawer, when you bring it home, cut off approximately a half inch from the bottoms and place them upright in a jar with about an inch or two of water. Make sure all the ends are sitting in the water. Loosely cover the asparagus with a plastic bag and store in the refrigerator for up to a week. If you notice the water getting cloudy, change the water.
Popular Uses
- Asparagus can be eaten raw or cooked.
- Asparagus is a great side dish to fish, chicken, pork or beef.
- Excellent in stir-fries.
- Asparagus is a wonderful addition to many casseroles.