Choose thick or thin spears. Break off the ends. The base of the asparagus is tough and woody, and not very tasty when it's cooked. The easiest way to figure out how much to take off is to feel it by hand. Hold each asparagus spear with two hands and gently bend it until you feel the spot where it gives, then break the spear. Discard the tough, white end. Blanch the asparagus.
This is a common way to quickly cook asparagus to perfection and serve it cold in salads or as a luncheon side dish. If you'd prefer to serve the asparagus warm, skip the ice water bath. Steam asparagus in a vegetable steamer basket. For a quick, flavorful side dish, steaming is the way to go. it preserves the asparagus' nutrients and crisp texture. Boil asparagus. This is an easy way to cook asparagus, but you have to be careful not to overcook the spears. They can quickly become limp and mushy if you aren't careful. Cut the asparagus or leave the spears whole. If you want to make a stir fry, slice the spears into 1 to 2-inch pieces for stir-fry, making the cuts diagonally. Heat oil in a saucepan. Place about 1 tablespoon of oil or butter in a saucepan, and heat it over medium-high heat. Add the asparagus to the pan. Carefully place the asparagus in the pan.
Use a wooden spoon or spatula to stir-fry it until it's tender, about 3 to 6 minutes. The asparagus is ready when it's bright green with a few charred spots. Season the asparagus. Sauteed asparagus is delectable with lemon juice and butter drizzled over the top. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Preheat the oven to 400℉ (205℃). Make sure the oven is completely preheated before you put the asparagus inside - otherwise they'll steam instead of roasting. Place the asparagus spears on a baking sheet. Arrange them in a single layer so that they'll cook evenly. Drizzle olive oil over the spears. The oil will help the asparagus stay crisp.
Drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil evenly over the spears on the baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste over the asparagus spears. To take the dish up a notch, grate some Parmesan cheese over the asparagus, too. Roast for 12 minutes. Place the asparagus in the oven and roast it for 12 minutes, until it turns bright green and appears charred in a few places. Take care not to overcook it, as it will quickly burn if left in the oven for too long. Enjoy!
