Asparagus

About

Asparagus has a sweet, sulfurous vegetable flavor that pairs well with salty, dairy-rich ingredients such as butter, Parmesan, and hollandaise sauce, as well as other sulfur-forward foods like eggs, shellfish, and garlic. Thin spears, known as sprue, tend to taste more piquant than mature stalks. White asparagus is grown from the same seed as green but is covered with soil to block chlorophyll production, which leaves it much paler in color and noticeably milder in flavor, lacking the nutty richness of green asparagus.

Pairs well with asparagus

• CiLemonIn a risotto, lemon cuts through richness and opens up asparagus's flavor.
• EaPotatoThe two share an earthy, nutty character.
• SuEggCooked asparagus spears pair well with soft-boiled eggs, especially with a little butter and cider vinegar stirred into the yolk for a…
• CiOrangeSauce maltaise, a hollandaise made with reduced blood orange juice and zest, was created specifically to accompany asparagus.
• WoAlmondAsparagus is often described as nutty, which explains its affinity with almonds, particularly toasted ones, whose buttery quality…
• EaMushroomMorels, which favor charred ground and carry a slightly smoky character, share asparagus's affinity for sulfurous flavors.
• BeMintChef Daniel Boulud steams asparagus with a little water, fresh mint and lemon zest, then dresses it with olive oil, lemon juice and more…
• MaShellfishAsparagus loses flavor quickly after harvest as it consumes its own sugar, so it's best eaten very fresh, pairing especially well with…
• GrAniseTarragon, with its anise-like flavor, is a classic partner for asparagus despite its delicate appearance, it flavors vinegars, mustards…
• ChHard CheeseDespite elaborate superstitions about cooking asparagus, simply roasting it and topping with grated Parmesan, whose sulfurous character…
• MaOily FishMarsh samphire, sometimes called "sea" or "poor man's" asparagus, is served the same way, with butter or hollandaise, often alongside…
• RoPeanutAsparagus's rich, meaty flavor suits peanuts well, particularly with an Asian-style dressing of sunflower oil, lemon juice, light soy…
• GrPeaRaw asparagus tastes similar to freshly podded peas, but cooking brings out nuttier, more savory notes, while cooked peas keep their…
• BrProsciuttoWrapping salty prosciutto around hot asparagus lets the meat's fat soften and release flavor, contrasting well with the vegetable's…
• SuTruffleCooked asparagus develops a sulfurous sweetness that pairs well with black truffle, shaved or drizzled as oil over asparagus soup.
• MaWhite FishItalians traditionally served asparagus on its own after adopting it in the seventeenth century, while in France and England it was more…