Are you looking for methods of grilling asparagus? If yes, you are at the right place, as this story will give you information on the different methods of doing so.
Asparagus is a vegetable, which is most popular in the countries of Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa. The reason that has made it a part of people's daily diet is because it contains very less calories.
Apart from this, it is highly nutritious, as it houses loads of essential vitamins and minerals, like iron, folic acid, manganese, calcium, potassium, zinc, copper, etc. Further, it can be cooked in a variety of ways.
However, one of the best and the favorite of most people is the grilled method. Grilling asparagus is very easy and not at all time-consuming. Further, it helps in cooking the spears evenly and gives a delicious flavor.
Grilling Asparagus
The best way to grill it is on the BBQ grill. However, if you do not have one at home, you do not have to worry because it is possible to do so in the oven as well as on the stove.
BBQ Grilling
Before beginning the grilling process, it's important to clean and chop the bottom part of the asparagus. This is because the end part of the vegetable is woody and bitter. Take a sharp knife and chop off the part, which is lighter in color than the rest of it. When this is done, place the asparagus in a line on a flat dish, and rub it with extra virgin oil.
This part is important because grilling it without adding oil can make it dry. Hence, one must never miss this step. Once it is coated with oil thoroughly, sprinkle salt as well as pepper over it, and place it on a preheated gas or charcoal grill.
Do not keep the spears one above the other, rather make sure that they are placed in a straight line so that they get cooked evenly. While they are on the grill, do not forget to turn them after every few minutes to make sure that all the sides are thoroughly cooked. When they becomes soft and tender, remove from the gas grill and serve immediately.
Foil Grilling
Another way of grilling asparagus is by steaming it. This by wrapping it in an aluminum foil. As mentioned above, the first step would be to wash the asparagus thoroughly, and then chop it off two inches from the bottom and set aside. Take a sheet of aluminum foil and place it over your kitchen counter top.
At the center of the foil, place some butter or olive oil and then place the spears over it. After this is done, season them with a pinch of salt and black pepper. Some other seasonings that you can use include garlic, thyme, cumin, oregano, etc. Cut 3 - 4 pieces of butter and spread evenly on the spears.
Fold each side of the foil properly so that the entire thing is covered completely. Once this is done, heat up the grill, and place the aluminum foil on the side of the grill and not on the center. Cook for 4 - 6 minutes for soft asparagus and 7 - 9 minutes for this steamed asparagus recipe.
While it is getting cooked, pick the aluminum foil package with a pair of tongs, and shake it so that the butter and spices spread evenly. After the set time, remove the foil package from the grill, and unwrap the package to serve the asparagus.
Oven Grilling
To grill it in the oven, you would first need to preheat it at 500ºF. Place the spears in a single line on a flat dish. Drizzle olive oil over them until all the sides are well coated. In the same way, sprinkle, salt, pepper, and other seasonings.
When this is done, place them on a baking dish in a single layer. Place the baking dish in the oven, and allow it to cook for 8 - 12 minutes. Take out the baking dish from the oven and remove the asparagus with the help of tongs.
Stove Grilling
If you want to grill asparagus on the stove, you will have to clean it and chop off its ends. Take a bunch of spears, and tie them together with a string. Place them vertically in a pot, and fill the pan with water till just below their tip. Place the pot on the stove and heat it till the water begins to boil rapidly.
When it boils for 2 - 3 minutes, remove the asparagus from the pot and place it in a container that contains ice water. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine two tablespoons of lemon juice, salt, pepper, and three tablespoons of olive oil. Take the asparagus from the cold water and wipe off the excess water.
Lay the spears in a single line, and pour the prepared dressing over them and set aside. Heat a girdle on the stove and when it becomes hot, place the asparagus on it. Cook each side for three minutes and then turn. Continue this procedure till dark lines appear on the spears.
Among these methods mentioned above, adopt any one that you find the most comfortable. You can include these healthy, but delicious grilled asparagus as appetizers for your house party or just as a part of your everyday meal.