Steamed Asparagus With Cardamom Butter Food

STEAMED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Set up a steamer, fill the bottom with water and bring to a boil. If the asparagus are very thick, peel them. Start about 2-inch down from the tip of the stalk and peel. It is not necessary to peel thin asparagus. Cut the asparagus to fit into your steamer basket. Cover and steam until the asparagus are bright green and tender, but still somewhat crisp, about 6 to 8 minutes for thick asparagus and 3 to 5 minutes for thin asparagus. Remove from the steamer and season with salt and pepper.

STEAMED ASPARAGUS WITH CARDAMOM BUTTER

Steps:

• Toast the cardamom pods in a heavy skillet for about 5 minutes over low heat, shaking the pan from time to time until the cardamom is very fragrant. Add the olive oil and butter and slowly heat to infuse the oil and butter with the cardamom flavor for about 10 to 15 minutes while the asparagus is cooking.
• Rinse the asparagus stalks and arrange in a heatproof plate, such as a pie or quiche pan, or in a steamer basket. (If using bamboo, line the basket with a piece of parchment or wax paper.)
• Fill a large pot or a wok with several inches of water and heat until boiling. If using a plate, set it on a tuna fish can with both the top and bottom removed. Or, set the steamer basket in the wok. Steam the asparagus 5 to 6 minutes, or until just tender. Remove and arrange on a serving plate.
• Pour the cardamom butter and sprinkle the salt over the asparagus and serve.

STEAMED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Pour about 1-inch of water into a large saucepan, and set up a collapsible steamer inside. Bring the water to boil, lay the asparagus in the steamer, cover, and steam until crisp-tender, about 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer asparagus to a heated serving dish, drizzle with the olive oil, and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Garnish with lemon and serve immediately.
• Cook's Note: You may finish the asparagus with the grated zest of a small lemon, a tablespoon of unsalted butter, and a teaspoon of minced flat-leaf parsley leaves, instead of the oil.
• Copyright 2004 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved.

STEAMED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Place asparagus in a steamer basket set over boiling water. Steam, covered, until easily pierced with a sharp knife, 2 to 6 minutes.
• Toss with butter, salt, and a pinch of pepper.

SIMPLY STEAMED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Place water in the bottom half of a steamer pan set. Add salt and butter, and bring to a boil.
• Trim the dry ends off of the asparagus. If the spears are thick, peel them lightly with a vegetable peeler. Place them in the top half of the steamer pan set. Steam for 5 to 10 minutes depending on the thickness of the asparagus, or until asparagus is tender.

BAKED ASPARAGUS WITH BALSAMIC BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Arrange the asparagus on a baking sheet. Coat with cooking spray, and season with salt and pepper.
• Bake asparagus 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until tender.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat, and stir in soy sauce and balsamic vinegar. Pour over the baked asparagus to serve.

STEAMED ASPARAGUS WITH PISTACHIOS AND BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Put a large wide skillet on the stove. Add about 1 inch water, salt it well, cover the skillet, and place over high heat. When water comes to a rapid boil, add asparagus in one layer, cover, and cook for 2 minutes, or just until barely done.
• Drain asparagus and keep warm loosely wrapped in a kitchen towel.
• Return skillet to stovetop over high heat. Add butter and swirl pan, then add chopped sage and sage leaves.
• When butter gets foamy, lightly browned and nutty-smelling, a minute or two, stir in lemon juice and zest and turn the heat to low.
• Put cooked asparagus back in pan and season with salt and pepper. Shake pan gently to coat with butter sauce. Using tongs, transfer asparagus to a large warmed platter. Spoon remaining sauce over asparagus, sprinkle with pistachios and serve.

SIMPLY STEAMED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Place a steamer basket in a large pot filled with 1 inch water. Bring to a boil. Add 1 pound trimmed asparagus, cover, and cook until crisp-tender, 2 to 6 minutes.

SAUTEED GARLIC ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Melt the butter or margarine in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and asparagus spears; cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until asparagus is tender. If you like your asparagus well done, reduce heat and cook an additional 10 minutes.

ASPARAGUS WITH BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Peel the lower part (root end) of the asparagus stalks with a vegetable peeler.
• In a large nonreactive saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Add the asparagus in one layer, cover and cook over high heat for about 6 minutes, to the desired tenderness. Lift asparagus from the water (most of it should have evaporated) and arrange on a platter.
• Meanwhile, heat the butter in a skillet until it is lightly browned and stops smoking. Sprinkle the asparagus with the salt and pepper, and pour the hot butter over it. Garnish with parsley, and serve immediately.

STEAMED ASPARAGUS WITH OLIVE BUTTER

Steps:

• Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add asparagus cover, and steam until desired tenderness is achieved, 6 to 9 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add garlic and heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Stir in olives and lemon juice; heat thoroughly, but do not boil, 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Place steamed asparagus in a serving dish and pour sauce on top. Garnish with lemon zest and serve warm.

SAUTEED ASPARAGUS WITH GARLIC AND THYME

Steps:

• Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high. Add garlic and thyme sprigs. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add asparagus; season with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing to coat in oil, 1 minute.
• Arrange asparagus in a single layer in skillet, add 1/4 cup water, and cover. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, shaking pan occasionally, until asparagus is crisp-tender and most of water has evaporated, 2 minutes.

BUTTER-BRAISED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Snap off and discard the tough bottoms of the asparagus spears. If using large, thick asparagus, peel the lower ends with a vegetable peeler.
• Put butter in a wide skillet over medium-high heat. Add asparagus in one layer and season with salt and pepper. Add 1/2 cup water, cover, and bring to a simmer. Cook until the asparagus is firm-tender, about 3 minutes. Take care not to overcook them; they should still be bright green. (They will continue to cook a bit once the heat is off.) Remove the asparagus from the pan and place on a serving platter.
• Turn heat to high and simmer briskly until most of the liquid has evaporated, a minute or so. Add lemon juice and zest to the buttery juices. Turn off heat and stir in chives, parsley, tarragon and dill, if using. Check seasoning. Spoon the sauce over the asparagus, garnish with a few herb leaves, and serve.

THE BEST STEAMED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Place asparagus in a microwave-safe dish. Pour in wine, and dot with pieces of butter.
• Cover loosely, and cook in the microwave on High for 3 minutes, or until bright green and tender. Allow the dish to stand 5 minutes before serving.

STEAMED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Combine the lemon juice, olive oil and water in a large pot and bring to a simmer. Place the asparagus in a steamer basket over the liquid. Cover and simmer until asparagus is crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Place the asparagus on a clean towel and pat dry. To serve, stand the asparagus up in 1 or 2 glasses.

STEAMED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Pour about an inch of water into a large saucepan, and set up a collapsible steamer inside. Bring the water to boil, lay the asparagus in the steamer, cover, and steam until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Transfer asparagus to a heated serving dish, drizzle with the olive oil, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with lemon and serve immediately.

STEAMED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Peel the bottoms of 2 bunches thick asparagus. Snap off the ends; discard. Cook in a steamer basket set in a pot of simmering water, covered, until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a saucepan over medium heat; add 1/2 minced shallot and cook until soft. Remove from the heat and whisk in 3 tablespoons diced cold butter; add 2 teaspoons soy sauce. Pour over the asparagus. Season with pepper.

STEAMED ASPARAGUS WITH LEMON BUTTER

Steps:

• Wash asparagus and trim off bottom of stems by about 2 inches. In a large skillet, bring about 1/2 inch of water to a rapid boil. Season the water with salt and add the asparagus. Cook the asparagus for 2-3 minutes or until bright green and just tender. Drain the asparagus and add butter to the skillet. Stir in the zest and juice. Return the drained asparagus to the skillet and toss to coat. Serve immediately

STEAMED ASPARAGUS WITH ALMOND BUTTER

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in heavy small skillet over low heat. Add shallots and garlic and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Pour into medium bowl. Add remaining 6 tablespoons butter, parsley, lemon juice and lemon peel to shallot mixture and whisk to blend. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Steam asparagus until crisp-tender. Set aside.
• Place butter mixture in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add almonds and cook until butter browns, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. Add asparagus and stir until heated through. Season to taste with salt and pepper; divide among plates and serve.

STEAMED ASPARAGUS WITH BROWN BUTTER AND HAZELNUTS

Steps:

• Set a steamer basket in a saucepan with 2 inches simmering water. Add asparagus, cover, and steam until crisp-tender, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a platter.
• Discard water and wipe pan dry. Heat butter over medium, swirling pan occasionally, until golden brown and most of the foam has subsided, 5 to 6 minutes. Pour over asparagus and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with hazelnuts, and serve immediately.

STEAMED ASPARAGUS WITH HERB SAUCE

Steps:

• Wash the asparagus carefully and gently scrape them to remove all trace of soil. Tie together, according to size, with string. Put the asparagus into two inches of boiling, salted water. Cook, covered, for 15 to 20 minutes, according to size; the asparagus should remain al dente. Drain and put into cold water briefly to cool rapidly and to maintain color. Drain on paper towels, then place on a round platter, tips toward the center.
• Prepare a sauce with the remaining ingredients. Place all the herbs except for the additional watercress in a blender, add the salt and pepper, and blend for a second. Add the lemon juice and then the oil in a trickle to the blender on low speed. Pour the sauce over the cooled asparagus. Garnish with the reserved watercress. Serve at room temperature.

ASPARAGUS STEAMED WITH LEMON BUTTER

Steps:

• Wash asparagus and trim off bottom of stems by about 2 inches.
• In a large skillet, bring about 1/2-inch of water to a rapid boil. Season the water with salt.
• Add the asparagus and cook for 2-3 minutes or until bright green and just tender.
• Drain the asparagus and place it immediately in a bowl of ice water to shock it. This will help the asparagus to retain the bright green color. Drain.
• Add butter to the skillet to melt. Stir in the lemon zest and juice. Add the drained asparagus to the skillet. Toss to coat and heat. Serve immediately.

STEAMED ASPARAGUS WITH ALMOND BUTTER

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in heavy small skillet over low heat.
• Add shallots and garlic and saute until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Pour into medium bowl.
• Add remaining 6 tablespoons butter, parsley, lemon juice and peel to shallot mixture and whisk to blend.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Steam asparagus until crisp-tender.
• (Can be made 1 day ahead; cover butter mixture and asparagus separately; chill).
• Place butter mixture in heavy large skillet over medium heat.
• Add almonds and cook until butter browns, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes.
• Add asparagus and stir until heated through.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Divide asparagus among plates.

ASPARAGUS WITH PARMESAN BUTTER

Steps:

• Cook asparagus in large pot of boiling salted water until just crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Drain well. Arrange asparagus on broilerproof platter.Preheat broiler. Beat butter in medium bowl until fluffy. Beat in cheese, basil, garlic and lemon juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Drop butter mixture by teaspoonfuls over asparagus.
• Broil asparagus until topping browns, watching closely to avoid burning, about 3 minutes. Serve hot.

STEAMED ASPARAGUS WITH LEMON

Steps:

• Steam asparagus gently until tender, certainly not mushy.
• Put asparagus in bowl, and squeeze lemon half over the asparagus until fairly well-covered.
• Salt, pepper, and/or butter are optional, but I like the dish as is.