Butter Braised Asparagus Recipes

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.

BRAISED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Cut off the woody white ends of the asparagus spears. If desired, remove the tough fibrous outer layer from the lower half of each spear using a vegetable peeler.
• In a straight-sided saute pan, heat oil until smoking. Add asparagus in a single layer. Season with salt and pepper and cook undisturbed until lightly browned, 1-2 minutes. Shake pan to turn spears and cook another 1-2 minutes. Add stock and butter to pan and immediately cover.
• Cook until spears are tender and butter and stock have emulsified into a lightly-thickened sauce, 7-10 minutes. (If sauce evaporates and butter begins to burn, add a couple of tablespoons of water.) Serve at once.

BUTTER-POACHED ASPARAGUS WITH THYME

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 bunch trimmed asparagus and 1/4 cup water. Cook, turning the asparagus, until crisp-tender and glazed, 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper and 1/2 teaspoon chopped thyme.

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.

BROWN-BUTTER BASTED RADISHES & ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat the butter gently in a non-stick frying pan. It will foam, then the solids will separate and begin to brown. This will take 15-20 mins - keep stirring, so that it doesn't blacken or burn.
• While the butter is browning, boil a large pan of salted water. Poach the radishes for 6 mins, then remove with a slotted spoon. Poach the asparagus for 2 mins, remove and put in iced water.
• Add the lemon juice to the butter, stir and keep over a very low heat while you add the radishes and drained asparagus. Baste them in the butter for 2 mins.
• Remove the vegetables from the browned butter and top with the parsley, plus a squeeze more lemon if you feel it needs it.

BROWNED BUTTER ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Cook asparagus in 1" salted boiling water for about 5-7 minutes to crisp-tender, or until desired tenderness is reached. (Or microwave the asparagus to desired doneness.) Drain asparagus and return to hot saucepan and set aside.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat butter over med-high heat. After about 3 minutes, it should start to foam; stir constantly and add garlic, salt and pepper. Keep stirring. When foaming stops, butter should be browned and kind of "grainy" looking.
• Remove from heat; stir in sugar.
• Pour browned butter mixture over cooked asparagus. Serve.