Dutch 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.

ASPARAGUS DUTCH STYLE

Steps:

• Poach or steam asparagus in or above boiling salted water until it is bright green and just tender, 3 to 7 minutes, depending on its thickness. Meanwhile, put 4 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan over low heat.
• Place at least 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet, preferably nonstick, and turn heat to medium. When butter in skillet melts, crack eggs into it. Cook, sprinkling with salt and pepper, until whites are no longer runny, about 5 minutes.
• Drain asparagus and divide among 4 plates. Turn off heat under butter in saucepan the moment it browns; if eggs are not quite ready, keep butter warm over low flame.
• Top asparagus with a portion of ham, then a fried egg, then some browned butter, and finally a few slices of the cheese. Serve.

BAKED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place asparagus in a large plastic bag. Drizzle half the olive oil over the asparagus, seal the bag and shake until asparagus is coated evenly with the olive oil. If necessary, add only enough of the remaining olive oil to coat the asparagus. Place the asparagus in a single layer on a cookie sheet, season with salt and pepper. Bake until tender or crunchy depending upon your preference, about 12 to 20 minutes.
• Tips: (Shortcut chef) Toss asparagus with oil, salt and pepper as directed below and store in refrigerator until you're ready to bake it off. Get into the habit of spending 5 to 15 minutes prepping tonight or tomorrow's dinner during the day and you will be eating in more than out. The weight will come off quicker with home cooked healthful meals and you know it.
• Tip: From mom's lips to your ears: You forgot to tell them to snap off the woody bottoms. Tell em to hold asparagus, one at a time, in their hands near the cut end and snap it like kindling. Mother Nature saw to it that the asparagus breaks in just the right spot, save the ends for stock.
• Morph: Serve one other simple veggie side and a piece of oven baked fish such as salmon and dinner is all done. Cook off extra asparagus and throw it into a frittata, polenta, or pasta later in the week.
• If the Queen's coming for dinner, toss cooked asparagus with fresh lemon, plate and garnish with thin curls of Parmesan.
• Tip: Asparagus starts losing its sweetness the minute it's cut, therefore, as always, look for the freshest stalks possible. Skins should be smooth and bright colored with tightly formed heads.

DUTCH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Break off tough ends of the asparagus and boil in salted water until just tender. Drain.
• Meanwhile chop the ham and egg finely.
• Put asparagus on a serving plate and garnish with the chopped ham and eggs.
• Serve with the boiled potatoes and melted butter in a jug on the side.