Buttery Braised Asparagus With Your Perfect Choice Of Fresh Herb(s)
Serves 2-4 depending on asparagus appetite
When you get your asparagus home, carry out the first step here, and then stand the stalks upright in a big bowl with water in the bottom of it to cover their butt-ends—this is thought, perhaps apocryphally, to help them rehydrate, but it’s a good way to store them on the countertop for a day or two in any case. If you find yourself lemon-less, pretty much any kind of vinegar is a good substitute, though I'd reduce it to 1 1/2 tablespoons and perhaps avoid the distinct taste of balsamic.—Bethany Jean Clement
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds asparagus
- 6 tablespoons salted butter
- Kosher salt and fresh-ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon snipped-to- 1/8-inch chives—or use your allium of choice, such as green onion, spring onion, ramps, shallot ... (but maybe not our forceful friend garlic)
- 3 tablespoons chopped mint—or use fresh soft herb(s) of your choice, such as parsley, tarragon, marjoram, chervil or dill (but maybe not, you know, cilantro)
- 1-plus tablespoons pine nuts, toasted until nicely browned—optional but nice
Directions
1. Rinse your asparagus spears in cool water, and snap off the tough ends—bend them toward the bottom, and they'll break at the right spot. (You can save the butts for making asparagus soup; see st.news/asparagus for my recipe.)
2. Put the butter in a large skillet, and turn heat to medium-high. When butter is melted, add asparagus, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add 1/2 cup water, cover and simmer. Check it right at 3 minutes: You want your spears bright green, quite firm but getting tender, and they will keep cooking a little once the heat is off. Shift them around, and cook another minute or two as needed for fatter spears. Move the asparagus to a serving platter, reserving the stuff in the pan.
3. Turn the heat to high; add your chives/alternate choice; and cook, stirring, until most of the liquid has evaporated and you get a saucy consistency. Add lemon juice and zest, turn off heat and stir in most of your fresh herb(s), saving a bit for garnishing. Taste and add salt and/or pepper, and/or a squeeze of lemon, to your liking. Pour the sauce over the asparagus, sprinkle with extra herb(s) and the pine nuts, if you’ve got them, and enjoy.
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