Fat vs. Thin Asparagus
Do you like fat or thin asparagus best? I’m in the minority, I think – I love the fat asparagus best. I peel the bottom part of each spear with a serrated peeler, then roast it with some aquafaba and seasoning for crispiness. Cutting into those robust spears is such a pleasure, yielding big mouthfuls of asparagus deliciousness without any stringiness.
Healthy and low-calorie
Asparagus has only 40 calories per cup along with 3.6 grams of fiber and 4.3 grams of protein – a lot of nutrients for only 40 calories. (That’s almost 15% of a daily goal of 25 grams of fiber and about 10% of a daily goal of 45 grams of protein.) Asparagus also offers good doses of Vitamin K, folate, copper, and Vitamin B1.
Why are some spears fat and some thin?
The thickness of an asparagus spear is determined by the vigor of the plant and where the spear grows on the root mass. Youthful, healthy root masses tend to yield thicker asparagus. Spears growing close to the center of the root yields fatter spears, while spears near the edges of the root tend to be thinner.
Fat spears are great for roasting and grilling whole, while thin are wonderful in salads and side dishes. You can eat asparagus raw, too. There are interesting salad recipes like this one that call for raw asparagus cut into very small slices. Other recipes call for shaving the asparagus into ribbons.
Ideas for asparagus dishes
What can you make with asparagus? Here are a few ideas.
Soups, such as my Puree of Asparagus Soup
Stir-fries, easy to make with my Goes-With-Everything Stir-Fry Sauce
Salads, such as Freekeh Salad with Roasted Vegetables or Snow Pea, Asparagus, and Pasta Salad with Sesame Dressing
Main dishes with pasta, such as Asparagus and Orzo with a Lemony Sauce and Bread Crumbs