How can I cook asparagus without a steamer?

[DS1]

Okay, so I didn't plan this one out. Can I just chop them up and nuke them?

Same question for brocolli

[CO Liberal]

1. I Use a Pressure Cooker For Both

Comes out great!!!

:9

[matcom]

2. i'll kill you if you even TOUCH your microwave!

sautee the tips in butter and wine silly :argh:

[DS1]

6. just the tips? I've cut off about a good 1.5 inches off the bottom

I think you're supposed to do that..

I'll go with this option, how about Olive oil? I have no wine, or butter.

[matcom]

14. no wine OR butter?

what kind of cave you livin in boy?

i hope to hell your mother isn't reading this right now

anyways...

olive oil and lemon juice (assuming you have THAT will work)

no lemon juice either? x(

olive oil it is then i guess.

unless you have lard lying around....

[DS1]

19. Dude, I just moved. Kitchen is still a clusterfuck

and a lot of perishables (all my butter, it wasn't me) were tossed.

[DS1]

20. and yes, I have lemon juice

!

[matcom]

22. EGGSELENT!

:D

[commander bunnypants]

3. make a steamer with tin foil and a soup pot.

cut little holes in the tin foil. Works great

MMMMM- Aspargus

DDQM

[TreeHuggingLiberal]

4. I either use a pressure cooker or

a pot with boiling water with seasonings. It works pretty good either way.

[Book Lover]

5. boil em in not a lot of water

You can also microwave them, but if you are adventuresome, try the stovetop thing. Bring just-not-enough water to cover the stalks to a boil, then toss them in w/ a pinch of salt.

[radwriter0555]

7. a quick sautee in a wide pan, in about 1/2 inch of water

is perfect. Just blanche them for a few moments until bright green.

Top with fave sauce, dash of lemon juice, etc.

[The empressof all]

8. Here's what you can do

1. Snap off the tough ends and nuke them for 2 minutes.-No need to chop them up. I like mine crisp so you may need to adjust for taste and thickness

The better option is

2. Snap off the tough ends. Lay flat in a roasting pan. Drizzle with olive oil and roast till desired doneness. This is my favorite way to eat them.

[DS1]

17. Going with option 2, it seems to be a consensus of sorts

Thanks everyone, trudges back to the kitchen.

How about the broccoli?

[LTR]

9. Lightly sautee in olive oil and garlic

Seems to work for many things.

[BigMcLargehuge]

10. parboil em... it's easy

put about a two cups of water in a saute pan. Bring it to boil. Once rolling, drop the asparagus in for about two minutes (check for desired tenderness) then take it out...

easy as 1,2,3

[MsUnderstood]

11. you can use a microwave

SSSHhhhhh don't tell but you can put then in water and butter and microwave them. . .they aren't too bad that way. . .

[stellanoir]

12. Do you have a strainer. . .?

or a collander. . .?

[DS1]

15. not a metal one

[LiviaOlivia]

13. Microwave. 2 minutes

Depending on how crunchy you like your spears. 2 minutes minimum.
Covered dish.


Works for me. I eat raw broccoli only.

[eyesroll]

16. I boil for three minutes (no more!) then sautee until a pretty

golden color.

OR: Shake in a zip-lock bag with olive oil, salt and pepper -- then, roast at 425 (without the zip-lock bag) for 8-10 minutes, turning halfway through. (Adjust cooking time accordingly for really thin or really thick asparagus.)

[tandot]

18. just put them on the grill for about 8 minutes (rotate after 4 min.)

and serve with a drizzle of olive oil.

Or, boil in water (or steam) for 10 minutes, drain, and drizzle balsamic vinegar and olive oil on it, and serve as a salad with a couple of teaspoons of chopped chives.

on edit: make sure that you remove the "woodsy" part of the asparagus (at the end) by either peeling the lower part with a potato peeler or by bending the asparagus until it breaks. They usually break right off where the good and soft part of the asparagus starts.

[snooper2]

21. Small pan, butter + fresh garlic + orgegano + black pepper..

medium heat, just a little minced garlic will do. comes out greatness, best to eat right after you are done cooking, and it won't take too long.

Don't chop the asparagus, just cut the end off till it is fresh and cook the whole stalk.

[snooper2]

23. on reading the thread, duh, never mind, you don't have the butter..

:) eom

[carolinayellowdog]

24. Don't even think about chopping!

Cutting is unnecessary. Just bend them over until they break, and they magically break off at the right place. So I learned on some cooking show anyhow and it works for me.

Plenty of good advice about cooking in other posts.

[Ruby Romaine]

25. u can cook in boiling salted h20 in a covered frying pan for a few mins.

u can also leave the rubberbands on when it cooks so the spears stay in the same direction-just remember to remove before you serve it!

[Liberal Veteran]

26. Leave em outside until they rot....

...then forget about them.

Asparagus = :puke:

[trof]

27. Foil pak

Dot with butter, salt & pepper.
Seal in foil envelope and bake at 350-400 till al dente.
About 20-25 minutes, but poke 'em through the foil to make sure they're soft enough.

[DS1]

28. Thanks, I'm done with them, but what's al dente mean?

:shrug:

[SarahB]

29. Firm, but soft

Usually the term is used for properly cooked pasta.

[matcom]

31. and boobies

:bounce:

[SarahB]

33. You need some porn there, dude.

:spank:

[matcom]

34. got a web cam?

:D

:spank: Matcom :spank:

[SarahB]

35. Nope, not even a digital camera.

But I did find something cute to wear to your party. :D

[trof]

32. Not mushy

"firm to the tooth"
Not overcooked

[Kellanved]

30. just boil it in water

Add citron juice, salt and sugar to the water, boil the asparagus for 15 Minutes.
The aspargus water can be used as base for a sauce afterwards.