Asparagus is a nutritious vegetable that many people choose for their daily meals. To keep asparagus for a long time, we usually store them in the freezer. And of course, cooking frozen asparagus will be somewhat different from cooking the fresh one.
So, how to cook frozen asparagus? Is it difficult? Scroll down to get a detailed instruction.
How To Cook Frozen Asparagus?
To have a delicious dish, it is always important to follow some basic cooking steps. And here is what you need to follow when cooking frozen asparagus.
Defrost the frozen Asparagus
Like other frozen foods, you will need to thaw frozen asparagus before cooking. And the best way to defrost asparagus is to expose it in the air for about 2-3 hours before cooking. When the asparagus becomes tender, it is good to go!
How to cook
You can make a lot of delicious dishes from asparagus. In particular, these dishes are effortless to cook. Let’s see what they are!
Stir-fry recipe
First, you need to cut asparagus into small pieces about 1 inch. Then, heat the pan with a tablespoon of olive oil, when the oil is hot, drop the asparagus in and stir well until it is lightly crisp. Put it on a plate and serve hot. You can add some pepper if you want.
Steaming recipe
To steam the asparagus, you will need a pot with a steamer basket inside. Fill your pot with some water and put on the stovetop. After that, place the thawed asparagus into the steamer basket and cover the pot with a lid. Boil water for about 3-4 minutes until the asparagus is tender. Then, take it out and have it served hot.
You can use steamed asparagus with a little sauce for better flavor. Especially, for this dish, you may not need to thaw frozen asparagus first. Instead, you need to steam it for a little longer in the pot.
Grilling recipe
The next dish you should add to your daily menu is grilled asparagus. Yes, that’s it. You might never think that this vegetable can be grilled, right? But believe us, it is a really wonderful dish for dinner! For grilling recipe, you don’t need to cut the asparagus into smaller pieces.
First, you should cover the asparagus with some olive oil and then place them directly on the grill. During the grilling process, you should turn the asparagus over so that it is evenly heated. And remember to add some pepper and salt once they are put on the plate.
Bacon-wrapped asparagus recipe
Undoubtedly, the asparagus dish will be tastier when combined with meat, right? Therefore, you should not miss this bacon-wrapped asparagus recipe in your favorite menu.
To start, you need to preheat the oven at around 400° F. And then, wrap 2-3 pieces of asparagus with a slice of bacon. Next, stir a mixture including butter, some brown sugar, garlic salt, and soy sauce in a small pan. Pour the mixture over asparagus bundles and place it into the oven to bake for about 20-25 minutes, then have it served hot.
These asparagus dishes are not only nutritious but also take little time to prepare. And they will be more delicious when enjoyed right after cooking.
Tips To Keep Frozen Asparagus From Losing Nutrition When Cooking
As we know, frozen asparagus is a very healthy food that contains many essential vitamins and minerals for the body. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 200g of frozen asparagus replenishes 30% of the vitamin C and 38% of vitamin E that your body needs daily. Furthermore, it is also rich in protein and iron, good for people who want a low-carb and low-calorie diet.
However, if you cook it improperly, the amount of nutrients in the asparagus will be significantly lost. So, how to keep frozen asparagus from losing nutrition when cooking? Here are the ways:
- Let frozen asparagus thaw naturally before cooking.
- Avoid cooking asparagus under high heat because it can destroy nutrients in the vegetable.
- Try to make steamed dishes instead of boiled ones. When you cook asparagus in water, nutrients will be lost into the water.
- Have it served with some fat. In fact, many vitamins and nutrients are fat-soluble. Therefore, when served with a little fat, your body will absorb nutrients better.
In Conclusion
In short, frozen asparagus is always a tasty and nutritious addition to any diet. It is low in carbohydrates and a great source of vitamins and nutrients like iron, protein, vitamins A, C, and K.
And of course, asparagus recipes are also extremely simple. We hope that with our straight-to-the-point instruction, you do know how to cook frozen asparagus and have new dishes for your daily meals. And now, it is your time to cook and enjoy it!