Let’s make blanched asparagus that will keep everyone coming back for more
Asparagus is one of those side dishes that goes unnoticed by everyone. It is a simple dish to make, but how many of us actually cook it correctly? Many times the asparagus is boiled in water until its limp. Then its taken out of the pot and thrown next to the main course. But why can’t this simple side dish have it’s own time to shine.
How to blanch asparagus for freezing
What if you buy more asparagus than you can eat in 1 sitting? The best option would be to freeze the excess for another meal. So, how to blanch asparagus for freezing? Simply follow the instructions below to properly blanch your asparagus. After the excess water is patted off with paper towels, arrange the excess asparagus onto a cookie sheet. Place the sheet with the asparagus into the freezer. Once the asparagus is frozen, remove from the cookie sheet and place in a freezer safe container, freezer ziploc bag, or vacuum sealed bag and place back into the freezer. Once frozen it is best to use within a year.
How to cook frozen blanched asparagus
Nobody wants to eat frozen asparagus, unless you want to substitute asparagus for popsicles and ice cream… So, how do you cook frozen blanched asparagus? You can add the asparagus to another dish without defrosting it. The best way to keep it from becoming overly mushy, is to pan fry it from frozen. Remember the asparagus is fully cooked, so this method is strictly to reheat, while keeping the vegetables integrity. Heat a frying pan and add oil or butter and fry the asparagus until its hot. It is then ready to serve.
Ingredients:
- Raw Asparagus
- Pot of Water
- Salt
- Ice Water Bath (Large bowl filled with ice water)
- Plate with paper towels
Prep:
- Wash Asparagus
- Cut 1/2 inch from bottom of asparagus
- Add salt to water
- Bring pot of water to a boil
Cooking:
Add asparagus to boiling water and completely submerge
Let boil for 2 – 3 minutes
Remove from boiling water and place in ice water bath
Let rest for 5 minutes to stop the cooking process
Place on plate and gently dry with paper towels
Lightly sprinkle with salt
- Notes – If you are planning on freezing, do not add salt.
Enjoy!