Canned asparagus doesn’t taste as good as fresh ones, but you could bring out that top-notch flavor if you understood how to cook canned asparagus. Unlike when cooking fresh asparagus, where you have the freedom to add in any of your favorite spices and seasonings, you need to be keen on what you add into the canned ones.
Canned asparagus might contain sugar and salt additives that might not go so well with some spices. You wouldn’t want to end up throwing away your asparagus just because you messed up mixing spices. So without wasting time, let us look at how to cook your canned asparagus.
How to prepare canned asparagus
Before cooking asparagus, some necessary preparations need to be done, so you end up with the best-tasting asparagus. After opening your asparagus can, the first thing you should do is to pour out the brine it’s soaked in. After that, you can rinse the asparagus with some water.
You can then go ahead and trim out the ends of the asparagus. Cutting these ends is optional, so if you love consuming them, then it’s still alright. If you want to incorporate shorter asparagus spears into your dishes, you can chop them into smaller pieces. Any limp and discolored sections in the asparagus should be cut off.
How to cook asparagus in a can
It is possible to cook asparagus in a can. But how do we achieve that? You need to place the canned asparagus into a pot or a saucepan. Next is pouring some water into the pot and placing the pot onto the stove. Leave the water to boil for 10-15 minutes until the asparagus tenderizes. You can then drain and serve the asparagus.
How to cook asparagus spears
Fresh asparagus spears can be cooked in various ways. The spears can be cooked in the oven, grill, or on the stove. Canned asparagus spears are already cooked, so there is no need to keep recooking them. They need just some heating. They can be creamed and served with toast. Here are some ways you can cook your fresh asparagus spears.
Steam
Here, you will place your asparagus into a steamer, then cover it and cook on high heat till the asparagus color changes to bright green. Steamed asparagus should be eaten right away. This is because they tend to keep cooking if left to sit. So it’s best to always soak them in an ice-water bath, so they do not continue cooking.
Roast
Roasting asparagus is relatively easy. You will just place the spears on a sheet pan and coat the spears with olive oil, then season with some salt and pepper or any other seasoning of your choice. Next is roasting them for 10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Well, roasted asparagus spears will have browned and become tender.
Boil
Boiling asparagus is slightly similar to steaming. Only that here, you will add salted water into a pot, then add your asparagus and cook for 2 minutes or until the asparagus achieves a bright green color. Boiled asparagus tend to continue cooking just like steamed asparagus. So you mustn’t forget the ice soak to prevent the asparagus from turning all mushy.
Pan roasting
Pan roasting your asparagus might sound a bit off, but it is achievable. You will just heat a pan (medium-high) with butter or oil sprinkled onto it, then add in your spears. Ensure they are coated with the butter/oil and leave to cool for 3 minutes while covered. After that, you can change the heat setting to high and uncover the pan. Pour in your seasonings, then sear the asparagus further for 5 minutes.
Saute
Sautéing asparagus under high heat with some oil or butter gives the best taste. Season your asparagus and remove it from heat when the asparagus starts browning.
Broil
Did you know you could boil your asparagus? Well, the broiling process is simple. Just place your asparagus onto a baking tray, sprinkle some oil and seasonings, then set the oven to broil and broil for 8 minutes.
Recipes for canned asparagus
Canned asparagus served or added in different dishes taste amazing. I have listed some of the best canned recipes you can try out sometime.
Chicken and asparagus casserole
Ingredients
- 6 pieces’ chicken breast
- 2 cans asparagus
- 2tsp soy sauce
- I chopped onion
- ½ cup butter
- ¾ can milk
- ½ lb. cheese
- 1/2tsp salt
- 1/2cup almond
- 1tsp. accent
Method
- Place your asparagus onto a casserole and add in the chicken.
- Sauté your onions in butter.
- Add the salt, milk, cheese, accent and soy sauce, and simmer until all cheese melts.
- Add in the almonds and bake until it starts to bubble.
Other canned asparagus recipes
- Cheesy asparagus with almonds(optional)
- Asparagus with curry sauce
- Egg asparagus mushroom casserole
- Asparagus pancakes and smoked salmon
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQS)
Can you roast canned asparagus?
Yes! to roast asparagus:
- Preheat your oven to 3500F.
- Drain your asparagus and place them on an oven-safe tray. Do not stack any asparagus onto another.
- Place in the oven and leave to bake for half an hour. They should have a light brown color and crispy once ready.
Can you grill canned asparagus?
Yes!
First, cut out the tough asparagus ends and place the spears onto a pan greased with a light coat of oil. Cook for till spears gets crispy for 5 minutes. Keep turning them as they cook. Once ready, retrieve them from the grill with a pair of tongs to minimize the chance of burning.
Is canned asparagus good for you?
Yes! Just like fresh asparagus, canned asparagus is rich in nutrients. This applies to canned asparagus with no added salt and sugars.
conclusion
That is all on the basics you need to understand on how to cook canned asparagus. Canned asparagus might not be as tasty as fresh ones, but they make great additions to any asparagus recipe. Canned asparagus comes in handy when they are out of season, and you need to prepare some asparagus recipes that you and your loved ones will enjoy.
