**Wok-Fried Asparagus with Walnuts: A Symphony of Flavors and Textures**
Embark on a culinary journey with our wok-fried asparagus with walnuts recipe, where tender asparagus spears and crunchy walnuts dance harmoniously in a symphony of flavors and textures. This delightful dish presents a vibrant green canvas adorned with golden brown walnuts, creating a visually appealing masterpiece. The asparagus, boasting a slightly bitter and earthy flavor, pairs perfectly with the nutty sweetness of the walnuts, while a savory sauce adds a touch of umami to the mix. Whether you're a seasoned wok enthusiast or a novice cook looking to explore new flavors, this recipe promises an unforgettable experience.
ASPARAGUS WITH WALNUTS
"I never get enough of asparagus in the spring and walnuts have a way of adding the richness this vegetable lacks without getting in the way of the wonderful springtime flavors. Frying the walnuts in the oil with paprika and cayenne for a minute really wakes up their flavor and enhances the whole dish. I have used this as both an appetizer and a side dish. Your call." - Alex Guarnaschelli
Provided by Food Network
Categories side-dish
Yield 6 Servings
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- 1. Fill a large bowl halfway with ice cubes and add some cold water. Place a colander squarely inside the ice bath. The colander will keep you from having to pick the asparagus out from amongst the ice cubes in the ice bath.
- 2. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Add the asparagus and cook for 1 to 1½ minutes. You want them to be crunchy. If the asparagus are thicker, cook for 1½ to 2 minutes.
- 3. Remove the asparagus from the water using a slotted spoon and transfer them to the colander inside the ice bath. Move them around gently so the ice water penetrates the asparagus and accelerates the cooling process. Vegetables take longer than you think to cool so allow them to sit a few minutes in the ice water. Hold a piece of the asparagus in your hand for a few seconds to assure that it's really cool (even in the center). If the piece still feels warm, allow them to cool longer in the ice bath. Place them on a kitchen towel to drain any excess moisture.
- 4. Heat oil a medium skillet until hot (but not smoking), add the walnuts and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. They should bubble and fry slightly in the oil. When you can smell the walnuts, add the paprika and cayenne and lower the heat to medium. Cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly, and transfer the mixture to a bowl. Set aside.
- 5. Toss the asparagus in the bowl with the walnuts and the oil. Let this mixture sit in the refrigerator for a few hours or a few minutes. When ready to serve, stir in the lemon juice. Serve immediately.
SIMPLE SPICY ASPARAGUS IN A WOK
Asparagus doesn't have to be treated as a delicate, fragile thing, napped only with butter or creamy sauces, or served plain with olive oil and salt. That's fine for the first week or two of the season, but then it's time to dial up the interest factor and add some spice. Asparagus actually stands up quite well to aggressive flavors. A quick toss in a hot wok with garlic, ginger and chiles doesn't overwhelm it at all, at least if you don't overcook the spears. Instead, the vegetable's sweetness becomes accentuated by contrast.
Provided by David Tanis
Categories easy, quick, side dish
Time 20m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Snap off and discard bottoms of asparagus, then cut into 2-inch pieces (halve thicker pieces lengthwise first).
- Set wok over high heat and add vegetable oil. Add dried peppers and let sizzle, then add asparagus, tossing well to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Stir-fry for a minute or so, then add chile paste, garlic, ginger, orange zest and jalapeño. Continue cooking over high heat for a minute, maybe less, until asparagus is cooked but still firm and bright green. (It will continue cooking off the heat.)
- Mound asparagus on a serving platter and drizzle with sesame oil. Sprinkle cilantro, green onion and sesame seeds over the top.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 115, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 11 grams, Fat 7 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 4 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 481 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams, TransFat 0 grams
STIR-FRIED ASPARAGUS WITH SLICED ALMONDS
"Here's one of my very favorite recipes for that first early-spring asparagus," writes Marie Hattrup from Sparks, Nevada. "Stir-frying keeps the texture crisp but tender; lemon and soy sauce make for a light tasty coating, and the toasted almonds add a flavorful crunch."
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 20m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a skillet or wok, heat oil; stir-fry the asparagus, onion and garlic over medium-high heat until tender. Add the almonds, lemon juice, soy sauce and lemon zest; toss gently to coat. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 85 calories, Fat 5g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 1mg cholesterol, Sodium 101mg sodium, Carbohydrate 7g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 4g protein.
ALMOND VEGETABLE STIR-FRY
While broccoli florets and chunks of red pepper give these stir-fry vegetables plenty of color, it's the fresh gingerroot, garlic, soy sauce and sesame oil that round out the flavor. -Mary Relyea, Canastota, New York
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 20m
Yield 5 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and sugar. Stir in water, soy sauce and sesame oil until smooth; set aside., In a large nonstick wok or skillet, stir-fry broccoli in hot oil 3 minutes. Add pepper, onion, garlic and ginger; stir-fry 2 minutes. Reduce heat. Stir soy sauce mixture; stir into vegetables with nuts. Cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened.,
Nutrition Facts : Calories 143 calories, Fat 10g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 260mg sodium, Carbohydrate 11g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 4g protein.
STIR-FRIED ASPARAGUS
Asparagus is one of my favorite vegetables. I think this is a great stir-fried recipe for it. Recipe is from Simple and Delicious.
Provided by CookingONTheSide
Categories Vegetable
Time 20m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In large skillet or wok, stir-fry asparagus in butter and oil for 2 minutes.
- Stir in the broth, lemon juice, soy sauce and pepper.
- Cover and cook for 2-3 minutes or until asparagus is tender.
- Sprinkle with almonds.
BAKED ASPARAGUS WITH TOASTED WALNUTS
Make and share this Baked Asparagus With Toasted Walnuts recipe from Food.com.
Provided by RecipeNut
Categories Vegetable
Time 45m
Yield 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- To cook asparagus: Preheat oven to 300°F.
- Break off woody stems of asparagus.
- If stalks are thick, peel with a vegetable peeler, pulling from stem end toward tip.
- (Pencil-thin spears do no need peeling.) Place in a greased or sprayed 9x13 inch glass baking dish.
- Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
- Dot with margarine.
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until tender but still crisp.
- (Asparagus may be baked 1 day ahead and reheated in microwave.) To make topping: In a small bowl, whisk together oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
- (Topping may be refrigerated overnight. Bring to room temperature before using.)
- Before serving: Spoon topping over asparagus and sprinkle with walnuts.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 90.6, Fat 7.4, SaturatedFat 1.4, Cholesterol 3, Sodium 24.1, Carbohydrate 5.3, Fiber 2.5, Sugar 1.6, Protein 3.2
STIR FRIED ASPARAGUS
Super easy recipe for delectable fresh asparagus that is crunchy and very tasty. Everyone loves it! Do not overcook! Asparagus should be crunchy.
Provided by BUZZBOMB
Categories Side Dish Vegetables Asparagus
Time 15m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute onions until tender. Stir in asparagus and garlic; saute for 3 to 5 minutes, or until slightly cooked and heated through.
- Drizzle with teriyaki sauce and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 54.4 calories, Carbohydrate 5.5 g, Cholesterol 7.6 mg, Fat 3.1 g, Fiber 2.2 g, Protein 2.8 g, SaturatedFat 1.9 g, Sodium 382 mg, Sugar 2.1 g
ASPARAGUS WITH WALNUTS, PARMESAN AND BROWN BUTTER
Here's a sophisticated yet simple way to prepare spring's trademark vegetable. Steam the asparagus. Brown a knob of butter in a sauté pan and toss in a handful of chopped walnuts, garlic and fresh thyme (lemon thyme if you can find it). Whisk in a 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, then pour over your awaiting asparagus. Dive in.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories easy, quick, side dish
Time 10m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Steam the asparagus until just tender, about 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until the foam has subsided and the butter turns a deep golden brown, about 4 minutes. (Take care that it doesn't burn.) Stir in the nuts and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Stir in the garlic and thyme and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove from heat and whisk in the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon nut mixture over warm asparagus and serve at once.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 171, UnsaturatedFat 7 grams, Carbohydrate 5 grams, Fat 15 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 6 grams, SaturatedFat 7 grams, Sodium 258 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams, TransFat 0 grams
PAN-FRIED ASPARAGUS WITH ONIONS
Everyone that I make this for absolutely loves it! The onions are a great flavor contrast to the asparagus. This vegetable dish pairs as a great side with everything...fish, meat, chicken, or pasta.
Provided by Laurie Brenner
Categories Side Dish Vegetables Onion
Time 16m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook and stir asparagus in melted butter until bright green, but still firm, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Stir 1 tablespoon butter and onion into asparagus; sprinkle with onion salt.
- Cook and stir until onion is slightly browned and asparagus are tender, 3 to 5 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 77.7 calories, Carbohydrate 5.4 g, Cholesterol 15.3 mg, Fat 5.9 g, Fiber 2.5 g, Protein 2.7 g, SaturatedFat 3.7 g, Sodium 125.9 mg, Sugar 2.5 g
SKILLET ASPARAGUS WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND WALNUTS
Use one nonstick skillet to prepare this nutritious and delicious side for dinner.
Provided by Bibi
Categories Side Dish Vegetables Onion
Time 35m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Melt 1/2 of the ghee in a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add onion; spread out into a thin layer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and beginning to brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce heat if it's browning too quickly; do not allow to burn. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in vinegar.
- Transfer onion-garlic mixture to a bowl; season with salt and pepper. Wipe out skillet and melt the remaining ghee over medium-low heat. Add walnut pieces and stir until crisp and lightly toasted, about 3 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside.
- Add asparagus to the same skillet and increase heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring frequently, until bright green, tender, but still crunchy, 10 to 12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Plate asparagus, add onion mixture, and garnish with walnuts.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 142.1 calories, Carbohydrate 7.5 g, Cholesterol 24.6 mg, Fat 12.1 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 3.4 g, SaturatedFat 6.2 g, Sodium 42.9 mg, Sugar 3.4 g
QUICK ASPARAGUS STIR-FRY
One of my favorite quick recipes for green asparagus, stir-fried with garlic and olive oil. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice brightens the asparagus up at the end.
Provided by Toi
Categories Side Dish Vegetables Asparagus
Time 11m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add asparagus and stir-fry until soft but still firm, 5 to 7 minutes. Season with salt and lemon juice.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 83.8 calories, Carbohydrate 4.8 g, Fat 6.9 g, Fiber 2.3 g, Protein 2.5 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Sodium 41.3 mg, Sugar 2.1 g
HOW TO COOK ASPARAGUS
Asparagus is incredibly flexible, and it's incredibly delicious too. David Tanis shows you how to cook it.
Provided by David Tanis
Number Of Ingredients 0
Steps:
- Asparagus is best and freshest in spring from a local source. Generally, the West Coast season runs from February to May; East Coast asparagus appears in May and June. Asparagus from Peru is available year-round, of course, but it is not as good.At the market, look for spears that are brightly colored and have compact, tightly closed tips. Spears that are ridged or look dry have lost their flavor. Check the root ends to see how dried out they are; if they are truly brown, reach for a different bundle.For stovetop cooking, a stainless steel or enamel-coated cast-iron pot is best. If you're stir-frying, you'll need a wok or a deep-sided cast iron skillet. For roasting, use a baking sheet or a small roasting pan.Asparagus cooks quickly, so make sure to have all your ingredients ready by the stove. It's best served warm or room temperature; ice-cold asparagus is unpleasant.
- Asparagus comes in different shades and sizes, and each has its strengths. Here are some tips on how best to choose, clean and store it. There are three colors of asparagus: green, purple and white. Green asparagus is by far the most common and is available year-round in American supermarkets. You'll find thin, medium and fat green spears in almost any market. Whatever its thickness, green asparagus should be cooked al dente. White asparagus is more common in Europe. It is white because the plants are covered in mulch to prevent them from developing chlorophyll, which gives plants their green color. White asparagus must be completely peeled from tip to tail, and, unlike green, should be well-cooked. It is a mistake to cook green and white asparagus together. Purple asparagus has a beautiful violet skin that turns dark green when cooked. Its taste is similar to that of green asparagus. Asparagus usually comes in three sizes: Pencil-thin, medium and jumbo. The thickness of the asparagus does not indicate its maturity; a thin asparagus spear does not grow into a fat one. What you'll choose is based on personal preference and what you're cooking. Some describe thin spears as grassy or thicker ones as meaty.Thin asparagus is great for stir fries and sautéing. Fat asparagus is good for roasting or grilling, and best when you want to serve whole spears, even simply steamed. Medium spears work in almost any cooking method. Store your asparagus in your crisper drawer, wrapped in a damp paper towel and then in a plastic bag, no longer than three days. Do not clean it first. Or you can store asparagus upright in a container with an inch of water. Place it in the fridge, uncovered.
- Before you begin cooking, take a minute to snap or cut off the tough bottom ends of the asparagus. If you have nice fat spears, peel their tough skin away too. We'll show you how. Snapping off woody asparagus bottoms gives you spears of slightly different lengths, but guarantees no tough ends when you sit down to eat. To snap, hold a spear with both hands and find the natural bending point near the bottom of the stalk. Then snap. Make sure your hands really are near the bottom, or you risk discarding too much; a stalk will snap in the middle if you're not careful. The spear should break at a point where the asparagus has started to lose its moisture.Cutting your spears is fine as long as you take care to avoid the woody ends. (But please, don't use the discarded ends to make anything but compost.)The skin on larger asparagus spears doesn't soften with cooking, which is why it's best to peel the lower stalks of medium or fat spears, both green and purple. Always peel white asparagus.To peel, place the spear flat on your work surface. Using a vegetable peeler, preferably one with a swivel blade, peel the asparagus from about halfway up the spear toward the root end. Never peel the tips. Use a light hand, or you'll peel off too much of the sweet core. Asparagus can be peeled a few hours ahead of time, wrapped and refrigerated.
- Roasting asparagus allows for a slight caramelizing of the vegetable's skin, and it's just luscious. It's also a fast way to get delicious asparagus on the table without standing at the stove.Here's a very simple method for roasting that just requires olive oil, salt and pepper, but you can add other spices as well: cayenne, red pepper flakes or smoked salt. Or try chopped walnuts, a sprinkle of grated Parmesan and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.Heat your oven to 425 degrees, and dress asparagus spears lightly with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Spread them on a baking sheet or in a roasting pan in one layer and roast until lightly browned and sizzling, and just firm-tender. If you are roasting on a baking sheet, that should take 10 to 12 minutes, or about 15 minutes in a heavy-bottomed roasting pan. The trick here is getting the spears nicely colored without overcooking them, and you should always err on the undercooked side - asparagus will continue to cook off the heat.
- Simply steamed or simmered asparagus is delicious, and you can dress the spears however you like: in a bagna cauda, or a mixture of lemon juice and olive oil, or nothing at all. These are very easy cooking methods, and any size spear will work, although medium is best. We'll also tell you how to blanch asparagus, a useful method when incorporating the vegetable into other dishes. It's easy to cook asparagus in a steamer. Bring one inch of well-salted water to boil in a pot with a steamer insert, and place the spears in the steamer in a single layer. (If necessary, work in batches; do not pile in the asparagus or try to cook too many at a time.) Cover the pot and cook for about 3 minutes, depending upon size of spears. Err on the undercooked side - asparagus will continue to cook off the heat. Remove from the pot with a slotted spoon or tongs and blot the excess water away with a towel.Simmering asparagus is another easy way to cook asparagus quickly, and a good option if you don't own a steamer. In a wide pot, boil a few inches of generously salted water and add your asparagus. Cook at a rapid simmer for 2 to 4 minutes, depending on the size of your asparagus. Again, don't cook too many at one time; a dozen in the pot at once is plenty. Remove from the pot with a slotted spoon or tongs and blot to remove any remaining water. Old recipes sometimes call for using twine to tie asparagus into bundles, to make it easier to retrieve them from the water. If you do, blot the cooked bundle, transfer to a platter and snip the twine with kitchen shears. Some recipes, such as spring pasta dishes, call for blanching asparagus. It's easy to do. In a wide pot, boil a few inches of generously salted water and add your asparagus, either whole stalks or cut into pieces. Cook at a rapid simmer for 1 minutes. Then immediately plunge the spears into a bowl of ice water to halt the cooking and to keep them green. Remove from ice water and blot, otherwise risk waterlogged asparagus.
- Tender, sweet asparagus can be delicious raw and dressed simply with olive oil, lemon and salt. And you don't even need to turn on your stove.Fat asparagus works best in raw preparations, like this fast recipe for a delicious asparagus salad.Using a sharp, thin-bladed knife, slice 6 to 8 fat asparagus spears very thinly on the diagonal. (Alternatively, you can cut them on a mandoline, or use a peeler to slice them lengthwise into long, thin ribbons.) Pile them into a bowl and dress with 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 3 tablespoons olive oil and a few pinches of salt. Toss and serve.
- Asparagus is great quickly stir-fried or sautéed over high heat. You could sauté spears in butter or olive oil with delicious results, but throwing some chopped herbs or sliced chiles into the pan adds wonderful flavor. Both of these methods produce juicy asparagus that retains its crunch.Thin spears are best for sautéeing or stir-frying. For Asian recipes, use a wok if you have one; otherwise, a cast-iron skillet or large sauté pan will work fine. Here's a simple method for spicy wok-fried asparagus (you can leave out the spicy elements if you wish): Cut 6 to 8 cleaned and trimmed medium asparagus spears into 2-inch lengths. In a wok or cast-iron skillet, heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil until nearly smoking. Add the asparagus to the wok or skillet, season generously with salt and pepper and cook about 2 minutes until it is bright green, stirring constantly and making sure that the asparagus is coated completely with oil. Then, add 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon grated ginger and one finely chopped serrano or other hot chile pepper. Cook for another 30 seconds or so, then transfer to a serving platter and scatter on top a handful of chopped fresh basil, mint or cilantro leaves (or all three.) And here's how to sauté asparagus: Heat a skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat. Cut 6 to 8 cleaned and trimmed medium asparagus spears into 2-inch lengths. Add olive oil or butter to pan; when hot, add asparagus, season generously with salt and pepper and cook about 3 to 4 minutes, until bright green, shaking or stirring the pan frequently. The key is to cook the asparagus just enough so that the exterior browns a bit, but the interior remains crunchy. Finish it with anything you like: a squeeze of lemon, a favorite sweet vinegar, a fistful of chopped herbs.
- Frying asparagus is easier than it sounds, and results in crispy, tender spears that you won't want to stop eating. Don't forget a good dipping sauce.You'll need a deep heavy-bottomed pot, like a Dutch oven, to make tempura, and a thermometer to test the temperature of your oil. Medium spears work best. Here's an easy method:In your heavy-bottomed pot on the stovetop, heat three inches or so of vegetable oil until it reaches 360 degrees. While it heats, in a bowl, combine 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking soda, 2 tablespoons corn starch and ½ teaspoon salt. In a separate bowl, combine 2 cups ice water and 2 eggs, lightly beaten, and then add that to the flour mixture. Mix it briefly with a fork or chopsticks, but do not overbeat; lumps are fine. Dip your cleaned, snapped asparagus spears in the batter and drop them gently in the hot oil. Fry for about two minutes, until the spears are just lightly browned. Remove them from the oil with a slotted spoon or tongs and drain on absorbent paper.
Tips:
- To ensure crisp asparagus, blanch it in boiling water for 1-2 minutes, then immediately transfer it to an ice bath to stop the cooking process.
- Use high-quality soy sauce and sesame oil for the best flavor.
- If you don't have Shaoxing wine, you can substitute dry sherry or white wine.
- Feel free to add other vegetables to this dish, such as broccoli, carrots, or bell peppers.
- Serve over rice or noodles for a complete meal.
Conclusion:
This wok-fried asparagus with walnuts is a quick and easy dish that is packed with flavor. The asparagus is tender and crisp, the walnuts add a nutty crunch, and the sauce is savory and flavorful. This dish is perfect for a weeknight dinner or a light lunch.
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