Baked white asparagus with lemon butter is the perfect dish to add a splash of flavour to your table. This elegant yet simple recipe showcases the tender, unique flavour of white asparagus, all wrapped up in a zesty, buttery sauce that you won’t be able to resist. So, let’s dive into how to cook white asparagus in the oven!
Why baked white asparagus?
- Baking is the easiest white asparagus cooking method
- By cooking with a closed lid, you are maintaining nutrients and flavour
- No extra sauce is needed for serving
- The perfect method to cook white asparagus for a larger party
Table of Contents
The Easiest Method of Preparing Baked White Asparagus
Baking white asparagus is not just a delightful way but also the simplest way to prepare this elegant vegetable. With just a few steps-peeling the asparagus, adding a touch of butter, a hint of sugar, a sprinkle of salt, and a splash of lemon, and then roasting in the oven for about 40 minutes you’ll be left with perfectly tender and flavourful asparagus. This fuss-free method brings out the natural sweetness of the asparagus and makes for a deliciously easy dish that everyone will enjoy.
Essential Tools and Equipment
For baking white asparagus, you will need a large pot, like a Dutch oven, that you can close to make sure all the flavours stay in the pot.
You don’t have a large pot? Don’t worry!
Baked white asparagus can be cooked in a casserole or baking tray. Make sure you wrap the peeled white asparagus and the other ingredients in a parchment paper. If using lemon, stay away from aluminium foil. Lemon juice is acidic and can react with aluminium foil, potentially dissolving it and transferring metallic particles and tastes into the food. This is why it’s important to use a parchment paper instead of foil when cooking with acidic ingredients like lemon.
Benefits of Cooking with a Closed Lid
Cooking white asparagus in the oven with a closed lid concentrates flavours in the pot. A steamy environment that traps moisture and it helps to prevent food from drying out. White asparagus cooked in the oven is flavourful, tender and buttery – exactly how it’s supposed to be!
The Perfect Sauce: Butter and Lemon
In Germany, white asparagus is traditionally served with sauce hollandaise, or butter. However, I love adding a bit of lemon to the pot for a touch of freshness. As my husband doesn’t like the taste of lemon in many dishes, we agreed to add one slice per two servings (look at us compromising). This also works for me because lemon juice can quickly cover the delicate flavour of white asparagus, so you must be careful with how many lemon slices you use for this recipe.
- 1 slice of lemon – delicate lemon flavour
- 2 slices of lemon – intense lemon flavour
- 3 slices of lemon – very fierce lemon flavour
White asparagus for a large party
How to buy and peel White Asparagus
This is the proper method to choose if you prepare white asparagus for more than four people. A standard white asparagus pot usually holds around 1.5 kilograms of peeled white asparagus (4 portions). However, you can cook double as much on the baking tray of a Dutch oven. It’s as easy as that!
Step-by-Step Preparation Guide
- Prepare white asparagus by washing and peeling it. I recommend using a white asparagus peeler, like the Westmark Double Peeler. This peeler cuts the peeling time enormously and peels the right amount of white asparagus. Do you want to know more about peeling white asparagus? The 5 German Peeling Tips and White Asparagus Peelers Comparison Video will guide you through the process of peeling white asparagus the right way.
- Keep the peeling residue and make creamy soup out of it!
- If using a Dutch oven, Place white asparagus in the pot. Cut and spread butter all over the asparagus. If using a lemon slice, add it to the pot. Sprinkle with salt and brown sugar.
- If using a baking tray or casserole, Place white asparagus stems in the middle of the baking paper. Cut and spread butter all over the asparagus. Add a lemon slice, salt and brown sugar. Wrap white asparagus in baking paper and place it on a baking tray.
- Once you’ve prepared the asparagus, bake it covered with a lid for 40 minutes. It’s that easy! The result? Tender, flavourful, and buttery baked white asparagus, just as it’s supposed to be. Serve with butter sauce on top.
Serving Suggestions: Enjoying Baked White Asparagus
Baked white asparagus with lemon butter goes very well with boiled potatoes, pasta, or rice. As for protein, I would choose Schnitzel or salmon for this delicious side dish. Although I actually love eating it on its own!
You can also eat it cold or make White Asparagus Salad from the leftovers.
Tools that might come in handy
Check out my Ultimate Guide to German White Asparagus in my Learning Centre to learn how to buy, peel and cook this unique German vegetable.
Storage & Reheating
Store cooked baked white aspargus for up to three days in the fridge in airtight container.
Freeze baked white asparagus for up to 6 months.
Other Cooking Methods that I have been loving this season:
- Roasted White Asparagus
- Fried White Asparagus
- Boiled White Asparagus
- All White Asparagus Recipes
Baked White Asparagus with Lemon Butter
- 1 kg white asparagus
- 50 grams butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1(2 teaspoon white sugar
- 1 slice lemon
- Prepare white asparagus by washing and peeling it. Remember to start peeling white asparagus right below the tip all the way down to the bottom.Keep peeled white asparagus in wet towel or a pot with cold water to avoid drying it out.
- Check for wooden parts and trim the ends of white asparagus.
- Preheat the oven to 200°C (392°F).
- If using dutch oven: place white asparagus in the pot. Cut and spread butter all over the asparagus. If using a lemon slice, add it to the pot. Sprinkle with salt and white sugar. Close the lid.
- If using a baking tray or casserole, line them with parchment paper. Place white asparagus stems in the middle of the parchment paper. Cut and spread butter all over the asparagus. Add a lemon slice, salt and white sugar on the top. Wrap white asparagus in parchment paper and make sure it is fully covered with it.
- Bake White Asparagus Stems for 40 minutes.
- Check if white asparagus is tender by poking it with a fork.
- Enjoy your flavourful, and tender white asparagus with lemon butter on the top!
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