Here it is—pan-fried White Asparagus! With roasting aromas from the pan and a caramelised coating, this buttery vegetable is a quick, easy, and delicious way to prepare white asparagus—a non-traditional way. So grab your frying pan, and let’s get cooking!
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Few Words About White Asparagus
White asparagus, a cherished delicacy in Germany for many decades, has a unique taste that sets it apart from its green counterpart. If you haven’t yet experienced this distinctive flavor, there’s no better time than now to indulge in its short but delightful season.
Curious to explore the versatility of this unique vegetable? Dive into my White Asparagus Ultimate Guide! This comprehensive resource will teach you how to select and peel fresh stems, and introduce you to a curated collection of recipes that celebrate the diverse ways white asparagus can be prepared. From classic dishes to innovative creations, each recipe is designed to showcase the best of this star ingredient.
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.
Why Choose Pan-Frying?
Pan-fried white asparagus is one of the most delightful ways to enjoy this seasonal delicacy. The tender spears transform into an exquisite side dish when paired with a rich pat of butter, salt, and the subtle sweetness of caramelised brown sugar. This dish elevates any meal with its sophisticated flavours and presentation.
Ingredients for Pan-Fried White Asparagus
White asparagus: Choose fresh white asparagus without brown spots or cracks. Watch this video to learn how to choose fresh asparagus.
Butter – use unsalted butter.
Salt – use unsalted butter.
Brown Sugar – choose granulated sugar, brown or white, whichever you have on your hand!
Peeling Techniques for Quick Results
Peeling white asparagus can be daunting if you don’t have proper equipment. A standard vegetable peeler usually peels a very thin layer, which is excellent when peeling cucumbers or apples but not so much for white asparagus. Watch my 5 White Asparagus Peeling Tips Video to learn how to peel white asparagus and What Peelers I recommend.
The Pan-Frying Process
- Heat the pan and melt the butter.
- Add the white asparagus and salt and fry on medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes.
- Pierce the stem with a fork and check if it’s ready (you shouldn’t feel any resistance when piercing).
- Sprinkle granulated sugar all over the white asparagus, turn the heat to medium-high, and fry for about 3 minutes, stirring from time to time. At this point, the asparagus should be golden brown, and that’s when it tastes the best!
Why to add sugar?
Adding sugar at the end of frying creates a sweet and crispy coating over the vegetables. This touch of sweetness complements the savoury flavours of vegetables like white asparagus.
Serving Suggestions
Pan-fried white asparagus is a versatile dish that pairs well with a variety of foods. Whether you prefer it over rice, pasta, or alongside a protein like Schnitzel or pan-fried chicken breast, the options are endless. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find your perfect combination.
You can garnish the side dish with fresh herbs like parsley or chives, making it look even better and taste fresh.
Whether hosting a dinner party or simply indulging in a special meal at home, these recipes will inspire you to savour the season’s bounty to the fullest.
Tools that might come in handy
Storage & Reheating
Store pan-fried white asparagus in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
Warm up your white asparagus in a pan by frying it over medium heat.
White Asparagus Dishes that I have been loving this season
Pan-fried White Asparagus
- 1 kilogramm white asparagus
- 50 gramms butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
- Prepare white asparagus by washing and peeling it. Peel white asparagus from just below the tip to the end of the stem. After you are done with peeling trim the end of the stem and double check if there are no wooden parts left.
- Cut the stems into 2-3 centimeter long pieces.
- Store peeled white asparagus tems in the wet towel or pot with cold water until you are ready to cook them
- Melt the butter in a pan. For caremelizing I like using my Fissler Stainless Steel Pan, because it's uncoated, so I don't need to be careful with the amount of heat.
- Add white asparaus to the pan and fry it for8- 10 minutes on medium high heat. Pearce white asparagus with a fork to check if it's tender. You shouldn't feel any resistance.
- Once white asparagus is tender add brown sugar, turn the heat to high and carmelize white asparagus for a minute or two. While carmelizing keep on stirring.
- As soon as the white asparagus turns golden brown you can remove the pan from the heat.
- Enjoy!
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