Both white and purple asparagus can be prepared and served in the same ways that green asparagus is—roasted, baked, sauteed, shaved in salads and more. However, the spears of white asparagus are thicker and a little bit more fibrous than green asparagus, so the bottom two-thirds should be peeled.
Does white asparagus take longer to cook than green?
If you are preparing a dish that calls for both white and green asparagus, make sure to cook them separately as the white asparagus requires a longer cooking time than green asparagus. .
What’s the difference between white asparagus and green?
White asparagus has a more delicate flavor than green. While green asparagus is a bit grassy, white asparagus is sweeter and has just a hint of bitterness. This delicate flavor is perhaps why it’s so prized in Europe.
Does white asparagus taste the same as green asparagus?
But white asparagus does taste a bit different. The flavor is milder and more delicate, with a slightly bitter taste, when compared to green asparagus.
What is special about white asparagus?
Unlike their green counterparts, white asparagus are pale from end to tip because they are grown underground. Farmers cover the stalks in soil to hide them from sunlight and prevent them from producing chlorophyll, which is what causes stalks to turn green.
Do I need to peel white asparagus?
White asparagus has a thick outer skin that, unlike green asparagus, must be peeled before using as it is too stringy to eat. The base should also be removed as it is too woody to chew.
How do you make white asparagus?
Some plants, like asparagus, won’t produce chlorophyll until they’ve been exposed to sunlight. So what is white asparagus? It’s simple: Asparagus shoots which haven’t seen the light of day. Any variety of green asparagus can be deprived of sunlight to produce white asparagus shoots.
Is white asparagus as nutritious as green?
Nutritional Differences
The nutrition facts vary depending on the variety, serving size and whether the vegetable is cooked or raw. There aren’t any significant nutritional differences between green and white asparagus.
Why is white asparagus bitter?
The most common reason asparagus is bitter is due to early harvesting which prevents the natural sugars from developing. Read on to find out why asparagus is harvested before it sweetens up and ways to overcome the bitterness.
Why do Germans love white asparagus?
Many Germans prefer the white variety because it is thought to be more tender and less bitter. The stalks are generally thicker and longer than the green version, which has a tougher skin that makes it unpalatable. Thankfully, many German supermarkets have machines on site that do all the peeling for you.
Why is white asparagus more expensive?
The varieties planted to produce this type of Asparagus are generally different from those planted for green asparagus. Growing the spears this way involves more labour and inevitably therefore makes the white spears more expensive.
What is the best tasting asparagus?
Purple Passion Asparagus
A high sugar content makes this variety sweet in taste. As you might expect, the Purple Passion variety is purple in color, and it becomes lighter as you cook it. For this reason, it is much more tender and sweeter in taste, thanks to the higher sugar content.
How do u cook 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.
Do I need to peel green asparagus?
Be wary of any recipe that instructs you to peel asparagus before cooking it. Not only is it labor-intensive, it’s really not necessary. Rick Martinez, BA’s digital associate food editor, explains that as long as you get rid of the bottom portion of the stalk, the rest is entirely edible.
Does purple asparagus turn green cooked?
While it would be great to have all three colors of asparagus in a dish, the purple variety turns green when cooked.
Can you eat white asparagus raw?
The bottom line. Asparagus is a highly nutritious vegetable that can be eaten cooked or raw. Because of its tough texture, cooking is the most popular preparation method. However, thinly sliced or marinated raw spears can be equally enjoyable.
How do you take the bitterness out of white asparagus?
Putting a little char on the stalks makes the flavor more complex and less bitter. Start by blanching asparagus, cooling them and then hitting them with a little oil, salt and pepper. You can cook them on a hot grill or in a very hot sauté pan.
What do the Germans call white asparagus?
Spargelzeit
Spargelzeit—white asparagus season in Germany—is coming.
How do you clean white asparagus?
Use a vegetable peeler to peel the tough outer skin. You can lay each spear flat and run the peeler blade down the length of the spear starting at about 1.5” from the top. You can steam, boil, grill, or roast white asparagus once it is prepped.
Where does the best white asparagus come from?
White asparagus is most popular in Germany and Switzerland, where it is known as Spargel, and is considered a delicacy.
Is there white asparagus in the US?
There are select growers that make fresh white asparagus available in the United States, but it’s not as common as it is in Germany.