This Amazing Asparagus Side Dish Recipe Will Make Your Dinner Complete (2024)

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Katerina

4.80 from 5 votes

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Asparagus with Lemon Butter Sauce is a budget friendly side dish the whole family will love. This recipe makes quick, and easy crisp-tender asparagus drizzled with an amazing lemon butter sauce and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. It’s the best asparagus side dish of ever!

This Amazing Asparagus Side Dish Recipe Will Make Your Dinner Complete (2)

Enjoy the vibrant flavors of this Asparagus with Lemon Butter Sauce recipe, a dish that brings both elegance and simplicity. Not only is this recipe a fantastic way to enjoy asparagus, but it’s also remarkably quick and easy to prepare. In just minutes, you can transform simple ingredients into a side dish that’s always a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, perfect for family dinners or special occasions.

    Why You Should Make This Asparagus Recipe

    1. Simple: This recipe is incredibly easy to follow and can be prepared fairly quickly, perfect for last-minute gatherings.
    2. Fresh: Featuring fresh veggies and a lemon sauce, this dish is both nutritious and flavorful.
    3. Versatile Pairing: The dish pairs wonderfully with a variety of main courses, from oven grilled steak to seafood, making it a versatile addition to any meal.
    This Amazing Asparagus Side Dish Recipe Will Make Your Dinner Complete (3)

    Ingredients You’ll Need

    • Asparagus: About 2 pounds.
    • Fresh Meyer Lemon Juice: Adds a tangy, citrus flavor to the sauce.
    • Vegetable Broth: Provides a base for the sauce, enhancing its flavor.
    • White Vinegar: Adds acidity and a slight tang to the sauce.
    • Heavy Cream: Gives the sauce a rich, creamy texture.
    • Sugar: Balances the acidity in the sauce.
    • Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and helps thicken the sauce.
    • Salt & Pepper
    • Optional Garnishes: Parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, and lemon zest.

    How To Make Asparagus With Lemon Butter Sauce

    This Amazing Asparagus Side Dish Recipe Will Make Your Dinner Complete (4)
    This Amazing Asparagus Side Dish Recipe Will Make Your Dinner Complete (5)
    1. Boil salted water in a large pot. Steam asparagus in it until tender.
    2. Cool the asparagus in ice water, then drain.
    3. For the sauce, combine lemon juice, vegetable broth, and vinegar in a saucepan; reduce by half over medium heat.
    4. Lower the heat, whisk in cream, then gradually add butter, sugar, salt, and pepper.
    5. Simmer until the sauce thickens, then remove from heat and let stand.
    6. Adjust seasonings to taste.
    7. Serve asparagus with the lemon butter sauce drizzled over or on the side.

    Recipe Tips And Variations

    • Asparagus Size/Thickness: Adjust the steaming time based on the thickness of the asparagus spears.
    • Sauce Consistency: For a creamier sauce, incrementally add more butter.
    • Flavor Variation: Add garlic or shallots to the sauce for an extra layer of flavor.
    • Serving Suggestion: Pair this dish with grilled salmon or chicken for a complete meal.
    • Leftover Use: Leftover sauce can be used as a salad dressing or a dip for bread.
    This Amazing Asparagus Side Dish Recipe Will Make Your Dinner Complete (6)

    How To Serve

    Place the cooked asparagus on a serving plate and drizzle with the warm lemon butter sauce. Alternatively, serve the sauce on the side for dipping. Garnish with Parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, and lemon zest for an extra burst of flavor and color.

    Storage

    If possible, store the asparagus and lemon butter sauce separately and refrigerate them for 2 to 3 days. To reheat, heat the asparagus in a microwave or in a pan over low heat. Warm the sauce separately in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently to prevent separation. Freezing is not recommended for this dish

    Easy Asparagus Recipes

    • Roasted Asparagus with Bacon and Feta Cheese
    • Roasted Garlic and Asparagus Soup
    • Cheesy Grilled Asparagus in Foil Packs
    • Oven Roasted Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce

    This Amazing Asparagus Side Dish Recipe Will Make Your Dinner Complete (7)

    Asparagus with Lemon Butter Sauce Recipe

    Katerina | Diethood

    Asparagus with Lemon Butter Sauce is a delicious, budget-friendly side dish featuring tender cooked asparagus topped with a sensational lemon butter sauce.

    4.80 from 5 votes

    Rate this Recipe!

    Servings : 8

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    Prep Time 5 minutes mins

    Cook Time 10 minutes mins

    Resting Time 5 minutes mins

    Total Time 20 minutes mins

    Ingredients

    For the Asparagus

    • water, for boiling
    • salt
    • 2 pounds asparagus, ends trimmed

    For the Lemon Butter Sauce

    • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, use less if you don't like a strong citrus flavor
    • 3 tablespoons vegetable broth
    • 1 teaspoon white vinegar
    • 3 tablespoons heavy cream
    • 1 teaspoon sugar
    • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pats
    • salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
    • shredded parmesan cheese, fresh chopped parsley, and lemon zest, for garnish, optional

    Instructions

    For the Asparagus

    • Fill a large pot with about 2 inches of salted water and bring to a boil.

    • Add the asparagus to the boiling water; cover with a lid and let it steam until it's cooked to your liking, about 5 to 8 minutes, depending on the thickness of the asparagus. Drain.

    • Transfer the asparagus to a large bowl of ice water to cool, and drain again. Gently pat them dry with paper towels. Set aside.

    For the Lemon Butter Sauce

    • In a saucepan, combine lemon juice, vegetable broth, and white vinegar. Cook over medium heat to reduce the sauce by half.

    • Turn the heat down to a simmer and whisk in the cream; keep whisking to break up the curds.

    • Add sugar and continue to whisk while adding the pats of butter, letting each pat melt into the sauce before you add the next.

    • Season with salt and pepper and continue to simmer until the sauce begins to thicken.

    • Remove from heat and let stand for 2 minutes. The sauce will thicken as it stands.

    • Taste for seasonings and adjust accordingly.

    • Transfer the cooked asparagus to a serving plate.

    • Serve the lemon butter sauce by drizzling it over the asparagus or serve it on the side.

    Notes

    • Asparagus: Trim the woody ends off the asparagus. Depending on the size and thickness, the asparagus may need to cook longer or until fork tender.
    • Lemon Juice: Use less lemon juice if you don’t like a strong citrus flavor.
    • Creamier Sauce: If you prefer a creamier sauce, add more butter, about 1/2 tablespoon at a time.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 95 kcal | Carbohydrates: 5 g | Protein: 2 g | Fat: 7 g | Saturated Fat: 4 g | Cholesterol: 22 mg | Sodium: 27 mg | Potassium: 234 mg | Fiber: 2 g | Sugar: 2 g | Vitamin A: 1125 IU | Vitamin C: 8.5 mg | Calcium: 33 mg | Iron: 2.4 mg

    Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

    Course: Side Dish

    Cuisine: American

    Keyword: asparagus recipe, lemon butter, steamed asparagus recipe

    Did you make this recipe?Leave a Rating!

    Categories:

    • Holidays
    • Side Dishes
    • Vegetarian
    This Amazing Asparagus Side Dish Recipe Will Make Your Dinner Complete (2024)

    FAQs

    What pairs best with asparagus? ›

    They will not overpower the rather subtle flavor of asparagus. Ham, white fish, mashed potatoes, and rice with nuts or water chestnuts are the usual accompaniments. Lime jello with pears might be good for a salad. Some might like macaroni and cheese but not a tomato sauce and pasta.

    What's the healthiest way to eat asparagus? ›

    Try adding shredded, raw asparagus to pasta dishes and salads. Alternatively, enjoy the spears lightly steamed or sautéed in a frittata, or as a stand-alone side dish. Asparagus is a nutritious choice, regardless of whether it's cooked or raw. Try eating a combination of the two for maximum health benefits.

    What's the best way to 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.

    Does asparagus cleanse the liver? ›

    Asparagus: Liver enzymes ADH and ALDH have both been found to be elevated with the consumption of asparagus. These enzymes help to metabolize ethanol (alcohol that may have been consumed), and also makes a great hangover remedy, as it protects the liver from contaminates that may lead to scarring or fatty liver.

    What month is best to eat asparagus? ›

    It's also good for indigestion because it contains inulin, a prebiotic that helps feed healthy bacteria in the gut. The asparagus season is short, though, starting towards the end of April and lasting about seven or eight weeks, so buy yourself a bunch and try some of our recipes.

    Is asparagus good for belly fat? ›

    So, there you have it: artichokes and asparagus are some of the best vegetables you can eat to help reduce belly fat because they are both rich in antioxidants and fiber. These nutritious (and delicious!) vegetables also boost the gut microbiome—which is associated with healthy weight loss.

    Does asparagus clean your liver and kidneys? ›

    Asparagus contains glutathione, a well-known antioxidant that promotes detoxification. It is also a good source of fiber, folate, iron, and vitamins A, C, E, and K, as well as being beneficial to those with high blood pressure. Asparagus is also known to promote kidney and bladder function.

    Does asparagus clean your gut? ›

    Fiber has several health benefits, from improving digestion to lowering cholesterol. And asparagus has both types of fiber, insoluble and soluble. Insoluble fiber bulks up your stool and passes through your gut undigested. Soluble fiber serves as food for the good bacteria in your gut.

    What spice or herb goes well with asparagus? ›

    Asparagus can be steamed, roasted, grilled, broiled, boiled, blanched, dried or pickled. Combines well with: garlic, lemon juice, nutmeg, honey. Fine herbs: rosemary, basil, dill, marjoram, Mediterranean oregano, thyme, cilantro, etc.

    What flavors go well with asparagus? ›

    Sweet foods, such as succulent scallops or shrimp, go well with the earthy, green flavors of springs' most famous sprout. But so do salty ingredients, such as bacon, prosciutto or a pungent blue cheese. Asparagus and nuts also marry well.

    Which vegetable goes well with asparagus? ›

    Cauliflower, fava beans, garlic, ginger, leek, lemon, lime, mushroom, onion, orange, pea, potato, radish, shallot, spinach, sugar snap peas.

    What does baking soda do to asparagus? ›

    Boiling green vegetables in a small amount of water means bathing them in a virtual soup of color destroyers. Add something alkaline, such as baking soda, and the chemical reactions are altered so the chlorophyll turns bright green.

    What vegetables go well with asparagus? ›

    Cauliflower, fava beans, garlic, ginger, leek, lemon, lime, mushroom, onion, orange, pea, potato, radish, shallot, spinach, sugar snap peas.

    Why is asparagus paired with steak? ›

    The fattiness of the ribeye steak pairs well with the bitter notes of the asparagus and helps balance the overall meal. Plus its just a classic combination that I always find my self going back to.

    What are the rules of etiquette asparagus? ›

    Post, who is writing the books; Emily Post has been dead for many years) goes on to say: ''Asparagus that has no hard end is eaten entirely with a fork. All hard ends should be cut off asparagus before serving it at a dinner party, since picking up stalks in the fingers is scarcely compatible with formal table manners.

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