5 Simple Way to Cook Asparagus in the Microwave

By Kristin Ryals

Asparagus is a boring topic to talk about. It’s green, it’s not a steak, and it is a vegetable. But, if you can look beyond that, there are a lot of things you might want about asparagus, apart from its appearance and the fact that it is not meat.

Beyond The Looks

Asparagus is a green spring vegetable that can grow up to 59 inches tall. Asparagus shoots are the only edible part of this plant.

The tops of asparagus are harvested just before they fern out. When they do, they become woody and unpleasant to eat. They are usually 6-8 inches long start shooting during spring. This vegetable is known for its health benefits.

Asparagus is also rich in anti-oxidant and has an anti-inflammatory effect. They are also rich in vitamin K and fiber. But aside from all these advantages, I know that most of us would rather choose taste over all the good things our food contains.

So here are five quick and easy ways to prepare asparagus!

The Miracle of Microwave Heat

Microwave ovens are a popular equipment in the kitchen and almost every household, if not all, has it on their counter-top. Now, let’s take advantage of your microwave oven to make some delicious quick cook asparagus meal! Get your ceramic knives and let’s start!

Start by cutting the soiled ends of each spear. You can peel the skin about an inch down if you want too. Wash it thoroughly with cold water to liven the veggie.

Paper Towel Asparagus

One of the easiest ways to cook asparagus without making much effort is by using paper towels. Imagine having nothing to clean up after cooking!

Start by laying about four segments of kitchen towel. Spritz it with water. Careful with wetting the tissue paper as it may break when you put in too much water. You want it damp but not dripping all over the place. Simply roll the asparagus in and put it in the microwave.

Cook for around 5 minutes and enjoy. Be careful when unrolling the paper towels as steam will shoot upwards when you open it.

Steamed Asparagus

Another easy way to cook asparagus is by steaming it. Using a microwave instead of a stovetop makes it a lot easier.

Place it in a microwave-safe container. Add a dash of olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste. Spritz some water on it, about a spoon will do. Cover with a cling wrap and stick it in the oven.

Set the temperature at maximum and cook for up to 5 minutes. For the best taste, serve while hot. If you prefer your veggies to be crisper, lessen the time in the microwave.

 

If you feel like microwaved asparagus is boring, you can liven up its the flavor by adding butter, salt, pepper and some cloves of garlic.

Microwave the asparagus with your chosen method alongside a few cloves of garlic. Cook as mentioned above and add butter while it is steaming hot. Squeeze a lemon and add salt and pepper to taste. Using freshly ground pepper is better than pre-ground pepper as its taste is stronger.

Cheesy Asparagus

Cheese seems to make almost any dish interesting. You can even use it to make a cheesy asparagus meal!

First, gather some cheese, a cup of milk and a slice of butter. Melt butter in a microwave-safe pan in the microwave for about a minute. Mix 1 cup of milk and about 2 ounces of shredded cheese. Cook until the cheese is melted.

Now, simply add this sauce to your steamed asparagus and top with some freshly ground pepper for an excellent cheesy asparagus meal!

Ham and Cheese Asparagus

For this winner, you would have to get some slices of cheddar and honey ham. Mayonnaise and wild honey can add much flavor to it too!

Lay your honey ham flat and spread some mayo and honey on it. Place cheese over your meat and set aside. Steam your asparagus as you would on the other recipes. Add a few spears of asparagus on your ham and cheese and roll. Use toothpicks to hold them together.

Microwave for another minute to heat your ham and melt your cheese. Enjoy your ham and cheese asparagus!

Final Words

Asparagus is a healthy food option you can always opt for. It is nutritious, and it can be delicious! It is very easy to prepare, and you can even use paper towels to cook it in a microwave! Can it be more easier than that?

My name is Kristin, and I’m a housewife with big love for cooking. When I’m not bringing on the Food Network and attempting to become America’s Next Top Chef, I’m browsing online for unique recipes to awe my friends with. Now I ‘m a founder and main editor for Taste Insight, my blog about nutrition and vegetarian food!

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