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Making steamed asparagus unlocks the vibrant flavor and tender-crisp perfection! This simple method delivers a healthy and delicious side dish ready in minutes. It’s ideal for busy weeknights or a quick addition to any meal.
Looking for a quick and healthy way to cook asparagus? Try steamed asparagus. Our favorite ways to cook this veggie are lemony baked asparagus or broiled asparagus, or sauteed asparagus cooked with olive oil in a hot pan. But steaming is a great way healthy to cook vegetables and tastes great too!
What we love about this recipe: It’s quick, simple, and healthy! The spears come out bright green and crisp tender: perfect with a zing of lemon and a hint of grated Parmesan.
Gear tip
You’ll need a steamer basket or steamer pan to make this recipe. Here’s the steamer basket we recommend: it’s easy to find online!
How to make steamed asparagus: step by step
The trick to steamed asparagus is this: don’t overcook it! Because all asparagus differs in size and maturity, you’ll use a range for how long to steam it. The perfect timing for steaming this green veggie is about 2 to 5 minutes. Again, this all depends on the thickness: thin, slender asparagus steams faster than thick, tougher asparagus.
Step 1: Chop the asparagus to remove the woody, tough ends. Then chop the spears into roughly 2-inch pieces.
Step 2: Add water to a pot under the steamer basket. Add the basket and bring the water to a boil. Add the asparagus and steam with the lid on for about 2 to 5 minutes until crisp tender, taste testing with a fork to assess doneness. Make sure not to overcook.
Step 3: Remove the asparagus to a bowl, draining away any water. Toss with the olive oil, lemon juice, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Ways to serve steamed asparagus
You can eat this steamed asparagus simply seasoned with lemon juice and zest, but there are many more serving ideas. Here are a few other options:
- Top with grated Parmesan cheese or Pecorino Romano for a punch of flavor.
- Add slivered toasted almonds for a crunch, or feta crumbles for a Mediterranean flair.
- Top it with a creamy sauce like lemon dill sauce.
- We love adding it to a power bowl with rice, quinoa, or farro, or topping it with tahini sauce.
- Serve with sauteed shrimp, baked salmon, or baked chicken breast for a quick and easy meal.
More asparagus recipes
Love that healthy green vegetable? Here are some of our best asparagus recipes:
- Try asparagus salad, which highlights this healthy veggie with lemon, radishes, feta, and a Dijon dressing. Or try it raw in a shaved asparagus salad!
- Mix up a main dish of lemony asparagus pasta with fresh basil and Parmesan.
- Learn how to blanch asparagus or how to boil asparagus.
- Make classic roasted asparagus with lemon, the easiest side dish.
Dietary notes
This steamed asparagus recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
Frequently asked questions
Thin asparagus spears only need 2-3 minutes of steaming, while thicker spears might take 4-5 minutes. The best way to tell if it’s done is to pierce a spear with a fork – it should be tender-crisp with a slight give.
Leftover steamed asparagus can be chopped and added to omelets, frittatas, or pasta dishes. You can also toss it with a vinaigrette for a quick and refreshing salad.
We don’t recommend it! Frozen asparagus loses its texture, so it can become mushy when steamed.
Easy Steamed Asparagus
Making steamed asparagus unlocks the vibrant flavor and tender-crisp perfection! This simple method delivers a healthy and delicious side dish ready in minutes. It’s ideal for busy weeknights or a quick addition to any meal.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 minutes
- Total Time: 7 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Steamed
- Cuisine: Vegetables
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 large bunch asparagus
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ½ tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Wash and dry the asparagus. Chop off the tough ends of the stalks and discard them. Cut the stalks into 2-inch pieces.
- Boil the water: Add water to a pot so that the surface is right under the steamer basket. Add the steamer basket and bring the water to a boil.
- Steam: Once boiling, add the asparagus. Steam with the lid on for about 2 to 5 minutes until crisp tender at the thickest portion, taste testing with a fork to assess doneness. Take care not to overcook it.
- Season: Carefully remove the asparagus to a bowl, draining away any water. Toss with the olive oil, lemon juice, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired.
