Interesting Facts and Tips about White Asparagus
Nutrition, Contents, Effects:
White Asparagus is rich in aspartic acid, which stimulates renal activity and has dehydrating effects. Moreover, asparagus contains larger amounts of Vitamin A, C, B1, B2, minerals, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium. 1000g of asparagus contain only 210 calories. Asparagus consists of 95% water and has no cholesterol.
Purchasing white Asparagus:
Fresh asparagus has the following characteristics:
Firm spears, breaks easily, hardly flexible. Juicy cut ends. Fresh white asparagus is squeaking when several spears are being rubbed against each other. A sour smell of the asparagus indicates that it is not so fresh anymore. Pick the asparagus with the most even thickness; buy one that is not too thick and not too thin.
Storing Asparagus:
You may store your fresh asparagus for a few days in your fridge and wrapped in a wet kitchen towel. Contrary to conventional wisdom, this method is far better than the watering of asparagus, because the plant would loose its taste and contests during the watering.
Freezing White Asparagus:
You can freeze fresh and peeled asparagus without any problems. It will then be best before for a period of 6 months.
Boiling Down of Asparagus:
You can boil down fresh and peeled asparagus also without any problems. Avoid damage to the asparagus by putting it into the jar with the delicate crowns projecting out of the water. Pour previously boiled salt water onto it and boil it down at 100 degrees Celsius for a period of 90 minutes. You are free to boil down only parts of the asparagus, so to later use them for preparing an asparagus soup or adding it to another soup.
Cooking Asparagus:
The traditional German asparagus recipe:
Peel the white asparagus, trim its ends generously, add 1 tbsb. of sugar, and cook in boiling salt water for about 17 to 20 minutes. Peel potatoes and let them boil thoroughly in salt water. Have some butter melted in a butter pan. Roll some slices of ham and serve them on a plate.
Take the asparagus, drain the water and serve with it with butter, ham, and potatoes.
You can take Hollandaise sauce instead of butter, of course.
Image “white asparagus” © siepmannH / PIXELIO