You are here: Home > Recipes > Quick Asparagus & Parmesan Treat

Asparagus Recipe #1

Quick Asparagus & Parmesan Treat

This asparagus & parmesan recipe is quick, easy and delicious. The simple ingredients complement each other to make a great asparagus starter or even a light lunch.

Or you can simply serve it as a side dish.

It works best with fresh, in-season asparagus, as this is most tender and has a great flavour.

Out of the UK season, most asparagus is flown in from abroad, so check the country of origin, if air miles are an issue for you.

Ingredients

Serves 4

About 25 spears of asparagus (less if the spears are large)
Knob of butter
50g fresh parmesan cheese

Method

Wash the asparagus spears thoroughly, to make sure any grit has been removed from the flower head at the top.
Hold the spear with one end in each hand. Bend the spear gently until it breaks. This removes the woody end. (Can be used in stocks or soups).

Note: this is useful to do on later-season, thicker spears, but probably not necessary on early-season thin spears.
Steam the asparagus or boil it in a covered pan with 1 inch of water for about 5 minutes, until tender, but not soggy.
Drain well. Then add the butter to the warm pan and return the asparagus to the pan, to coat lightly with the butter.
Arrange the asparagus spears on plates and top with parmesan shavings. Use a potato peeler or a sharp knife to make the shavings.

The heat from the asparagus should start to melt the parmesan a little.

Serve immediately.

Time From Cupboard-To-Table

10 minutes.

Notes & Variations on Quick Asparagus & Parmesan Treat

You could drizzle your favourite salad dressing, instead of using the butter, if you prefer.

Veg Box Recipes Newsletter

Make sure you always stay up-to-date with our latest seasonal hints, tips and recipes. Plus exclusive discounts and competitions from ethical companies.

And it's free!

Subscribe now

Ratings & Reviews

Rating	Comments
9/10	i am italian and this recipie is amazing, mixes british season with italian tastes and styles... Nick
10/10	all i can i say is.... SIMPLE,QUICK N SUUUUUUUUPEEEEERRRRBB!!!!!!!!!

Rate It!

Have you tried this recipe? Tell us what you think of it.

Find more recipes

Asparagus Recipes

	Cream Of Asparagus Soup Cream of asparagus soup is a great way to use up any woody ends of asparagus spears or any late season asparagus that's a bit too tough to use in side dishes or salads. It works well with green or white asparagus.
	Asparagus & Hollandaise Sauce This is perhaps one of the most indulgent ways of enjoying asparagus. But as the season doesn't come round very often, a little of something naughty every now and then is probably ok?!?
	Asparagus & Broad Bean Salad Asparagus and broad bean salad works best with early-season broad beans, so you don't have to remove the skins of the beans. The addition of a poached egg turns these simple springtime ingredients into a delicious meal.
	Lemon Asparagus The asparagus and lemon in this dish provide a great boost to the immune system. And the delicious flavours are a great way to welcome spring and take a sneak peak at summer!
	Cheesy Asparagus Flan This asparagus flan recipe is delicious hot or cold and makes a great centre piece for a picnic.
	Roasted Asparagus Deliciously simple. Topped with a simple dressing and slivers of Parmesan, this makes a great side dish.
	Spring Pasta Cooking spring / early summer vegetables lightly and serving them with pasta is a delicious way to enjoy the first signs of summer. This recipe is quick and easy and only uses one pan – always a bonus...

Back to recipe index

Parmesan Recipes

	Melanzane Parmigiano Parmesan-baked aubergine. Simply delicious. If you're one of the many who's not convinced by the humble aubergine, I suggest you give this one a go.
	Aubergine & Courgette Bake This is a great way of using up spare courgettes and aubergines, towards the end of the veg box's week. And it's so easy!
	Red Onion Risotto You can use red onions in place of white onions in most recipes. But here's one that we've developed specially for in-season red onions. It's great with added spinach, black nero cabbage or even kale.
	Kale Pesto Pasta This is a brilliant way of sneaking kale past fussy eaters. The garlic helps reduce the bitterness of the kale and the pine nuts add a sweet, nutty flavour. It also works well with spinach, chard or black nero cabbage.
	Broad Bean Risotto This recipe is easy to do, and takes about 1/2 hour. Though you have to be patient if you're skinning the individual beans.
	Romanesco Cheese Use your favourite cheeses in the sauce for this recipe. It's important that it has a good flavour, or it will taste bland against the romanesco. This recipe also works well with broccoli or cauliflower.
	Lentil Spag Bol Spaghetti Bolognese doesn't have to be reserved for meat-eaters. If you fancy a change, this veggie option is delicious. And it's a good way of using up spare veg box tomatoes and onions. See the variations for ideas of how to use up spare carrots, mushrooms or even runner beans in this dish.
	Swiss Chard Pesto This recipe is a variation on a traditional Egyptian dish. It includes the addition of toasted pine nuts and parmesan, to give more breadth to the flavour.
	Spinach And Rocket Salad This salad is easy to make and is great for a sunny spring day. You can add even more flavour by using the Parmesan shavings. The key is to wash and dry the salad leaves thoroughly, so the dressing clings to them, giving a wonderful flavour.
	Roasted Asparagus Deliciously simple. Topped with a simple dressing and slivers of Parmesan, this makes a great side dish.
	Tomato And Rocket Risotto This is a deliciously peppery risotto recipe, using in-season rocket and tomatoes. The Puy lentils give it a nutritious boost.
	Spinach, Blue Cheese & Pine Nut Lasagne This is an amazingly delicious recipe for spinach lasagne. We kept going back for more. It takes a little effort, so you might want to make double and freeze half for another day - if it lasts that long! Also works well with Swiss chard or kale.
	Leek and Butterbean Bake This delicious leek recipe makes the most of the sweetness of leeks, with the creaminess of the butterbeans. The Parmesan crust gives it a delicious crunch - and the herbs smell fantastic, as it's cooking.
	Purple Cauliflower and Romanesco with Blue Cheese Sauce This was initially an experiment, but as a recipe for purple cauliflower and / or Romanesco, it's delicious. It takes 20 minutes start to finish and looks impressive, too.

Back to recipe index