Healthy Recipes - Fresh & In Season: Asparagus

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Fresh & In Season: Asparagus

By EatingWell, EatingWell.com

King Louis XIV of France was so fond of asparagus he ordered greenhouses to grow the delicacy year-round. Today, you don’t need to be royalty to enjoy it anytime, but it is the freshest and tastiest right now. One delicious stalk of asparagus contains just 4 calories and delivers healthy doses of folate, potassium and fiber. Although green varieties are most common, you can sometimes find white asparagus, which is the same plant grown without sunlight. There is also a slender wild German asparagus and a purple variety that is higher in sugar and lower in fiber than its counterparts. Enjoy asparagus simply steamed as a side dish or dress it up in one of these recipes.

TIPS

Shopping: While you may have heard that thinner asparagus stalks are more tender, the diameter of the stalk is actually not a good indicator of quality. Look for ends without a hint of dryness, and shiny, straight, richly colored stalks with tightly closed, dense buds for the freshest quality and most enjoyable taste. Fresh asparagus should snap when bent.

Storage: Asparagus stalks are sensitive to dryness and high temperatures, so keep them in good shape by storing them in your refrigerator for two to three days. If they seem dry, you can wrap the ends in damp paper towels, or you can trim the ends and store upright in a container with an inch of water at the bottom, covered with a plastic bag. Store away from bananas, apples, melons and other fruits and vegetables that give off large amounts of ethylene—this naturally occurring gas can toughen asparagus considerably.

Related Links:

• 10 Easy, Delicious Recipes for Spring Asparagus
• Learn more about folate in EatingWell's Nutrient Library

This news arrived on: 04/08/2008

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