Best Butter Braised Asparagus Recipes

BRAISED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Cut off the woody white ends of the asparagus spears. If desired, remove the tough fibrous outer layer from the lower half of each spear using a vegetable peeler.
• In a straight-sided saute pan, heat oil until smoking. Add asparagus in a single layer. Season with salt and pepper and cook undisturbed until lightly browned, 1-2 minutes. Shake pan to turn spears and cook another 1-2 minutes. Add stock and butter to pan and immediately cover.
• Cook until spears are tender and butter and stock have emulsified into a lightly-thickened sauce, 7-10 minutes. (If sauce evaporates and butter begins to burn, add a couple of tablespoons of water.) Serve at once.

BROWNED BUTTER ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Cook asparagus in 1" salted boiling water for about 5-7 minutes to crisp-tender, or until desired tenderness is reached. (Or microwave the asparagus to desired doneness.) Drain asparagus and return to hot saucepan and set aside.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat butter over med-high heat. After about 3 minutes, it should start to foam; stir constantly and add garlic, salt and pepper. Keep stirring. When foaming stops, butter should be browned and kind of "grainy" looking.
• Remove from heat; stir in sugar.
• Pour browned butter mixture over cooked asparagus. Serve.

ASPARAGUS WITH BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Peel the lower part (root end) of the asparagus stalks with a vegetable peeler.
• In a large nonreactive saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Add the asparagus in one layer, cover and cook over high heat for about 6 minutes, to the desired tenderness. Lift asparagus from the water (most of it should have evaporated) and arrange on a platter.
• Meanwhile, heat the butter in a skillet until it is lightly browned and stops smoking. Sprinkle the asparagus with the salt and pepper, and pour the hot butter over it. Garnish with parsley, and serve immediately.

BUTTER-POACHED ASPARAGUS WITH THYME

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 bunch trimmed asparagus and 1/4 cup water. Cook, turning the asparagus, until crisp-tender and glazed, 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper and 1/2 teaspoon chopped thyme.

BAKED ASPARAGUS WITH BALSAMIC BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Arrange the asparagus on a baking sheet. Coat with cooking spray, and season with salt and pepper.
• Bake asparagus 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until tender.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat, and stir in soy sauce and balsamic vinegar. Pour over the baked asparagus to serve.

BUTTER-BRAISED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Snap off and discard the tough bottoms of the asparagus spears. If using large, thick asparagus, peel the lower ends with a vegetable peeler.
• Put butter in a wide skillet over medium-high heat. Add asparagus in one layer and season with salt and pepper. Add 1/2 cup water, cover, and bring to a simmer. Cook until the asparagus is firm-tender, about 3 minutes. Take care not to overcook them; they should still be bright green. (They will continue to cook a bit once the heat is off.) Remove the asparagus from the pan and place on a serving platter.
• Turn heat to high and simmer briskly until most of the liquid has evaporated, a minute or so. Add lemon juice and zest to the buttery juices. Turn off heat and stir in chives, parsley, tarragon and dill, if using. Check seasoning. Spoon the sauce over the asparagus, garnish with a few herb leaves, and serve.