By Megan Edwards,
Looking for creative ways to use up an abundance of asparagus? This roundup features delicious and healthy asparagus recipes that put an inventive spin on the slender springtime veggie that deserves space on your table year-round. From produce-packed soups to warming coconut curries, you’ll discover just how versatile—and tasty—asparagus can be. Bon appétit!
Mediterranean Shaved Asparagus Salad
Tender ribbons of raw asparagus add a delicious earthy crunch to this Mediterranean medley. Juicy oranges and tangy olives bring bursts of bright flavor to the base of arugula, which is drizzled in a mustard-tahini dressing. A perfect light dish to serve on warm nights, this asparagus salad is bound to delight your taste buds.
Roasted Asparagus with Tarragon and Balsamic
Turn extra asparagus into a tantalizing side dish that might even upstage the main course. Red bell pepper is roasted alongside the asparagus in an umami-rich coating of miso paste, fresh tarragon, and garlic. Once it’s out of the oven, a drizzle of sweet balsamic vinegar ties everything together for warm veggie goodness.
Rustic Bread Bowl with Sun-Dried Tomato and Asparagus Dip
Hosting a party? This eye-catching asparagus recipe will certainly impress your guests. Sun-dried tomatoes and creamy hearts of palm are puréed into a veggie-packed dip that gets extra substance from chopped asparagus. The homemade bread bowl is just as delicious as it is pretty, so be sure to tear off chunks to dunk in the dip until every last bite is devoured.
Herb-Crusted Asparagus Spears
When you’re craving a snack that tastes like pub food minus the unhealthy ingredients, these crunchy asparagus spears are the answer. A cheesy mix of hemp seeds, nutritional yeast, garlic, and bread crumbs coat each stalk for a crispy texture that makes for the perfect finger food. Enjoy on its own or dip them in a vegan ranch sauce for extra finger-licking goodness.
Fettuccine with Grilled Asparagus, Peas, and Lemon
This easy 30-minute pasta recipe combines all the best flavors of spring in one bowl. Juicy peas, zesty lemon, earthy parsley, and tender asparagus spears are tossed with hearty fettuccine for a glorious green meal. Have extra veggies on hand? This dish is versatile and is delicious with any other fresh produce you have in the fridge that needs to be used up.
Lasagna Verde
It might not be your nonna’s recipe, but this plant-based lasagna is a perfect way to highlight fresh asparagus and other seasonal greens. A creamy cashew-based sauce gets deliciously bubbly and gooey as the layers of pasta and veggies bake in the oven. Meaty mushrooms meld with fresh peas and Swiss chard for a substantial filling that will have you reaching for seconds before your plate is clean.
Asparagus, Potato, and Butter Bean Soup
This light and nourishing stew combines finely chopped leek, chunky potatoes, earthy butter beans, and tender asparagus spears in a savory broth seasoned with fresh dill, mustard seeds, and cayenne pepper. Writes a reviewer, "This was absolutely delicious! The dill and mustard are subtle but add so much flavor to this soup. Great recipe!"
Millet in Coconut Curry
Indulge in the fragrant flavors of coconut curry with this inventive asparagus recipe. The subtle sweetness of leeks meld with fresh ginger and garlic to create a rich broth that flavors the tender millet. Bite-size pieces of asparagus add heft and a squeeze of lime brings in a kick of citrus. One reader raves: “Simple and tasty. It’s comfort food without feeling overly full afterwards!”
Potato Salad with Horseradish Vinaigrette
This produce-packed twist on a classic German potato salad is full of tangy flavors and fresh herbs. Asparagus partners with red bell pepper and colorful baby potatoes for a rainbow feast, and it all gets drenched in a delicious horseradish and mustard vinaigrette. Chopped dill adds the perfect touch of herbal brightness. Serve as a side at your next potluck or BBQ!
Creamy Avocado-Kale Pasta
Dig into this vibrant pasta dish that satisfies your cravings for fresh veggies and hearty carbs. The green sauce gets its hue from fiber-rich kale and its creaminess from buttery avocado, making it the perfect base for a topping of roasted asparagus spears and cherry tomatoes. Feel free to use any pasta shape you have on hand, but the spirals in rotini noodles beautifully soak up the succulent sauce.
Stir-Fried Noodles with Veggies
A quick and easy dish you’ll be happy to have in your back pocket, this recipe incorporates asparagus into a tasty stir-fry medley. The homemade Chinese brown sauce coats every noodle and veggie in sweet-and-savory goodness that will make it hard to resist a second serving. Top with fresh chives for a restaurant-quality meal!
Savory Oats with Asparagus and Peas
Asparagus for breakfast? You bet! This nutritious twist on oatmeal cooks the oats in veggie broth and replaces fruit toppings with hearty produce. Dill and lemon zest add brightness to the base, while a wide range of eye-catching garnishes are at your disposal to create the morning meal of your dreams.
Summer Harvest Soup
If the summer season could be distilled into one recipe, this would be it. Earthy asparagus, sweet corn, tender green beans, and juicy tomatoes play off each other in a delicate broth that highlights the colorful produce. Add quinoa or bulgur for extra heartiness, and enjoy!
Garlicky Bok Choy Noodle Soup
This asparagus recipe is ideal for a cold night when you want to warm up from the inside out. Umami-rich mushrooms, silken tofu, and tender bok choy perfectly complement the slurp-able noodles in a ginger-infused broth. One reader raves: “This is my FAVORITE [Forks] recipe I’ve made! Super easy meal prep and tastes amazing!”
Veggie Summer Rolls
Make this eye-catching appetizer for your next party and see how quickly they’re gobbled up! Thin asparagus spears are layered with peeled beets, matchstick-cut carrots, fresh herbs, and vermicelli noodles before being wrapped in rice paper for a delicate bundle of deliciousness. A slightly spicy soy dipping sauce adds the perfect finishing touch to these refreshing snacks.
Green Goddess Grain Bowls
These good-for-you Buddha bowls have everything you need—chewy grains, tender asparagus, hearty beans, creamy avocado, and crunchy pumpkin seeds. The luscious Green Goddess Dressing adds a refreshing element to tie it all together and can be repurposed as a dip if you have leftovers. Perfect for weekday meal prep!
Broccoli-Crust Veggie Pizza
Clean out your pantry and pile an assortment of rainbow veggies onto this clever cruciferous pizza. The broccoli-based crust is thin and crispy, making it ideal to support a hefty topping of asparagus, onion, bell pepper, and avocado. Fresh basil leaves are a pretty (and tasty) garnish. One reader calls it “a new family favorite!”
Pumpkin Alfredo Casserole
Think outside the box with this satisfying asparagus recipe that screams comfort food. Whole wheat fettuccine gets slathered with a creamy pumpkin sauce and tossed into a casserole dish to get tantalizingly bubbly as it bakes. Carrots and asparagus add pops of veggie goodness, and a sprinkling of fresh sage on top ties all the autumnal flavors together.
Festive Sourdough Focaccia
This festive focaccia is a showstopper. The tasty sourdough base gets a flavor boost from nutty tahini, cheesy nutritional yeast, and slightly sweet date paste. Once the sponge is made you can create the floral design with any veggies you have on hand, but we recommend making sure you have asparagus spears for the flower stalks. Edible art is the best art!
About the Author
About the Author
Megan Edwards
Megan Edwards is a staff writer and content producer for Forks Over Knives. She is also a certified RYT-500 yoga teacher who is passionate about cultivating holistic wellness through plant-based eating, mindful movement, and meditation. With a background in journalism and marketing, she supports both the online presence and quarterly print magazine for Forks Over Knives.
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