As we enter spring, my mind is on lightening up my menus a bit! And what better way to lighten than with beautiful, bright vegetables?
Steaming vegetables is a great way to get maximum flavor and nutrients out of them.
This quick and easy asparagus dish is pretty, healthy and super delicious!
Ingredients:
- 1-pound fresh asparagus
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- Zest and juice of 1 small lime
- Salt and pepper to taste
-
Preparation:
Serves 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes
Cut or break the bottom couple inches off the asparagus ends. For larger spears, use a vegetable peeler to peel them, getting rid of any tiny — sometimes spiky — areas. Rinse, dry, and sprinkle lightly with salt.
Put a steamer into a pot with the water level just below it. Over high heat, bring the water to a boil and then add the asparagus to the rack and cover. Steam just until the asparagus is tender, about 5 minutes. (This is a standard method for steaming all vegetables, except that they each will vary in cooking times.) Drain, and if you’re not serving immediately, place the asparagus spears in ice water. This is called “shocking the vegetables;” it stops the cooking and preserves the bright, vibrant green color!
While the asparagus is steaming, melt the butter with the olive oil. Add the lime juice and zest and season to taste with salt and pepper. Place the asparagus on a serving platter and drizzle the sauce over it.
