It’s a sure sign of spring when fresh Aussie asparagus arrives at Prahran Market. And according to specialty fruit & veg trader, Damian Pike, the best thing about asparagus is “you can start the day with it, go for lunch with it and even end your day with it”. With so many fresh ingredients to work with and an abundance of asparagus on the shelves, we’ve rounded up five delicious asparagus pairings that you can enjoy for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Breakfast is served – asparagus & eggs
If you want to get a little creative with your morning meal, the opportunities are endless when you’re pairing eggs with asparagus. While eggs can be poached, scrambled or hard boiled; asparagus can be grilled, boiled, pan-fried and even sautéed, making the combinations almost endless. Not only can eggs and asparagus be prepared quickly (which is great when you’re in a rush), but they both carry their own nutritional benefits too. You’ll get loads of essential nutrients in asparagus, like vitamin C and B group vitamins, and your eggs are a great source of protein and phosphorus too.
Our tip: Try grilled asparagus (with sea salt, lemon zest and olive oil) served on Turkish bread, topped with a poached egg – delish! Check out this how-to video for grilling asparagus.
Lamb wraps with asparagus for lunch or dinner
Succulent spring lamb with grilled asparagus is the ultimate asparagus pairing for the warmer months, best enjoyed outside to soak up the sun! There are so many different ways to cook your lamb, but at the moment we’re loving it cut off the bone and served in a tasty wrap packed with roasted asparagus, feta and truss tomatoes – the ideal work lunch. For an evening meal that’s full of flavour, how about sautéed asparagus drizzled in oil, seasoned with some salt and pepper and served alongside tender lamb cutlets? They’re both super simple meals to create, and are a great source of protein and iron.
Prosciutto & asparagus appetisers
If you’re looking for something to complement your next barbecue cook-up, try matching the salty flavours of prosciutto with barbecued asparagus. Both ingredients are light, making them the perfect choice for an appetiser. Just barbecue your asparagus spears, then wrap them with thinly sliced prosciutto for a gourmet pre-dinner snack. We love this simple recipe for asparagus antipasto.
Our Tip: Lightly drizzle your prosciutto with white truffle oil to enhance your dish with the fragrant aroma of truffle. Be gentle; truffle oil can overpower other ingredients if overused.
Weekday dinner: asparagus with garlic chilli prawns
For a light meal that tastes delicious, try a simple seafood and asparagus combo that works perfectly as a weeknight dinner or a moreish entrée. Just fry your prawns in garlic with a hint of chill, adding your asparagus spears with a splash of olive oil. If you want to bulk the meal up (and get even more nutrients), add some extra veggies to create a stir-fry, or just serve your meal alongside some steamed rice. Super easy and super tasty!
The main affair – chicken & asparagus
Like most vegetables, asparagus is easily paired with chicken. Whether you add it to your Sunday roast or enjoy it in a chicken and vegetable tagine, or even in your classic chicken pie – you really can’t get it wrong. In fact, we’re a big fan of adding asparagus to simple pasta dishes to really up the ante. A creamy chicken pasta alfredo or a tempting pasta bake are absolutely divine with fresh asparagus! Not only are you changing the flavour palate but you’re upping your intake of greens, which can only be a good in a thing!
For even more delicious asparagus pairings, visit the recipe section on the Australian Asparagus website here.
