Cooking Your Veggies: What Does Asparagus Taste Like?

Do you like the taste of most vegetables, or are you a picky eater? Even though I love broccoli, cucumbers, and other greens, I was always afraid to try eating foods like brussel sprouts and asparagus as a kid. I heard that many people didn’t like them, so I assumed I wouldn’t, either.

Well, I let my fear keep a delicious food out of my life for so long! Asparagus has a unique taste, and I can understand being nervous about eating it for the first time.

What does asparagus taste like? It’s hard to know until you understand more about this unique vegetable. Let’s break it down so that you can be brave and give it a try!

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What Is Asparagus?

First things first: What is asparagus? You might want to know what you are eating before you even think about tasting it! This will help you know what to expect and feel better about what you’re eating.

Asparagus is a spring vegetable that was once thought to be a type of lily but is now more closely classified with foods like onions. There are three main colors of asparagus you can buy: purple, white, and green. Green asparagus is the most common type.

Asparagus is usually harvested from February to June; the earlier it is harvested, the more tender it will be. You can store asparagus in the refrigerator in a shallow pan of water until you are ready to cook it, and it will stay fresh.

Asparagus is high in vitamin A, C, and K, and it also gives your body a boost of antioxidants & anti-inflammatory properties. This is why asparagus is often recommended as food for people who are trying to eat healthily.

What Does Asparagus Taste Like?

Asparagus has a flavor that is difficult to describe. But since that is what you are here to learn, I will do my best to explain this unique flavor.

The flavor of asparagus is very earthy. It might remind you of broccoli, but it is more bitter. The taste is also similar to that of green beans, but it is much woodier and much stronger in flavor than the relatively flavorless green bean.

My favorite way of ever hearing asparagus described is as a combination of broccoli and celery.

Asparagus is the kind of vegetable that absorbs the flavors it is cooked with. This means that if you cook it with a meat, it will take on that aroma. If you cook it in butter and garlic, it will take on those flavors. This makes it a very versatile vegetable that can be added to any meal.

The best way to eat asparagus is to pair it with foods that have very strong flavors. If you eat it alongside something bland like grilled chicken, the entire meal may seem lacking since asparagus usually takes on the profile of other flavors.

How Should I Prepare Asparagus?

The most popular ways to prepare asparagus is by boiling, sautéeing, and grilling. Many people blanch or steam broccoli if they want to eat it plain, but there are lots of different ways to prepare this unique food.Here’s a quick video on how to blanch asparagus to eat it quickly:

Before you cook or eat asparagus, you should snap off the woody part of the stem. Hold the asparagus stem in the middle and at the bottom. Bend the bottom of the asparagus until it breaks - it will snap off in the right spot.

Simple Preparation Instructions: Roasted With Garlic

If you want to get a taste, roasted garlic flavor on your asparagus, try this simple recipe:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Line baking sheet with paper.
• Lay out snapped asparagus stalks.
• Drizzle with olive oil.
• Season with salt, garlic, onion, lemon zest, or any other flavor you want the asparagus to have.
• Roast for 10 minutes.
• Enjoy!

Can I Eat Asparagus Raw?

If you end up liking the flavor of asparagus, you can definitely eat it raw! I wouldn’t recommend eating it raw the first time you taste it, but you can try this later on after you’ve tasted asparagus.

All you need to do is chop it up, and it’ll be good for adding to a number of different foods. My favorite ways to enjoy raw asparagus include:

All you need to do before eating raw asparagus is snap off the hard, woody bottoms of the stalks. Then, you can prepare it however you want!

Wait...Why Does My Pee Smell?

While it might seem a bit gross to talk about, I have to say it: Asparagus will make your pee smell like asparagus!

Asparagus contains a substance that has been dubbed asparagus acid. Once your body breaks this down into smaller, sulfuric components, it becomes volatile which means it releases a strong smell at room temperature. Skunks also produce their perfume with a similar volatile substance!

I wish I had known this before I ate asparagus for the first time because it was a very confusing surprise. Either way, this is a thing that definitely happens. Don’t worry! This effect won’t linger for more than one bathroom break.

Give Asparagus A Try!

What does asparagus taste like? Now that you have an idea, you should be able to cook and taste this food without having to worry about hating the flavor. While there is definitely an art to cooking asparagus properly, there is no need to be afraid of this delicious vegetable.