Owing to myriad health benefits, asparagus is a popular vegetable around the world. Based on kind of asparagus, people prefer eating it in a raw, cooked or boiled from in dishes like salads, stews, soups, etc. A rich source of iron and folate, the bright color and earthy flavour are two main reasons of its growing popularity amongst health lovers. It is a vegetable belongs to the Asparagaceae family and there are over 200 species within this plant family. It is one of those vegetables, which do not require too acidic soil for the full growth. It is grown in subtropical climatic conditions in countries like China, Thailand, Mexico and Germany. Due to the vast network of Asparagus suppliers, it is easily available around the world.
People often believe that asparagus comes in green form, but the fact is it is one of the most common kinds of asparagus. White and purple are two other varieties of asparagus commonly found and used for cooking purposes.
Green Asparagus: The spears of green asparagus range from very thick to very thin. The vegetable gets its bright green color from the photosynthesis process. Many people have perception that thin spears are tender and thus make the best purchase but even the glossy spears with tightly closed heads make a good purchase. A point to note that freshness indicates the tenderness of this vegetable not thickness.
White Asparagus: It is one of the most popular categories of asparagus in Europe. The spears of the vegetable do not receive the sunlight, thus the photosynthesis process could not take place and they remain white in color. Any variety of this nutrition packed veggie can become white in color as long as it remains away from the sunlight. The spears and outer layer of white asparagus are thicker than green one, thus easy to remove. It is an expensive asparagus variety due to the limited supply and the higher cost of production.
Purple Asparagus: Commonly found in Italy and England, Purple asparagus have purple spears and due to high sugar content it is sweeter than green version. It derives its purple color from anthocyanin pigment. As compared to white and green asparagus, purple asparagus produces lesser spears and lose their color during the prolonged cooking. This is the main reason many food lovers eat purple asparagus in a raw form and in salad to retain its unique color. All these varieties are easy to purchase from reputed asparagus suppliers of Mexico.
Cooking Techniques of Asparagus
It is a versatile vegetable, which is easy to cook in ample of ways. It is easy to cook in an oven in a stir-fried form with a clove of garlic and a dash of oil. If you are fond of eating salads, you can give a try to raw and fresh asparagus salad, cut in small pieces and served with a dash of oil, lemon, salt and pepper. Many restaurants serve it with a fresh cheese for intense flavour. Some of the best ingredients that go well with asparagus are:
Lemon
Mushrooms
White Fish
Potatoes
Eggs
Boiling asparagus is one of the most common ways of eating it. It is necessary to cook it for around 15 minutes. Usually, people throw away the boiled water and use the vegetable for making stews and soups but use the cooked water for cooking other vegetables or drink it as a detox drink in the morning. It is a well-known fact that asparagus has shorter shelf life, thus it is advisable to use them within a day or two after purchasing. Moreover, if you are buying asparagus from suppliers in large quantities, storing them in the right manner is essential to preserve its flavors.
Is it right to freeze Asparagus for storing?
It is easy to freeze asparagus and extend its shelf life by storing in a freezer in the right manner. The right storage techniques keep it fresh for as long as 3-4 months. The right method of storing it as follows:
Wash asparagus thoroughly and boil them in a hot water for maximum three minutes.
Drain the water and allow it to cool on a cloth.
Dry them properly and with care before freezing.
Use special freezer food bags for storing asparagus in a freezer
Whenever you want to cook any dish, take the fresh lot of frozen asparagus from a freezer.
So, next time, do not think much if you have already placed an order to Asparagus suppliers in huge quantities. Simply follow the aforementioned steps and relish its taste as per your taste preferences.