Posted By Kimberly Turner on Jul 27, 2013 in Asparagus, Cooking How-To Videos, Cooking Shows, Cooking with Kimberly, Featured, Fruit & Vegetables, Healthy, How To Cook, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian | 0 comments

Cooking in bamboo steamers is not only a healthy way to cook, but it’s fast & easy too.

From vegetables for side dishes, all the way to chicken & fish, and even surprises like steamed cupcakes…

Steaming helps you save calories, as well as keeping the nutrients in the foods you steam, as they are not leaching vitamins & minerals out into boiling water, as when you boil vegetables. Then, you pour out the cooking water and there go your nutrients…down the drain. Steaming saves all that!

Asparagus in a Bamboo Steamer:

For this recipe, I’m using a 2 tier bamboo steamer with a lid, and a wok pan to hold the water on the stove top.

The steaming liquid can be water, stock, wine even…use your imagination, if you like. You may also season your steaming liquid as I did in this show.

Asparagus comes in bunches, which serve 3-4 people comfortably as a side dish. The asparagus I got here is from Harvest Barn Country Markets.

Type: Side Dish Recipe

Serve with: Butter, if desired.
Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 8-10 min
Yield: 3-4 servings

The ingredients & instructions are listed below the video for measurements & directions. Please enjoy the video below:

Ingredients:

1 bunch asparagus – clean & snapped
1 tbsp butter – if desired
juice of 1/4 lemon
1 bay leaf
2 piri piri chilis – I used Epicureal brand.
12 peppercorns – I used White Kampot Peppercorns.
1 tsp salt – for steaming water
freshly cracked black pepper – to taste
sea salt – to taste

Instructions:

Wash asparagus, and snap ends off at natural breaking point, separating the tender stalk from the woody end. * Tip: Save woody ends in a resealable plastic bag in the freezer and use for making stocks.
Boil about 3 inches water in a wok with bay leaf, peppercorns, piri piri chilis and 1 tsp salt added to the water.
Arrange asparagus in bamboo steamer. * Tip: Be sure to line them up in the opposite direction of the bamboo lining the bottom, so the asparagus don’t fall through the bottom, especially if they are slender stalks.
Steam for 8-10 minutes with temperature on medium heat – just so the water is simmering nicely.
Remove from bamboo steamer. Add butter, juice of 1/4 lemon, and freshly cracked pepper & sea salt to taste.
Serve alongside any meal as a marvelous side dish that’s healthy & delicious.

I hope you enjoy this Asparagus Recipe on Cooking with Kimberly. Until next time…