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Perfectly Steamed Asparagus with Lemon is a fresh, nutritious, and completely delicious side dish that plates well with just about every entree you can think of! Crunchy, yet tender and juicy asparagus is steamed in a skillet and flavored with simple ingredients that emphasize the natural flavors of the veggie.
There a probably a million and one ways to prepare a bunch of asparagus. You can roast it, grill it, air fry it, the list goes on and on! However, there’s one tried and true method that will never go out of vogue, and that’s steaming it. When steamed just right, asparagus should still have a crunch to it, yet be fork tender, easy to chew, and delightfully juicy.
It’s all too easy to over-steam your veggies in general, but asparagus really suffers when it’s been steamed for too long! If over-cooked, asparagus goes limp, lifeless, and loses all of the elements that make it so delicious. If you use my easy to follow, hassle-free instructions, you’ll end up with the BEST steamed asparagus every time! I don’t believe in soggy veggies – when I eat healthy, it needs to be the best that it can be.
This easy steamed asparagus recipe really makes eating healthy so easy, too. It’s tasty enough that I crave it all the time, as does the rest of my family! Speaking of healthy, did you know exactly what makes asparagus so good for you? It’s loaded with tons of stuff that’s good for your body like vitamins A, K, and C. It’s also rich with nutrients like fiber, folate, and potassium. This is a side dish you should feel good about having second servings of!
How to Make Steamed Asparagus
This side dish is quick and easy! It’s a total breeze to make, meaning you can still focus on your entree while you steam your veggies to perfection.
- Heat the water. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 3/4 cup water or enough to cover the bottom of the pan. Cover and bring to a simmer.
- Cook the lemon and asparagus. Add the asparagus and half the lemon, cover and cook for 3-4 minutes until the asparagus is crisp-tender.
- Drain the water. Drain the water and arrange the asparagus on a platter.
- Enjoy! Season the asparagus with salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and a squeeze of fresh lemon, then serve and enjoy!
What To Serve With Steamed Asparagus
Like I mentioned earlier, this freshly steamed side dish pairs well with just about everything you can think of! Here are just a few of my favorite entrees to plate beside my steamed asparagus.
- Red Wine Braised Crockpot Short Ribs
- Easy Chopped Steak With Gravy
- Grilled Spatchcock Chicken
- Lemon Ricotta Pasta
- Slow Cooker Pork Loin Roast with Honey Garlic Sauce
- Pan Fried Tilapia with Lemon Butter
How to Store Leftovers
This is definitely a dish that’s best served nice and fresh! If you do happen to have any leftovers, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 2-3 days.
To reheat your leftover steamed asparagus, pop it back onto a pan with a little olive oil over medium heat and heat until warmed through. Note that the consistency will likely differ from when it was first served.
Tips and Variations
Typically, I eat this veggie just the way it is with a little kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. However, once you plate it, you can dress it up even more with a sprinkle of lemon pepper and freshly grated parmesan cheese for some extra flavor.
Keep your plate healthy with more of my favorite side dish recipes!
- Garlic Parmesan Baked Asparagus
- Sautéed Broccoli Rabe
- Oven Roasted Beets
- Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower
- The Very Best Fried Cabbage
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Steamed Asparagus with Lemon
Equipment
- skillet
Ingredients
- 1 pound asparagus, rinsed and woody ends trimmed
- 1 lemon, sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 3/4 cup water or enough to cover the bottom of the pan. Cover and bring to a simmer.
- Add the asparagus and half the lemon, cover and cook for 3-4 minutes until the asparagus is crisp-tender.
- Drain the water and arrange the asparagus on a platter.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Drizzle with olive oil
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
