Asparagus...
Finally, I got my hands on this amazing ingredient. I had always seen it on screen (mainly in Western cookery shows) or read in books. I knew how it felt, tasted, and looked from all the descriptions I had but that doesn’t really justify it, does it? There is something about looking, feeling, tasting, and cooking a food ingredient.
Asparagus is a perennial flowering plant that has been cultivated and harvested for centuries. Its young shoots are used as vegetables.
Asparagus Officinalis
Shatavar ( Hindi )
Sasur / Susar Muli ( Marathi)
Asparagus has a long erect stalk that is tender and firm with scale-like leaves while the flowers are bell-shaped.
There are 3 varieties 1. Green 2. White 3.Purple
It has a distinct taste that is slightly hard to describe. It reminds me of broccoli, with a hint of earthy flavor.
All varieties of asparagus are pretty much similar in their nutritional profile.
Overall, the nutrition benefits of asparagus are as follows:
Apart from this, it has many known medicinal properties.
It is not easily available locally but can easily be purchased online or from places like Food halls or some delivery portals in Mumbai.
While purchasing it ensure that the stalk looks fresh, and firm, and is not wilted or on the paler yellower side.
Also, make sure the spear or bud on top should be closed firmly.
Some of the easiest ways to cook it are by steaming, blanching, grilling, or sauteing. Here are some examples:
What is your favorite way of consuming it? Any favorite recipes? Let me know in the comments below
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7022954/
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/4546/a2694d359f48129aed70ac96c26ce0df7eaa.pdf
https://breeding.rutgers.edu/asparagus-research/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128131718000068
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