How to cook asparagus

Only the young shoots of asparagus are eaten. Asparagus is low in calories, contains no cholesterol, and is very low in sodium. It is a good source of folic acid, potassium, and dietary fiber. Asparagus may be cooked in a variety of way, but are often steamed and eaten with hollandaise sauce or butter.

Required tools

• Knife
• Medium bowl
• Vegetable peeler
• Shallow pot
• Vegetable steamer

Required materials

• 15 asparagus
• Hollandaise sauce or melted butter
• 1 tsp Salt
• 2 cups water

Instruction

1. Soak asparagus in a bowl with water for 20 minutes. The bottom portion of asparagus often contains sand and dirt and as such thorough cleaning should always be done.
2. Cut off the spurs by shaving with the point of a knife and peel the ends with a vegetable peeler.
3. Pour water in a pot add salt and heat then place vegetable steamer in pot.
4. Add asparagus and cook for about five minutes or until tender.
5. Serve on an asparagus plate with melted butter or hollandaise sauce.

Tips & warning

• Do not over cook asparagus as this destroy the nutrients present in its spears.
• Research suggests folate is key in taming homocysteine, a substance implicated in heart disease.
• Folate is also critical for pregnant mothers, since it protects against neural tube defects in babies.