Asparagus!

DNW · Dec 20, 2007

Asparagus is one of my favorite veggies. It's crunchy, juicy, easy to cook, and has great flavors. What's not to like? So, I've got insomnia, and since my semester is over for me, I'm indulging in all the late-night TV shows. I'm watching a show about some Asparagus Festival in Stockton, CA. The host guy says that the bigger the asparagus, the more tender it is--while holding up one about 1" in diameter (I can't ever find something that big locally). In any case, my experience says that the bigger the asparagus is, the older it is. Thus, it's more likely that the skin be stringy and chewy. What say ye? Feel free to share your favorite asparagus recipes too. Mine is very simple: asparagus lightly tossed in olive oil, lots of garlic, sea salt, and pepper. On the show tonight they showed some asparagus dipped in batter and deep fried. Yumm! I'll definitely do this soon.

Biscione · Dec 20, 2007

Whenever I make tempura I love using asparagus (that's probably the 'deep frying' you saw, although tempura doesn't use a standard batter), and I also do something quite similar to what you mentioned, but otherwise I'm not crazy about it. I prefer broccoli. However, I completely agree with you about that whole size thing. Generally larger vegetables and fruits aren't as good as smaller ones, but perhaps we're both wrong.

What's not to like, you ask? Pungent urine, DarkNWorn.

DNW · Dec 20, 2007

Originally Posted by Biscione

Whenever I make tempura I love using asparagus (that's probably the 'deep frying' you saw, although tempura doesn't use a standard batter), and I also do something quite similar to what you mentioned, but otherwise I'm not crazy about it. I prefer broccoli. However, I completely agree with you about that whole size thing. Generally larger vegetables and fruits aren't as good as smaller ones, but perhaps we're both wrong. What's not to like, you ask? Pungent urine, DarkNWorn.
Tempura, eh? I'll keep that in mind. What I saw on the show was way too think to be a tempura-style deep fry. I don't actually dislike the pee smell. It's an acquired smell, sort of like the morning after a night of beer drinking. Usually, the better the beer the night before, the more pungent the pee smell the morning after.

LabelKing · Dec 20, 2007

I know someone probably has a lot of insider tips regarding asparagus, but I digress.

I have no idea how to cook anything, but I do like asparagus. I especially like cream soups made with asparagus, and also white asparagus.

DNW · Dec 20, 2007

Originally Posted by LabelKing

I know someone probably has a lot of insider tips regarding asparagus, but I digress.

Let's hear it, man.

Stu · Dec 20, 2007

The coolest thing about asparagus is drinking a bunch of water when you eat it and then taking a fragrant piss that Garcia Marquez first wrote about in 100 Years of Solitude.

kwilkinson · Dec 20, 2007

MMMMMM just steamed asparagus with the olive oil, sea salt and pepper like you were talking about...... honestly it is so worth it!

but in my little town, most places don't sell asparagus out of season.... so i fulfill my cravings by eating more bacon. I think i'm confusing threads here

gdl203 · Dec 20, 2007

Is there anyone here who cannot smell a difference? I have a friend who had no idea what I was talking about when I mentioned the phenomenon - he did a bit of research and found out that some of the population can smell the difference and some cannot.

Here's some more info on this fascinating topic...

Asparagus is filled with sulfur-containing amino acids that break down during digestion into six sulfur-containing compounds. These can impart a unique smell to urine as they are excreted. "It's the same sulfur group that makes skunks smell," said Barbara Hodges, a dietician with Boston University's nutrition clinic, the Evans Nutrition Group.

Scientists remain divided on why people have different urinary responses to eating asparagus. One camp thinks only about half of the population have a gene enabling us to break down the sulfurous amino acids in asparagus into their smellier components. Others think that everyone digests asparagus the same way, but only about half of us have a gene that enables us to smell the specific compounds formed in the digestion of asparagus.

"There's something of a dispute," said Dr. David Stollar, chairman of biochemistry at Tufts University Medical School.

The unusual smells are nothing to worry about, though. According to the Dictionary of Medical Syndromes, which includes an entry on the urinary excretion of odoriferous components of asparagus: "The syndrome does not have any pathological significance."

TheHoff · Dec 20, 2007

I almost always 'roast' mine now -- either in a saute pan on the stovetop or on a baking sheet in the oven. Tossed with a little butter and olive oil to start... maybe some parmesan and balsamic or lemon juice at the end. Mmmm, we eat asparagus at least 3 times per week.

ps. goes great with bacon, why fight it?

kwilkinson · Dec 20, 2007

Originally Posted by TheHoff

I almost always 'roast' mine now -- either in a saute pan on the stovetop or on a baking sheet in the oven. Tossed with a little butter and olive oil to start... maybe some parmesan and balsamic or lemon juice at the end. Mmmm, we eat asparagus at least 3 times per week.

ps. goes great with bacon, why fight it?

Bacon wrapped asparagus, dipped in batter and deep fried....

It's like a heart attack in a bite, but who could resist?
That actually sounds pretty good. I might try it out.

DNW · Dec 20, 2007

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

Bacon wrapped asparagus, dipped in batter and deep fried....

It's like a heart attack in a bite, but who could resist?
That actually sounds pretty good. I might try it out.

You like it, the raw bacon?

kwilkinson · Dec 20, 2007

Originally Posted by DarkNWorn

You like it, the raw bacon?

Never had it. Have you? lol

Stu · Dec 20, 2007

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

Bacon wrapped asparagus, dipped in batter and deep fried....

Sounds like something Elvis would have eaten, although he would have replaced the asparagus with a Snickers bar.

thinman · Dec 20, 2007

Originally Posted by LabelKing

I know someone probably has a lot of insider tips regarding asparagus, but I digress.
Intentional pun?

DNW · Dec 20, 2007

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

Never had it. Have you? lol

Haha...no. Don't want to try either. The problem with dipping bacon-wrapped asparagus in a batter is that after you fried it, the batter would be cooked, but the bacon on the inside would still be raw.

Asparagus!

Distinguished Member

Senior Member

Distinguished Member

Stylish Dinosaur

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Having a Ball

Purveyor of the Secret Sauce

Distinguished Member

Having a Ball

Distinguished Member

Having a Ball

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

FEATURED PRODUCTS

Similar threads

Featured Sponsor

Definitely full canvas only

Half canvas is fine

Really don't care

Depends on fabric

Depends on price

Forum Sponsors

Forum statistics

FOLLOW STYLEFORUM ON: