| Asparagus is a sweet and nutty flavored vegetable | | | | asparagus while delightful as an alternative is less |
| that is as versatile in color as it can be in serving | | | | sweet and not as tender as its green counter part. |
| styles. | | | | When buying any of the three varieties look for |
| There are three types of asparagus widely available | | | | fresh tender asparagus. Follow your nose, sniff the |
| in grocery and specialty stores today. | | | | asparagus if it has a strange or musty smell it is not |
| 1. Green Asparagus, this is the traditional type of | | | | fresh. Also look at the ends of the asparagus. The |
| asparagus that can be found sold in bunches of either | | | | ends should be moist and free of mold. If the ends |
| young thin and tender spears or older heartier thick | | | | are exposed to air in the store then bring them |
| spears. | | | | home and cut about 1 inch off the bottom. Then |
| 2. Purple Asparagus, this newer variety is a deeply | | | | stand the spears up in about 1 inch of water and |
| colored asparagus that requires special techniques | | | | store in the refrigerator for up to three days. |
| when cooking. For purple asparagus to retain its | | | | Cooking asparagus is easy, fresh young asparagus |
| distinctive purple color it must be cooked with some | | | | can be boiled, steamed, grilled, sautéed, |
| sort of acidity such as lemon juice or vinegar. | | | | roasted, or eaten raw in salads. Steaming and raw will |
| 3. White Asparagus is nothing more than green | | | | retain the most amount of nutrients while grilling |
| asparagus that was covered with soil during the | | | | sautéing and roasting will bring out a unique |
| growing season. By covering the asparagus with soil | | | | sweet nutty flavor. |
| chlorophyll is not produced by the plant. White | | | | |