Simple Steamed Asparagus Recipe (Quick and Easy)- bright green, tender, juicy, and full of fresh flavors. These steamed asparagus are a tasty and healthy side dish ready in less than 10 minutes with a few basic ingredients.
This easy side dish recipe is ideal for busy weeknights and a great addition to your Easter dinner or holiday menu. Serve with Fresh Roasted Ham or Bake Chicken and Garlic Mashed Potatoes or Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes.
The delicious asparagus remain light, tender, and buttery while keeping its shape and flavor with a gentle steam and coating of light, extra virgin olive oil, and lemon. The trick to steamed asparagus is this: don’t overcook it!
More asparagus recipes you'll love: Creamy Lemon and Asparagus Ricotta Pasta, Easy Ravioli Piccata with Mushrooms and Asparagus, Authentic Italian Asparagus Risotto Recipe, and Easy Lemony Asparagus and Potato Salad Recipe.
Best Steamed Asparagus Recipe
There’s no denying that springtime and fresh asparagus go hand in hand. One of my favorite quick and easy asparagus recipes? This simple, 10-minute side. There's no need to preheat the oven—quick steam gives the green spears the perfect amount of tenderness. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon, and a sprinkle of sea salt & black pepper, and you're ready to serve.
Jump to:
- Best Steamed Asparagus Recipe
- Simple Ingredients
- Is it Better to Boil or Steam Asparagus?
- How to Make Simple Steamed Asparagus Recipe (Quick and Easy) Step-by-Step Photos
- Variations
- Steam Basket (Equipment)
- Storage
- Top tips
- FAQs
- What to Serve with Simple Steamed Asparagus Recipe
- Simple Steamed Asparagus Recipe (Quick and Easy)
Simple Ingredients
- Fresh asparagus (I prefer the thick variety)
- Olive oil
- Lemon juice
- Lemon zest
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper to taste
- Lemon wedges for serving
- Optional: freshly grated parmigiano cheese (parmesan cheese)
- Fresh basil for topping if desired
See the recipe card for quantities.
Is it Better to Boil or Steam Asparagus?
Which cooking method is best, and how do they differ? Let's find out...
Boiling or blanching
Asparagus is submerged in salted water until they are vibrant green and cooked. When boiled, the spears can overcook quickly, turning them into a drab olive hue and making them taste water-logged — especially if the spears are thin. Some water-soluble vitamins can leach into the water when the vegetables are boiled instead of steamed. Blanching is slightly different because the veggie is briefly boiled and then plunged into ice water to stop the cooking.
Steaming
Asparagus is not in direct contact with boiling water. Instead, the spears hover over it and are cooked from the steam. (Note: If you skip the steamer basket, a small portion of the spears will touch the water.) Steaming also cooks asparagus quickly, but because the spears aren’t submerged, the flavor concentrates instead of dilutes, and water-soluble vitamins aren’t lost.
Source: TheKitchn
How to Make Simple Steamed Asparagus Recipe (Quick and Easy) Step-by-Step Photos
Steamed asparagus with bright lemon and olive oil is a quick and easy way to cook this healthy vegetable! Here’s how to steam it correctly to come out bright green and tender. The trick to steamed asparagus is not to overcook it! I like the thicker variety for a "meatier" texture. They are also harder to overcook if they are thicker.
Wash and dry the asparagus. Trim the bottom 1 to 1 ½ inches to remove the tough end or woody stem from the bottom of the asparagus.
Make Dressing: In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice and zest, basil, salt and pepper, and parmigiano cheese. Whisk until combined. Cover and set aside.
Steam Asparagus (without steamer basket): Add just enough water to cover the bottom of the pan- large skillet (about ¾ cup for a 12-inch skillet).
Steam Asparagus (with steamer basket): Add water to a pot to reach just under the steaming basket. Add the steamer basket and bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, add the asparagus—steam with the lid on for 2 to 5 minutes until crisp-tender. Poke the thickest part with a fork to test for doneness.
Add the asparagus, cover with lid, and steam over medium-high heat until tender and bright green, 3 to 5 minutes. Poke the thickest part with a fork to test for doneness.
Season: Place the asparagus on a serving platter using a slotted spoon or kitchen tongs, draining away any water. While warm, toss gently with the prepared dressing. Serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy.
Variations
- Hollandaise Sauce- make a hollandaise sauce and pour it over the top of the steamed asparagus for a creamy feel.
- Garlic Cloves- add crushed garlic cloves to the boiling water, and it will infuse in the asparagus as it steams.
- Red Pepper Flakes- sprinkle red pepper flakes on top of the cooked and seasoned asparagus for a spicy kick.
- White Asparagus- swap the green asparagus variety for the white kind.
- Balsamic Vinegar- swap the lemon for balsamic vinegar. You may also like Italian Flat Green Beans Recipe (with Tomatoes and Garlic).
Enjoy steamed asparagus with a side of Creamy Parmesan Rice.
Steam Basket (Equipment)
Storage
Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Top tips
- Do not overcook the asparagus. Since the cooking time is short, keep an eye on them and only cook until bright green and fork tender.
FAQs
While a steamer can be a convenient way to cook asparagus, having one is unnecessary. You can steam asparagus using various other kitchen tools, such as a large pot with a steamer basket or a colander that fits inside a pot with a lid. You can also steam asparagus by using a little water in a large pot and laying the asparagus on top of that. The water will evaporate while cooking and cause a steam effect.
There are several ways to cook asparagus. The best method may depend on your personal preferences and the equipment you have available. Here are a few popular methods for cooking asparagus: roasting, grilling, sauteeing, and steaming. I like steaming the asparagus for its bright and light texture and taste.
No one likes mushy asparagus! The best way to prevent it from getting mushy is to slightly steam it for 3-5 minutes and quickly remove from heat and place it in a water bath, or cold serving dish.
Fill a large pot with 1-inch water and fit it with a steamer basket. Make sure the water level is below the bottom of the steamer basket. Cover the saucepan with a lid and bring the water to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Add the asparagus spears to the steamer basket in an even layer. Cover and steam until tender and bright green, 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and steam immediately.
Yes, you can steam asparagus and store it until ready to eat. Make ahead: Fill a large bowl with ice water. Cook the asparagus as directed in this recipe. Once the asparagus is crisp-tender (a little underdone), transfer it to the ice bath to stop the cooking. Once cooled, dry with paper towels —Refrigerate in a paper-towel-lined airtight container. When ready to serve, heat in a saucepan over medium heat with olive oil for 2 minutes to warm. Add a squeeze of lemon, and serve.
What to Serve with Simple Steamed Asparagus Recipe
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Simple Steamed Asparagus Recipe:
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Make sure to leave a ⭐️star rating on the recipe card and comment below if you make the recipe. I love to connect with you through my recipes.
I would love for you to tag me on Instagram @cucinabyelena so I can see your delicious Italian recipes. To get more ideas, follow me on Pinterest.
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Simple Steamed Asparagus Recipe (Quick and Easy)
Simple Steamed Asparagus Recipe (Quick and Easy)- bright green, tender, juicy, and full of fresh flavors. These steamed asparagus are a tasty and healthy side dish ready in less than 10 minutes with a few basic ingredients.
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 large bundle of asparagus (I prefer the thicker variety)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ½ cup freshly grated parmigiano cheese (parmesan cheese)
- Lemon wedges for serving
- 3 Fresh basil, torn into small pieces
Instructions
- Wash and dry the asparagus. Trim the bottom 1 to 1 ½ inches to remove the tough end or woody stem from the bottom of the asparagus.
- Make Dressing: In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice and zest, basil, salt and pepper, and parmigiano cheese. Whisk until combined. Cover and set aside.
- Steam Asparagus (without steamer basket): Add just enough water to cover the bottom of the pan- large skillet (about ¾ cup for a 12-inch skillet). Add the asparagus, cover with lid, and steam over medium-high heat until tender and bright green, 3 to 5 minutes. Poke the thickest part with a fork to test for doneness.
- Steam Asparagus (with steamer basket): Add water to a pot to reach just under the steaming basket. Add the steamer basket and bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, add the asparagus—steam with the lid on for 2 to 5 minutes until crisp-tender. Poke the thickest part with a fork to test for doneness.
- Season: Place the asparagus on a serving platter using a slotted spoon or kitchen tongs, draining away any water. While warm, toss gently with the prepared dressing. Serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy.
Notes
Top Tips
Do not overcook the asparagus. Since the cooking time is short, keep an eye on them and only cook until bright green and fork tender.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Savory
- Method: Italian
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: asparagus, steamed asparagus, side dish, easy side dish, best steamed asparagus
Gayle says
Yummy side dish
★★★★★
Elena says
Happy you loved it!
Gayle Speechly says
Seriously I have not had asparagus so perfectly cooked. Just the right texture since I followed the recipe to steam the asparagus.
Elena says
So happy it turned out amazing for you! it is my favorite way to enjoy asparagus these days.
Mel says
I’ve made Asparagus like this before many times. This recipes was easy and yummy. Thanks for sharing.
★★★★★
Elena says
So happy you loved it, Mel!
Katrina Smith says
Definitely a perfect veggie side dish. Loved the lemon and parmesan on these. I actually roasted them in the oven and it worked great.
★★★★★
Elena says
Roasting asparagus is another great option for this recipe! Yumm.
Michele says
So good,, and fairly easy to make! Plus its different than other ways I have prepared asparagus!
★★★★★
Elena says
Happy to bring you a new way to make asparagus!
Kristen Gabbitas says
I made this tonight and it was so good! my family loved it! I will definitely be using this recipe again and again!
★★★★★
Elena says
Yay! I am making it on repeat with all the fresh asparagus this season.
Kirie says
I've made my own lemon parm asparagus before but Elena's so much better I'll do it this way from now on! That basil takes it a new level and I now consider it essential.
★★★★★
Elena says
Yes! That light dressing is everything and is super easy to make. So happy you loved the asparagus prepared in this way.