Sauteed Asparagus (BEST Recipe with Garlic Butter!) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my privacy policy.

Garlic Butter Sauteed Asparagus - easy and healthy asparagus recipe that takes only 10 mins from prep to dinner table. Quick, fresh, and delicious!

Asparagus

I love asparagus, especially the ones with tender stems.

Asparagus is a sustainable vegetable mostly grown and harvested in the United States, in the state of Michigan and Washington.

Asparagus is easy to prepare and cook. All you have to do is to trim off the bottom part of the stems.

There is no need to peel the hard skin and leaves on the stems.

Sauteed Asparagus Recipe

What is the best way to cook asparagus?

I love healthy sauteed asparagus in a skillet on stove top. This simple recipe calls for only a few ingredients:

• Asparagus
• Butter
• Garlic
• Salt and pepper

Cooking asparagus takes only 8 minutes from start to finish.

How Do You Saute Asparagus?

First, heat up a skillet and saute the fresh asparagus.

Next, add some butter and lots of minced garlic.

Cook the asparagus just as soon as they are slightly wilted. Season with salt, ground black pepper and lemon juice.

Green Asparagus Vs. White Asparagus

Do you know that green asparagus and white asparagus are from the same plant? Yes!

Asparagus is planted about 10 inches below the soil surface.

Asparagus spears are white until they poke out from the soil and the sun photosynthesis process turns them into green color.

Hence, white asparagus are harvested by farmers from the ground right before the asparagus sprouts to the surface.

Due to the labor intensive process, white asparagus is generally more expensive.

Cooking Tips

Asparagus is in season now. This is one of the best sauteed asparagus recipes and here are my tips:

• Always choose young asparagus. You can tell the difference between young vs. old asparagus from the diameter and width of the stalk. If the stalk are thicker, they are old asparagus. They are not ideal for sauteing, because the stalk are fibrous, tough and woody.
• Buy organic asparagus if you can as organic asparagus are always younger and more tender.
• Trim 1-2 inches off the bottom of the stalks before cooking.
• For young asparagus, you don’t have to peel off the skin. If you have big and fat asparagus, you might want to use a peeler to peel off the skin on the stalk to reveal the white, tender part of the stalks.

Toppings for Sauteed Asparagus

You can add a variety of toppings to jazz up this recipe. For examples:

• Shaved Parmesan cheese such as Parmesan asparagus recipe.
• Bacon
• Panko or breadcrumbs
• Lemon

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Use White Asparagus for This Recipe?

Yes, you sure can.

As mentioned above, white asparagus and green asparagus are harvested off the same plant, they are the same vegetable. I prefer white asparagus because they are more tender compared to green asparagus.

Is Asparagus Healthy?

Asparagus is one of the healthiest vegetables with well-balanced nutrition.

You can learn all about it Michigan Asparagus Board.

Asparagus is especially healthy for pregnant women as it’s the leading supplier of folic acid.

It is also packed full of nutrients, such as the following:

• Low in calories, about 4 calories per spear.
• Contains no fat or cholesterol.
• Low in sodium.
• A good source of potassium and fiber.
• Loaded with vitamin B6.

How Many Calories per Serving?

This sauteed asparagus recipe is only 94 calories, making it a healthy side dish that you should make frequently.

What Dishes to Serve with This Recipe?

Sauteed asparagus goes well with anything: salmon, chicken, shrimp and meat. If you like roasting in the oven, try this roasted asparagus recipe.

For a wholesome meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.

How to Make Sauteed Asparagus?

Please refer to the recipe card below for detailed step-by-step method on how to make cook asparagus in a skillet, on stove top.