10 Appetizers Using Asparagus
Asparagus is starting to appears in the markets, so spring is very near! Asparagus is so yummy, but it’s one of those fruits and vegetables that’s really only delicious during it’s proper growing season – it’s a spring one, obviously! I love roasting asparagus and even having my husband BBQ it for a delicious side with dinner, but I’ve recently been really into recipes for appetizers using asparagus! Asparagus has such a singular flavor that even just a little in each bite does the job!
Asparagus is a fairly versatile vegetable to work with. It’s great roasted or grilled, but it can hold its own being wrapped (think pancetta or prosciutto and pastries). It’s also great with a variety of flavors – cheese, citrus juice (a seasonal match made in heaven), and garlic (though what isn’t?!).
CONTENTS
Appetizers Using Asparagus
What is Asparagus?
Asparagus is full of vitamin A, C, and K! It also has lots of fiber and great antioxidants. It can also make your pee stink (read why does asparagus make your pee stink), but that’s nothing to be worried about!
Asparagus comes in a variety of colors – green, purple, and white (often with a yellow tint that people confuse for yellow asparagus)s
What Does Asparagus Taste Like?
How to describe asparagus other that to say it taste like asparagus? Fresh asparagus has a mild, slightly grassy, earthy flavor with sweet and subtle bitter notes. Younger asparagus has thinner spears and it’s tender and sweet (the best way to enjoy it in my mind). The thick spears are meatier and less sweet (bitter might be a good way to describe it). I find the thicker stocks to be stringier and therefore less enjoyable.
Asparagus Flavor Pairings
If you like to just cook things on your own with just a little direction (me too!), here is a quick list of flavors to combine with asparagus:
- lemon and olive oil
- parmesan and garlic
- prosciutto, pancetta, or bacon
- aioli or hollandaise dips
- toasted almonds, pecans, or pine nuts
Is Asparagus a Good Appetizer
I’ve long been a fan of appetizers with vegetables and fruits. They’re often lighter and I’ll admit to wanting to sneak veggies into everyone around me (along with protein, but we’ll talk about that another time). Asparagus is a bit unexpected, however, which I always think is fun. Not to mention, it’s usually a pretty easy ingredient with which to work (and it taste yummy)
Asparagus Appetizer Recipes
Asparagus Crostini
This delicious cold asparagus crostini appetizer is a favorite of mine. The white bean spread, fresh baguette slices, and fresh rosemary merry beautifully in this roasted asparagus crostini for the perfect flavor combination! This a great one to make ahead (just assemble right before serving).
Asparagus Puff Pastry Tart
For this asparagus tart, puff pastry is rolled out and served with whole asparagus spears, pesto, and prosciutto. It can be cut into smaller pieces to serve as a hors d’oeuvre (finger food) or larger pieces if serving to a seated crowd. This pesto recipe is perfect in my humble opinion (and great to freeze in summer for use in winter and spring)!
Roasted Spring Vegetables
Spring produce has such pretty colors – nature’s sign that it’s been working hard and it’s time to get ready for sun shine and warmth! This recipe for roasted spring vegetables with mint and meyer lemon dressing is EXACTLY that. Purple and pink-skin radishes interspersed with tender asparagus spears just looks happy. Add a bright (and seasonal) mint and lemon dressing for the perfect healthy appetizer. Best for a seated crowd.
Bacon Asparagus Tarts
Made with pre-made tart shells (let’s hear it for easy!), these bacon asparagus tarts are a fun and easy appetizer using asparagus. Bacon and diced asparagus are mixed into a creamy egg mixture and dispersed in the cups for individual apps!
Pancetta Wrapped Asparagus
Yes, another meat-wrapped asparagus appetizer recipe, but I love that this pancetta wrapped asparagus recipe wraps a few spears in each piece of pancetta and, what really gets me, is the honey and orange drizzle on top – an unexpected flavor profile that’s perfectly in season (and orange and honey are delectable together)!
Spring Pizza w. Asparagus + Potatoes
Another recipe embracing all that is spring, this spring pizza is topped with diced asparagus, new potatoes, and goat cheese for a light and filling recipe. This can be easily cut into small or larger pieces depending on the size of your crowd!
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Tart
This asparagus appetizer recipe has it all in one. Asparagus spears are wrapped in bacon and set atop a puff pastry covered with ricotta. Top with lemon, garlic, and parmesan cheese for a scrumptious recipe. Make this bacon wrapped asparagus tart.
Bacon & Pastry Wrapped Asparagus
In a slightly different form, this appetizer recipe wraps bacon and puff pastry around individual spears of asparagus and bakes them in the oven. On the heavier side for a hors d’oeuvres, these bacon & pastry wrapped asparagus are a great one for guests to grab with their hands and enjoy without a fork!
Roasted White Asparagus
I was excited to find an appetizer recipe specifically using white asparagus! We don’t see white asparagus much here in the US, but it is available in farmers markets and definitely in Europe! This is a good basic recipe for roasted white asparagus with some good photos and directions for peeling the spears.
Pesto Tortellini Salad
When in doubt – pasta and pesto!! This pesto tortellini salad with asparagus is a yummy dish to serve warm or cold. Premade pasta is great here and then you can pull it all together. Since it’s good chilled, you can absolutely make it ahead of time!!
Not an appetizer but this ham and asparagus pasta is another great recipe for asparagus!!
FAQs on Appetizers Using Asparagus
There are parts of each of these recipes that can be made ahead of time. Roasting or blanching asparagus can certainly be done ahead of time.
Yes. But it is definitely crunchy and a bit of an acquired taste. Many recipe with serve it in thin strips, so it isn’t so overwhelming. Find a recipe that prepares it nicely and takes this into consideration.
If you freeze asparagus, you’ll lose that crunchiness. If you blanche and freeze asparagus, you could still use it in a dish like a quiche where the crunchy consistency (or lack thereof) isn’t as noticeable.
Most asparagus have tough ends. I gently curve one asparagus spear until it naturally breaks at the point where it gets tough. Use that as your guide to cut the bunch. You can also break them individually. The bottom parts you’re cutting off are still safe to eat, they just aren’t as tender.
Green and purple asparagus really don’t need to be peeled unless they’re very thick. White asparagus should be peeled.
APPETIZERS USING ASPARAGUS
Ingredients
- 1 cup canned chickpeas or white cannellini beans rinsed and drained
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh chives
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon dried tarragon
- 10 slices baguette toasted
- 20 thin sprigs asparagus roasted
- Extra virgin olive oil for garnish
- Flaked sea salt for garnish
Instructions
- Add the chickpeas or beans, sesame oil, chives, fine salt, and tarragon to a medium bowl. Use a fork to mash all ingredients until spreadable, but slightly chunky.
- Top each slice of baguette with an equal amount of bean spread. Cut each sprig of asparagus in two, arrange two sprigs (four pieces) over each crostini.
- Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with flaked salt before serving.
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