Savor Spring Season with Asparagus
Spring is a season of renewal, and what better way to celebrate than by indulging in the succulent spears of asparagus? This versatile vegetable not only adds a pop of color to your plate but also boasts many health benefits.
From its diuretic properties to its high levels of antioxidants, asparagus is a nutritional powerhouse that can help you feel your best. But with so many options at the grocery store, how do you choose the best bunch? Fear not, dear reader, for we have compiled all the information you need to make an informed decision and even included a recipe to showcase this seasonal star. So, let’s dive into the world of asparagus and discover why it’s worth adding to your springtime menu.
Asparagus is an outstanding vegetable that has been used for food and medicine for thousands of years. It’s in season from April through mid-June, so enjoy it in the spring! When buying asparagus, select bright green sprigs with compact tips that are the same thickness. Avoid flat or angular spears, which tend to be tough and woody.
Health Benefits Of Asparagus
- Asparagus helps us produce glutathione, arguably the body’s most important antioxidant.
- It contains rutin, which helps strengthen our blood vessels and prevent them from rupturing.
- Asparagus also has phytochemicals that protect the liver from damage associated with alcohol toxicity.
- It is a rich source of folate, vitamins A, C, and E.
- Traditionally, it has been used as a diuretic to treat high blood pressure, edema, and gout.
- The compound called Asparagine gives this vegetable its diuretic effect and gives the urine a particular smell in people who don’t have the gene to break it down. This happens to be the same chemical that skunks release when defending themselves!
This simple recipe can be very effective as a centerpiece on your dinner table!
Asparagus as a centerpiece
Ingredients:
2 bunches of asparagus
salt to taste
Punchy Mustard Sauce
Directions:
- Rinse the spears and remove the fibrous ends by holding each sprig by its ends and bending it until it snaps. Use the upper part of the spears and discard the pieces from the lower end of each spring or save them to add flavor to your stocks.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and salt it. The pot should be wide enough to fit the sprigs without bending them. Place them into the boiling water for 3 minutes, then drain and let cool.
- Arrange the sprigs on a platter, place a bowl with the sauce in the middle, and serve.
Freedom from hunger and cravings until lunch
Please tell me where I should send the recipe book.