Grilled (or Seared) Asparagus with Olive Oil and Sea Salt
This is my favorite way to eat asparagus, bar none. The combination of charring and light seasoning allows enhance the fresh asparagus flavors. The friends for whom I've cooked this unanimously proclaim that it is far superior to any baked or boiled asparagus they've ever had.
To make this recipe, you will need:
- Asparagus
- Olive oil
- Coarse sea salt
If you have an already hot grill, cook the asparagus on it until it begins to blacken in spots. I generally don't have a hot grill, so I sear mine instead. Heat a dry skillet until it smokes then throw in the asparagus. Roll it around some as it starts to sear and char. When it looks like it has seared well, toss in a half cup or so of water and let the steam blanch the spears further. By the time the water has all boiled off again, your asparagus should be tender but not mushy. You want to retain some resistance to the tooth, as overcooked asparagus doesn't taste nearly as good.
Remove the asparagus from the pan. Drizzle with good olive oil and season to taste with sea salt. Go easy with both the olive oil and the sea salt-- you won't need much of either. Serve.
I've always wondered why it is that asparagus has such a profound effect on, how shall I put this delicately, the smell of one's pee. C'mon, you know you've wondered the same thing! Thanks to On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen by Harol McGee, we have an answer.
Asparagus has long been notorious for an unusual side effect on those who eat it: it gives a strong odor to their urine. Apparently the body metabolizes a sulfur-containing substance, asparagusic acid, a close chemical relative of the essence of skunk spray called methanethiol. In part because some people claim to be immune to this effect, biochemists have studied this phenomenon in some detail. It now appears that thanks to genetic differences, most but not all people do produce methanethiol after eating asparagus, and more but not all are able to smell it.
There was have it. Odds are that your body turns aspargusic acid into skunk spray, and it is totally worth it.
this is my favourite method for preparing asparagus as well, although instead of salt i usually add a quick squeeze of lemon juice--also sparingly.
so...what happens if you feed asparagus to a skunk?
Santos, asparagus is on sale this week at the local market. I'll have to pick up another bunch and try the lemon. It sounds delicious.
I didn't know there was another way to eat asparagus. Though I oil and salt before grilling, use more of both (obviously), and only ever use charcoal grilling. I've had many, many requests for this at family gatherings, even if there's no barbeque on. :-)
Oh yeah, I grew up having asparagus either boiled or steamed. We would then drag it through a glob of mayonnaise-based mystery dressing. Not very appealing.
I'm telling your mom that you're bagging on her.
Actually, I do remember that now. Isn't that how they prepare it at Morton's, with like a lyonnaise sauce (which is, I'm sure, what the mystery dressing was attempting to approximate)?
I can't remember clearly, but this definition I found of lyonnaise sauce doesn't seem like it would be what you're talking about, "A classic French sauce made with white wine, sautéed onions and demi-glace. The sauce is strained before being served with meats and sometimes poultry."
This one sounded great so I picked up some asparagus at Horroks (sp?). I made some as you described and soaked some in olive oil and garlic. Both went over very well, even with the anti-asparagus crowd. I'll be making them both all summer.
As a bonus, I was browsing the wine section at Horroks and noticed a wine named "Goats du Roam". Having heard great things about it I quickly snatched one up. Everyone liked it ok, though it was a bit dry for most of our tastes. The fun story that went with it made up for that.
All in all it was a great meal, with great new tastes, and as you can see in this pic from five minutes after, it went over quite well.
P.S. My pee did not smell funny at all and I ate quite a bit.
Horrocks-- I miss that place. My old church is across Breton from there, so I'd often pop in on a Sunday afternoon.
And I am not at all surprised to learn that you are one of the few people on Earth whose pee doesn't smell after asparagus. You are one of a kind, Max. ;-)