Signalling spring is here, asparagus sprouts from the ground from September each year. The part we eat is the young shoots of the asparagus plant which, if left to grow, become a giant, feathery fernlike plant that dies back in autumn.
Harvesting asparagus is labour intensive, with the spears being cut by hand, usually in the cool of the night and early morning to retain maximum freshness.
Originating in the eastern Mediterranean region, asparagus was a favourite of the Greeks and Romans who also used it as a medicine. Today, it is still considered an aphrodisiac.
EAT
The delicious herbaceous flavour and distinctive shape of asparagus add something special to dishes across the menu from soup to risotto to salad. While traditionally blanched or steamed, asparagus is fantastic chargrilled, also lovely raw, thinly shaved or finely diced.
Asparagus pairs well with egg, butter and cheese. It also works very well with lemon, sharp vinaigrettes, anchovies, bacon, ham, tarragon, dill, and seafood, especially crab, scallops and prawns. Don’t discard those woody ends when you prep, add these to stocks or freeze to make an asparagus soup next autumn or winter.
VARIETIES
Green
Green asparagus is the most popular variety in New Zealand. It derives its colour from the process of photosynthesis as the spear emerges from the soil into direct sunlight. At the start of the season, or the first pick, asparagus is ungraded and a variety of shapes and sizes. Once the season is in full swing, graded asparagus is available with a choice of thick, medium or thin spears. Thick spears can be just as luscious and tender as their thinner counterparts but are perfect for oven roasting and the BBQ, while the thin variety are perfect eaten raw or sautéed quickly.
Purple
Purple asparagus has sweeter, thicker spears than green. Due to their lower fibre content, they are also more tender. While green asparagus are quite herbaceous in flavour, purple is fruitier. Their vibrant colour is due to anthocyanins (potent antioxidants), which are the same naturally occurring pigments that give blueberries their purplish-blue colour. To make the most of the purple colour cook sparingly, or better still, use raw.
White
White asparagus has long been considered a delicacy in Europe. To produce white spears, asparagus needs to be grown in the dark. The added effort to do so means white asparagus is more expensive to grow and there is limited supply. White asparagus spears are usually thicker than green asparagus and have a thicker outer layer – simply use
a vegetable peeler to remove this layer and ensure you serve tender asparagus.
GROW
The main growing regions are Waikato, Canterbury, southwest North Island and Hawke’s Bay.
TIP
Avoid a hangover and eat asparagus! The minerals and amino acids in asparagus protect the liver from toxins plus their enzymes help break down the alcohol and thus alleviate a hangover.