What is a quick easy way to prepare asparagus?

[wildeyed]

I don't even feel like cooking, but if I don't use the asparagus soon, it will go bad.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

1. We eat it raw

Or just stick it in a microwave dish with a hit of water, partially cover it, and, essentially steam it for a minute or ninety seconds.

When it's still warm, pour a nice vinaigrette all over it, and let it sit for a bit.

A la greque, sort of. Very nice.

But, I really like it raw best.

[Dora]

2. I usually steam it.

Sometimes I'll chop it up and saute it with butter. It cooks up fast.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. We love it grilled

Roll it in olive oil, then salt it.

Let it grill till it just gets a few char spots on it.

Add some pepper and a dollop or three of balsmaic, shave some parm and eat.

[The empressof all]

4. That's the way I do it most of the time as well

Roast it in the oven at 350 till tender.

You can also boil it in broth, then puree it with some cream and butter for a lovely soup.

[japple]

11. I use the same method, Empress. Last month, when our asparagus

was producing, I would cut the spears into 2" pieces, place them on a large baking pan, spray with olive oil, and roast in a 350 oven for about 12 min. +/- until tender. Then salt, pepper, lemon juice. Very easy, very low cal., extremely tasty.

[wildeyed]

5. I have some ground beef.

Maybe I will grill burgers with the asparagus on the side. Probably easier to do than going out, anyway.

[liberalnurse]

9. That is delicious!

Excellent!

[catnhatnh]

12. Easy grilling tip....

....use bamboo skewers (soaked in water to prevent burning,of course) and build serving size "rafts".Easier to turn,easier to baste or oil,better for individual "doneness",and nothing falls though the grid....

[Warpy]

6. Easiest?

Lay the spears across a plate. Nuke for 3 minutes.

Season with butter, lemon, salt and pepper.

It's crisp tender (barely dead), bright green, and full of flavor.

Plus, you've only got one dish to wash.

[kestrel91316]

7. Asparagi Alla Parmagiana

Lightly oil a baking dish. Lay a bunch of cleaned, snapped asparagus stalks in the bottom in a single layer. Top with freshly grated parmesan cheese. Roast in a very hot (450? 500?) oven until the cheese starts to turn golden and the asparagus starts to shrivel (15 minutes??).

Oops - on edit - before you sprinkle the cheese on, spray the asparagus with a little more olive oil.

[lakemonster11]

8. I usually just saute it in a pan

with some olive oil.

If I'm feeling adventurous, I'll toss it with olive oil and grill it.

[Warpy]

10. Grilled is best

but sometimes even that is too much trouble on those hate to cook days.

On those days, and when it's too hot to fire up the grill (like today, 95 and still climbing), I do something like toaster oven baked fish with a side of nuked asparagus. I just clean and trim the spears, lay them across a plate, salt and pepper, and nuke for a couple of minutes. A few drops of lemon juice on both fish and 'gus completes the dinner.

I find boiling and steaming to render the asparagus a little more bitter than nuking it does. Grilling caramelizes the outside and turns it into a wonderfully sweet and crunchy veggie and is my favorite way to serve it.