Purple asparagus recipes – 18 ways to enjoy a delicious, healthy vegetable

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Georgie Radu
Georgie Raduhttps://exquisiterecipes.com
I am a medical microbiologist who loves delicious food, writing and lists. :)

I love farmers’ markets and the produce section in a supermarket. I know they are not the same thing, but I somehow feel more peaceful between tons of vegetables. Funny, huh? :)) You can laugh as much as you want, but hear me out. I was out there at the produce section just exploring my options (as you know, I am not exactly the biggest vegetable fan in the world) when I stumbled upon a new, interesting, never-seen-before treat|: purple asparagus. Of course, I had to get it! When I arrived home I realized I have absolutely zero purple asparagus recipes in my mind. What should a girl do? Of course, I searched the Internet left to right for delicious ways of cooking this new, beautiful, healthy asparagus I had just found. Lucky you, I made a list! I checked it twice! And now I am sharing it with you!

What is purple asparagus?

If you are like me, this is the first time you heard such a thing exists. Apparently, it is a vegetable that is native to Europe, North Africa and Western Asia. It can grow up to 60 cm tall (2 feet) and gets its purple color from a compound called anthocyanin. This compound is also found in other purple natural fruits and veggies, such as berries.

Lucky for us, anthocyanin does not only give out a great, purple coloring, but it is also great for our health. Beauty and brains! Apparently, the pigment is a great anti-inflammatory molecule, it improves cardio-circulatory health and can aid in cancer prevention.

Nutritional value

Believe it or not, purple asparagus is even more nutritious than green asparagus. Besides anthocyanin, it provides lots of fibers, vitamins and antioxidants. Another “medicine” from nature’s closet, if I can say.

What is the difference between purple asparagus and green asparagus?

There are 3 main differences between the two types of asparagus, but in the end you will notice that colouring is the most striking one.

  • purple asparagus is less fibrous, thus being more tender than the green version;
  • purple asparagus is 20% sweeter;
  • there is a slight difference in flavor between the two of them;

These differences are so subtle, you will be just fine trying to cook a green asparagus recipe using a purple batch. Go for it!

Purple asparagus recipes

  1. Simply roasted with minimal ingredients
If you don’t like parmesan cheese or would prefer some other type of cheese to try, go for it. This recipe is not only easy to make and delicious, it is also very permissive. Try to make it better for your taste if you feel like it!

2. Purple asparagus salad

A delicious, fresh salad for those days when you feel the need for something extra-healthy. Eat it on its own or pair it with some protein source (meats, other higher in protein veggies, dairy) for a full, easy to make meal.

3. Purple asparagus recipe with lime and shallots

This recipe is great if you are a vegan/vegetarian, but everybody can enjoy it! Shallots are a great way to bring extra flavor and nutrients to asparagus. Pair it with some protein source and you have a great dinner to impress your loved ones whenever you feel like it.

4. Purple asparagus with lemon chive vinaigratte

Apparently you can pair purple asparagus with any type of onions and the result will be astonishing! Chives are another great way to bring more flavor to your plate, so this combination was expected. Great idea!

5. Barbeque grilled asparagus

If you don’t have a Pit Boss smoker to cook your veggies, try barbecuing your asparagus (purple or green). The result will be delicious.

6. Purple asparagus with garlic herb butter

If you enjoy garlic herb butter, there are many combinations to try. Using it to cook purple asparagus is just one of them. Moreover, there are many types of garlic herb butters to try. This is a great way to experiment in the kitchen and search for new, more delicious ideas.

7. Coconut black rice bowls with tofu and purple asparagus

I feel like rice bowls are everywhere these days. I can’t lie to you, I love it. From the poke bowls you buy from the professional restaurants to the homemade variations, they are a new, innovative way to enjoy delicious food in something else than a plate. This particular recipe impressed me because of the color: 80% purple!

8. Lemony purple asparagus pancetta pasta

I have yet to meet a person who does not like eating pasta. It is a universal food, something like a love language but for the taste buds :). No to mention, pasta can be a great vehicle to hide some veggies for your kids to enjoy without knowing. I have to admit, people’s creativity in infinite. I was truly astonished when I saw this recipe. Honestly, at this point I would try anything to bring more veggies into my diet.

9. Shaved purple asparagus salad with walnuts

Bring a bit of omega 3 delicousness to your diet with this fresh, different idea to enjoy purple asparagus.

10. Grilled sesame asparagus

Am I the only one who loves adding sesame seeds to anything? It just makes everything mode delicious! One day I tried adding some seeds to my fried eggs. No regrets!

11. Shaved purple asparagus and Asian vegetable soba noodle

Ok, ok, not so simple as other recipes. But what about the result? Impressive, totally worth the effort.

12. Purple Asparagus and Quinoa Salad with Peas and Pea Shoots

13. Asparagus salad with with blue cheese and goji berries

Uuuuu! It also works well with blue cheese! Amazing vegetable!

14. Albenga Purple Asparagus salad

This recipe is great as a meal on its own as it has eggs, a great source of protein. We already know how healthy a meditareanean diet is, not to mention how delicious. Try it!

15. Purple asparagus fritatta

At this point, the possibilities are endless. Excuse me for a month, I will go eat only purple asparagus :).

16. Purple Grill

What a great idea! Do you know how some children only prefer eating foods of a certain colour? Who not try it? I think it can also be a great brain exercise. Lets find as many purple (or other color) foods as we can and make a grill. Great and delicious!

17. Asparagus and avocado tartines

A delicious idea for breakfast or brunch.

18. Roasted lemon and dill salmon with purple asparagus

Another delicious meal full of nutrients and omega 3. Salmon is a very good source of protein, while purple asparagus brings lots of antioxidants to the table. What’s not to love?

Even if you don’t normally like asparagus, I am sure you can find a recipe here to at least provoque you to try it. Who knows, maybe the problem was not the asparagus, but the way it was cooked. I admit it, I had no idea there were so many ways to use this amazing vegetable. From now on, I will cook it more often. Let me know if you have other ideas and I will include them all here!

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