🥬 Asparagus
Asparagus officinalis
What it is
A tall, green spear that pops up from the ground and is the young shoot of a leafy plant.
How it looks
Long and thin like a green pencil, with a pointy, feathery tip at the top.
Taste
Fresh and grassy with a gentle sweetness, tender when cooked just right.
Why it is healthy
Full of folate and vitamin K, with fiber that helps your body stay strong.
How to eat it
Roast it, grill it, or steam it lightly, and eat the tender spears with your fingers.
How it grows
Grows up fast from roots in the ground each spring, pushing new green spears toward the sun.
In season
Best in the spring, when the fresh spears first push up.
History
People have enjoyed asparagus for thousands of years, and the ancient Romans loved to grow it.
Fun fact
Asparagus can grow surprisingly fast, sometimes more than the length of your finger in a single day.
Try this
Snap off the tough bottom end of each spear before cooking so you only eat the tender part.