Asparagus

[Anonymous]

As some of you know its Wa State asparagus time.Sat morn I went over to the east side and picked up 60lbs of dem tastey green stalks.I got home around 11 am and started the pain in the neck job of pickling them.I put up 14 quarts and 6 pints of pickled asparagus.This is peak time right now and the prices are comming down.I got mine for .99 a pound.Its alot of work to can or pickle asparagus so leave yourself a full day to work on it.
I like using apple cider vinager.Its a good 5% acidity and has a real nice taste to it.Some picklin spice and salt and youre good to go.The prepping of them are the most time consuming.They need to be very clean then blanched then given a ice water bath .Pack in jars brine ,garlic ,spices,hot peppers.Ifin you need more exact recipe details I'll bring them tomorrow.

[TroutCowboy]

I love asparagus, I steam it or my favorite -- grill it. But the pickled variety (especially the peppered ones you're making) make for the perfect addition to a Bloody Mary! Yours sound awesome.

By "east side" were you referring to this side of the state or were you speaking of the east side of Lake Wa? Not to hijack your thread, but does anybody know of any places to find it in the wild? As kids we used to walk the creek beds and river bottoms on our cattle ranch in Montana and find it all over the place. WOuld love to get some wild stuff.

I was just remembering how I'd go to bed hungry as a kid or endure a 4-hour sit-in at the dinner table before I'd eat my asparagus. In hindsight I wonder if my mom had told me how fast it'd make my pee smell if would have protested less and eaten more!! ;-)

[Anonymous]

There are a few places to go if you want freebees.They are some abandoned fields in that area.East for me is Eastern Wa. I usually go to Grainger to a veggie wholesale farming warehouse called R.A. Rasmussens and sons.They were a bit more pricey at 1.50 a pound.But theres are trimmed and washed.Which for canning is nice.I got mine from the farm this time at .99 a pound.I make two varieties of pickled asparagi.I make regular .These I send to my sis in New York for when they entertain.She uses them for bloddy marys and martinis.The other I make are called Bullets.They are paked with Habaneros and Thai peppers.These will make you sweat.
The pee thing is all the natural sulphur in asparagus.I only pickle what grows here in Wa.

[crappiemaster]

I am going to have to try that pickled recipe. That sounds real good. I am in the middle of asparagus country. Try cutting it up into little circles about 1/4 to 1/2 inches and saute'-ing them till they are soft, then scrambling eggs in them.. delicious. Another way we cook it is in a pound of hamburger meat, add a can of tomato sauce, 2 cups of water then season to taste with garlic salt, cumin powder, and onion powder. Throw the asparagus in with the hamburger meat. When is is brown, add the tomato sauce and water and let it simmer. Taste the broth and add salt if needed. Warm up some tortillas and feast..

[fishnislife]

Got about 3lbs from the neighbor who just got back from Eastern Wa. We steamed a bunch and did the whole drenched in Hollandaise Sauce. Mmmmmmm good. Accompanied with Cod fillets from Trader Joe's (the best) and white rice.
I also like to BBQ them too. A little salt, butter and BAM! Bring on the meat. That will probably be next.




fishnislife

[SPARKY101]

Pickled asparugus is the bomb i like mine crunchy:cheers:

[produce2troutcat]

Used to go over by George and do some fishing than hit the drainage ditches along the roads that were alongside the fields and pick some freebies to cook up with the fish.Have not done that in a long time so I am not sure if there is still some grown around there.The fat stalks are so sweet and tasty, you just have to remember to peel the outer skin layer like you do with broccoli stems.Let the restaurants keep the thinnies so I can have the fatties.

[CaffOMHW]

Pickeled is good, but nothing beats them fresh picked and a quick grill. A little olive oil, kosher salt, fresh pepper and only a a minute or 2 over the heat. Squeese on some lemon and it will taste just like summer.

[racfish]

you got that right Caff.Thats how I do mine.On the Traeger with a lil olive oil salt and fresh rosemary.Grilled then scarfed.

[Rich McVey]

I typically pan cook mine in butter and garlic. Im definitely gonna try some of the ideas posted here and serve it along side a nice salmon filet.

[racfish]

I was up on the RR tracks on Umtanum Creek looking for the freebies.Only got a few.This cooler weather made for a good asparagus season.I usually buy mine up in Sunnyside/Grainger area.That way I can take the riders with me to Darigold plant for Ice Cream.