Growing at the Speed of Life - A Year in the Life of My First Kitchen Garden

CHILLED STEAMED



ASPARAGUS

This basic preparation method features three
alternative endings. It’s your choice!
SERVES 4

1 pound (or more) fresh asparagus

Toppings
1 tablespoon freshly grated Parmesan cheese
or
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice and
a sprinkling of fresh dill or tarragon
or
2 tablespoons Treena’s Vinaigrette (see
page 74) or other low-fat salad dressing

Pop the bottom ends off the asparagus stems.
They will snap at the point the stalk gets tough,
so you won’t have any string y ends. Place in a
steamer over boiling water and steam 3–5 min­
utes or until crisp tender and still beautifully
green.
Place in a bowl of cold water to stop the
cooking. Drain and chill.
Dust with Parmesan cheese and eat whole as
finger food; cut on the diagonal into 2-inch
pieces and toss with lemon juice and fresh
herbs; or cut on the diagonal into 2-inch pieces,
toss with the vinaigrette, and serve as a side
salad on a leaf of butter lettuce garnished with
a couple of cherry tomatoes.

With Parmesan cheese: Per serving : 31 calories, 1 g

fat, 0 g saturated fat, 4 g carbohydrate, 0.5 g pro­

tein,  0 g dietary fiber, 35 mg sodium. Exchanges:

1 Vegetable

With lemon and fresh herbs: Per serving : 26 calo­

ries,  0 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 5 g carbohydrate, 0 g

protein, 0 g dietary fiber, 12 mg sodium. Exchanges:

1 Vegetable

With vinaigrette: Per serving : 48 calories, 3 g fat, 0 g

saturated fat, 5 g carbohydrate, 0 g protein, 0 g dietary

fiber, 60 mg sodium. Exchanges: 1 Vegetable, ½ Fat

SESAME GRILLED



ASPARAGUS

For very little bother you can get a truly differ­

ent vegetable.

SERVES 4

32 stalks fresh asparagus

1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

1 teaspoon sugar

½ teaspoon toasted sesame oil

Pinch dried crushed chiles or Shanghai

Coastline Ethmix (see page 288)

1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

Preheat the broiler to about 400ºF.

Wash the asparagus and snap off the tough

ends.

Combine the soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, ses­

ame oil, and chiles. Brush the mixture on the

78 • GROWING AT THE SPEED OF LIFE