Asparagus season is here in many parts of the United States. Though this certainly doesn’t sound like much to celebrate, when you discover how beneficial this delicious vegetable is, you might look forward to it a great deal more every year.
Depending on where you live, asparagus season may arrive in March, April or May. Typically speaking, it starts in late April or early May and will continue for only about six weeks. Throughout this time, the veggie is delicious and inexpensive at the grocery store. For the rest of the year, anything local will be canned or frozen.
Learning About Asparagus Season
This asparagus season, get to know this springtime veggie a little bit better. To start, you may be surprised to discover that the vegetable is a part of the lily family. It is also quite closely related to leeks, onion and garlic. It is a highly nutritious vegetable which helps to explain why it is very popular among athletes. It is also very popular among people on low-carb diets of various kinds. This is because it is low in fat, calories and carbohydrates while being high in fiber, vitamins and minerals and antioxidants. It is particularly high in folate, iron, beta-carotene, copper, B vitamins, as well as vitamins A, E, C, and K.
White Versus Green Asparagus
There are some very slight differences between white asparagus and green asparagus. Green asparagus is grown normally, typically out in fields. White asparagus is grown in a similar way but is covered with dark plastic and mulch in order to stop sunlight from reaching it. In this way, the covered asparagus can’t complete photosynthesis. It doesn’t produce chlorophyll – the substance necessary for photosynthesis and that turns the plant green – so the entire stalk remains white.
The flavor of white asparagus is milder than that of green asparagus. That said, if you want the most nutritious option from asparagus season, you’ll want to choose the green variety. While the two are quite similar in nutrient content, there are more antioxidants in the green vegetable.
How to Eat Asparagus
There are many ways to enjoy asparagus season with delicious dishes. Many people simply like to steam or lightly boil their asparagus. That said, it has become more popular to roast it with olive oil and garlic for a completely different flavor. Some people like to grill their asparagus and others enjoy it as fries or in stir fries.
