Easy Asparagus Sauté: Weeknight Side Dish

Need a recipe that goes with the flow? Be sure to add this easy asparagus sauté to your recipe box.  Great as is, but you’ll love this method of cooking for all of your favorite veggies.

I love a workhorse recipe.  One that I can use anytime, with any meal.   Even better when you can mix and match ingredients with what you have on hand.  For me, that’s this Asparagus Sauté recipe.

It’s perfect as a side dish for pretty much any meal – grilled meats, pastas, and slow cooker meals.  The method also easily adapts to other veggies.  Not an asparagus fan?  Swap them out for green beans.  Mushrooms would be great in this and so would Brussels sprouts.

The key to this asparagus sauté is two-fold.  For one, actually use both butter and oil.  It makes such a difference in the flavor of this dish.  The oil allows you to cook the dish at a higher temperature without burning; the butter adds to the flavor.  And secondly, take time with the onions.  Allowing them to cook slowly in the butter and oil?  Heaven.

Easy Asparagus Sauté

In a skillet over medium heat, melt butter in one tablespoon of olive oil.  Add in the sliced onions, along with the sugar and salt.  Cook, stirring occasionally for 20-25 minutes, until golden.

Meanwhile, prep the asparagus.  I find that it’s easiest to avoid tough stems in the dish by trimming them by hand instead of with a knife.  Just take each stalk and snap it where it easily breaks on the lower end of the stem.  From there, just cut the asparagus into 1 1/2″ pieces.

Push the golden onions to the rim of the skillet.  Drizzle in one more tablespoon of oil.  Bring to medium high heat and add in the asparagus.  Allow it to cook 3 minutes without stirring, then mix the vegetables together.

Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the asparagus is tender but still bright green.  Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste.

I love this dish with grilled London Broil and this recipe for Crispy Sheet Pan Hashbrowns.  This is also a great recipe to make double-of.  The leftovers are perfect in frittatas, soups and pasta dishes.

Easy Asparagus Sauté

Yield: 4 side servings

Need a recipe that goes with the flow? Be sure to add this easy asparagus sauté to your recipe box.  Great as is, but you'll love this method of cooking for all of your favorite veggies.

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Ingredients

• 1 lb. fresh asparagus
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 Tb. butter
• 2 Tb. olive oil, divided
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. In a skillet over medium heat, melt butter in one tablespoon of olive oil.  Add in the sliced onions, along with the sugar and salt.  Cook, stirring occasionally for 20-25 minutes, until golden.
2. Meanwhile, prep the asparagus.  I find that it's easiest to avoid tough stems in the dish by trimming them by hand instead of with a knife.  Just take each stalk and snap it where it easily breaks on the lower end of the stem.  From there, just cut the asparagus into 1 1/2" pieces.
3. Push the golden onions to the rim of the skillet.  Drizzle in one more tablespoon of oil.  Bring to medium high heat and add in the asparagus.  Allow it to cook 3 minutes without stirring, then mix the vegetables together.
4. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the asparagus is tender but still bright green.  Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste.

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