Podcasts Culture Living Villa Cappelli 050: Preparing Asparagus hunting, buying, and cooking

050: Preparing Asparagus hunting, buying, and cooking

Published: March 17, 2017, 12:57 p.m.

b'

In this podcast, you\\u2019ll learn all about Paul\\u2019s hunt for wild asparagus, some tips on how to cook asparagus, and what to look for when buying it in the store.

Topics we cover:

\\u2022\\xa0 How much wild asparagus Paul as been picking

Preparing Asparagus2
Wild Asparagus. Much thinner than the cultivated kind.

\\u2022\\xa0 Why Paul goes picking on Thursdays

\\u2022\\xa0 Two ways to cook the asparagus

If you steam them or use a \\u201cwet cooking method,\\u201d they will taste more \\u201cgreen\\u201d and grassy

While if you roast them or use a \\u201cdry cooking method,\\u201d they will take more \\u201cmeaty\\u201d

\\u2022\\xa0 How you can cook them/steam them very easily in the microwave using the below method:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/steamed-asparagus-recipe

Preparing Asparagus Alton

\\u2022\\xa0 When Paul worked on microwaves for GE, the best uses for microwaves

\\u2022\\xa0 Paul recipe a pasta cooking the wild asparagus with some mussels, garlic, onions, parsley, and tomatoes

\\u2022\\xa0 How you pick the wild asparagus, pinching them off a picking them from the fields

\\u2022\\xa0 How asparagus goes well with shrimp

\\u2022\\xa0 A bit about our KTM chili flakes\\xa0which contains the Carolina Reaper

\\u2022\\xa0 The tomatoes we use for cooking in the winter, a slightly dried hanging tomato

Preparing Asparagus
Here are the tomatoes we talk about in the podcast.

\\u2022\\xa0 The most amazing bowl of Pasta had in Naples features just tomatoes and basil

\\u2022\\xa0 The waiter claimed it was so good because the tomatoes were grown in the volcanic soil

\\u2022\\xa0 The way some of the older women make fresh tomato sauce

\\u2022\\xa0 Some tips on buying asparagus

Look for bright green or violet-tinged spears with firm \\u2014not limp \\u2014 stems.

The tips should be closed and compact.

Avoid limp asparagus.\\xa0 Take out a stem from the bunch and see if it is limp.

Preparting Asparagus FB

\\u2022\\xa0 How to store your asparagus when you bring it home \\u2014 namely placing them in just a bit of water as if they are fresh cut flowers

\\u2022\\xa0 But why you should eat it very quickly

\\u2022\\xa0 How Paul likes the asparagus with our new Red Wine Vinegar

\\u2022\\xa0 The smell associated with asparagus \\u2014 how some people have it, some can\\u2019t detect it, and how they don\\u2019t know why it happens

\\u2022\\xa0 How food transcends all

\\u2022\\xa0 How the last podcast hit a nerve with some people (LINK)

Bonus asparagus info:

Preparing Asparagus3
Another wild asparagus picture. Notice the "thorny bush" it comes from.

\\u2022 Asparagus is made up of 93% water.

\\u2022 It is low in calories and is very low in sodium.

\\u2022 It\\u2019s a good source of vitamins and fiber.

\\u2022 The white version of asparagus enjoyed in the Netherlands, Spain, France, Poland, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Turkey, Italy, and Switzerland.\\xa0 The asparagus is covered in soil as they grow to \\u201cblanch\\u201d them.\\xa0 Since no photosynthesis starts, the shoots remain white. \\xa0 It is believed to be less bitter and much more tender.\\xa0 But honestly, I\\u2019m not so sure on that.\\xa0 I personally like a bright, green asparagus.

\\u2022 Hollandaise sauce is a popular sauce to serve with asparagus. Hollandaise is an emulsion of egg yolk and liquid butter with lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

\\u2022 Asparagus originated in maritime habitats, so it likes soils that are too saline for normal weeds to grow. Thus, a little salt was traditionally used to suppress weeds in beds intended for asparagus. The downside to this is of course that bed couldn\\u2019t be used to grow anything else.

'