My asparagus is mushy and has lost its bright green color. What happened?

You overcooked it. Asparagus cooks very quickly, especially when steamed. The 3-5 minute window is key. It should be tender enough to be easily pierced with a fork, but still have a definite, pleasant "snap" when you bite into it.

I don't have a steamer basket. What can I do?

No problem! You can place a metal colander inside a large pot with a lid. Just make sure the water level is below the bottom of the colander. Alternatively, you can blanch the vegetables by dropping them directly into a pot of boiling salted water for 2-3 minutes, then draining them well.

Can I serve this salad cold?

Yes, you can. While it’s designed to be a warm salad, the leftovers are delicious served chilled or at room temperature, making it a great option for lunches the next day.

Parmesan Asparagus Salad: The #1 Ultimate 10-Minute Side Dish Recipe

Name: The Ultimate 10-Minute Parmesan Asparagus and Butter Bean Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/4 cup mayonnaise; 3 tablespoons grated parmesan, plus more shaved parmesan for topping; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; 1 tablespoon water; 1 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into pieces; 1 cup drained canned butter beans; Salt to taste

The Ultimate 10-Minute Parmesan Asparagus and Butter Bean Salad

A simple and quick vegetarian side dish featuring steamed asparagus and butter beans. The vegetables are steamed together until tender, then seasoned with salt and drizzled with a creamy, no-cook dressing made from mayonnaise and grated Parmesan cheese. The dish is finished with a topping of shaved Parmesan for extra flavor and texture.

Author: Grace
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Category: Side Dish
Method: Steaming
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale

1/4 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons grated parmesan, plus more shaved parmesan for topping
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon water
1 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into pieces
1 cup drained canned butter beans
Salt to taste

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Instructions

Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, 3 tablespoons of grated parmesan, the pepper, and 1 tablespoon of water until smooth.
Steam the Vegetables: Place a steamer basket in a pot with about an inch of simmering water.
Add the trimmed and cut asparagus pieces and the drained butter beans to the steamer basket.
Cover the pot and steam for 3 to 5 minutes, until the asparagus is tender-crisp.
Assemble and Serve: Transfer the steamed asparagus and butter beans to a platter or serving dish.
Season with salt to taste.
Drizzle the parmesan dressing over the warm vegetables.
Top with shaved parmesan and serve.

Notes

This is a very fast side dish, coming together in about 15 minutes.
Steaming the asparagus and butter beans together is an efficient way to cook them.
The dressing is a simple, no-cook mixture that can be prepared while the vegetables are steaming.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
Calories: 220-280
Sugar: 4-6 g
Sodium: 400-600 mg (before adding salt to taste)
Fat: 18-24 g
Saturated Fat: 4-6 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 10-14 g
Fiber: 4-6 g
Protein: 8-10 g
Cholesterol: 15-25 mg

Find it online: https://www.eatswithsoul.com/parmesan-asparagus-salad/