We absolutely love white asparagus and this air fryer white asparagus recipe has been a game changer!
*This post may contain affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
One of the neighbouring farmers in my area regularly brings fresh produce, and I can't tell you how much I look forward to asparagus season!
Weißer Spargel, as white asparagus is known here in Germany, is a much-loved vegetable in the spring and early summer months. We normally boil or steam ours but I thought I'd do things differently this time by making them in the air fryer.
ingredients
My air fryer recipe uses a bunch of kitchen staples. In addition to white asparagus, we will using some butter, salt, pepper, some sugar, and some lemon pepper seasoning.
The lemon pepper seasoning adds a nice zest; feel free to use lemon juice in its place.
cutting the hard woody stems
White asparagus have hard woody stems. You want to cut off about 1-2 inches from the bottom to remove the tough parts and ensure the spears are tender when cooked.
Cutting the woody stems also helps ensure the asparagus cooks evenly and is more pleasant to eat.
cooking time
White asparagus needs a longer cooking time compared to green asparagus. This is because it has has a thicker, tougher skin and a more fibrous texture. For this reason, you want to peel white asparagus before cooking to remove the tough outer layer.
Air fryer white asparagus cooking time guide:-
- Thin spears - 20 - 25 minutes.
- Medium spears - 25 -35 minutes.
- Thick spears - 35 - 50 minutes.
The thicker the spears, the longer it will take to cook so make sure to check and adjust the cooking time, if necessary.
checking for doneness
To check for doneness use a fork or the tip of a knife to pierce the thickest part of the asparagus spear. It should go through with slight resistance but not be hard.
You can also use the bend test; gently bend a spear; it should be pliable but not floppy.
peeling white asparagus
Using a vegetable peeler, peel the asparagus starting from just below the tip (1-1.5inches from the tip), going down to the bottom.
And don't be too quick in descarding the peels; I like to keep them in the fridge or freezer for use in making soups.
serve it with
- Hollandaise sauce.
- Poached eggs.
- Ham or Proscuitto.
- Use in making salads.
- Use it as a filling for savoury crepes.
- New potatoes.
drinks to pair white asparagus with
While my husband likes to enjoy it with a bottle of light beer, I often go for a glass of white or sparkling wine. I also find that the light fruitiness and acidity of a dry rosé balance well with the mild and slightly sweet taste of white asparagus.
can I refrigerate them?
Store your cooked asparagus in an airtight container in the fridge, for 3-5 days.
a tip or two
Make this recipe your own and feel free to go beyond lemon pepper seasoning or lemon juice. The sweet and tangy taste of balsamic vinegar complements asparagus perfectly and is a personal favorite of mine!
If the spears are particularly thick, you can split them lengthwise for more even cooking.
check out our other air fryer recipes
- Air fryer frozen sweet potato fries
- Air fryer potato wedges
- Air fryer salmon bites
- Air fryer banana bread
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer White Asparagus
Equipment
Ingredients
- 800 g white asparagus (approximately 1.8 lbs)
- 1-2 tablespoon butter (or margarine)
- 1 tsp lemon pepper (or the juice of ½ a lemon)
- pinch of sugar
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Set your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and let it preheat.
- Wash the white asparagus thoroughly under cold water to remove any dirt or debris.
- Trim off the woody ends, typically about 1-2 inches from the bottom.
- Using a vegetable peeler, peel the asparagus starting from just below the tip (1-1.5 inches from the tip going down) to the bottom to remove the tough outer layer.
- Cut a piece of parchment paper large enough to wrap the asparagus spears. Dampen the parchment paper with water.
- Place the asparagus in the center of the parchment paper. Add the butter, lemon pepper, a pinch of sugar, salt, and pepper to taste, then combine.
- Use a kitchen thread to wrap the parchment paper securely.
- Place the wrapped asparagus in the preheated air fryer basket and air fry for 30-50 minutes, depending on the thickness of the spears.
- Check for tenderness by carefully bending a spear or piercing the thickest part with a fork or knife.
- Once done, carefully remove the parchment paper from the air fryer. Transfer the asparagus to a plate.
- Optionally, drizzle with a bit more melted butter or sprinkle additional lemon pepper (or lemon juice) before serving.
Notes
- To check for doneness use a fork or the tip of a knife to pierce the thickest part of the asparagus spear. It should go through with slight resistance but not be hard.
- You can also use the bend test; gently bend a spear; it should be pliable but not floppy.
Leave a Reply