How to Use Up Leftover Asparagus

Asparagus can be a pretty popular side dish with big holiday meals. The opportunities are also present throughout the year to buy bunches of this green vegetable at sale prices too good to pass up. So once the meal is served and the dishes are cleared from the table, there is still quite a bit of asparagus remaining. What is to be done with remaining ten to fifteen stalks on the plate? Should they be thrown away? No, take advantage of the extra asparagus by preparing it in one of these four tasty ways.

Using up leftover asparagus: Omelettes

One of the easiest ways to use leftover asparagus is by preparing omelets stuffed with asparagus. The asparagus can be pulled from the refrigerator and sautéed briefly with the additions of chopped bacon or ham. Once these ingredients get warm, the egg is poured into the pan and finished with a topping of cheese. The cheese topping can be omitted and substituted for a delicious hollandaise sauce.

This same concept can be applied if a frittata or quiche is desired. Eggs, cheese and asparagus all work well together and these dishes will work for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Using up leftover asparagus: Primavera

Take the leftover asparagus and cut the stalks into bite size pieces. Add to this vegetable medley some chopped mushrooms, tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, onion, and basil. Sauté the vegetables until tender and add some cooked pasta and primavera sauce. This dish is great when you have a host of summer fresh vegetables and may even go over well with the kids.

Using up leftover asparagus: Soup

Many people take the burden of extra asparagus to mean one follow up meal, cream of asparagus soup. This dish is easy to make as cream of asparagus soup can be accomplished with pureed asparagus in a blender with added vegetable or chicken stock, fresh herbs, seasonings, and a choice of whipping cream, sour cream, or cream cheese. Once the asparagus is pureed with the soup stock, pour into sauce pan and heat thoroughly. Add the seasonings and cream and serve with some French bread.

Using up leftover asparagus: Risotto

A great leftover helper usual involves cheese and rice (or pasta). Risotto is a great way to absorb this extra green vegetable into the next meal. The leftover asparagus chopped up will become a great starter for making an awesome risotto to go with the main meal. Add some mushrooms and chopped bacon bits into the asparagus risotto and serve with a roast or grilled meat.