Spring Asparagus With Easy Tasty Dips

Spring asparagus is a real treat and serving it simply with this creamy garlic Italian dip and my easy Asian-inspired dipping sauce turns it into a fabulous feast and the perfect starter or a great light lunch with French bread on the side.

What’s to love about this recipe?

• This asparagus with dips recipe is super easy, don’t you just love an easy recipe?
• You can pull this asparagus recipe together in just 10 minutes, now that’s real fast food!
• Asparagus is good for you and tastes delicious

I’m serving my asparagus with both an Asian-inspired dipping sauce and also with a creamy Italian mayonnaise style dip. You can make your own mayonnaise, check out my how to make the easiest foolproof mayonnaise recipe.

Asparagus

The most common type of asparagus is green, that’s the asparagus we see in our supermarkets here in the UK. However, in France, the more delicate white asparagus is available at all the local markets in spring and this is simply delicious.

You can also get a smaller purple variety of asparagus too.

Asparagus is really good for you health-wise; it’s packed with vitamins and nutrients, asparagus is a particularly rich source of glutathione which helps fight against cancer.

It’s one of the top-ranked fruits and vegetables for its ability to neutralize cell-damaging free radicals. This may help slow the ageing process and reduce inflammation.

Asparagus is a great source of fibre so it fills you up and keeps the gut moving. Plus, asparagus is a natural diuretic so helps you get rid of any nasties in your body.

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How to prepare asparagus

Always cut off the hard woody base from the bottom of the asparagus spears. If you are using thin asparagus as I am here you don’t have to do anything else.

However, if you are using thicker stalks of asparagus you may have to peel the stalks so that they are more tender. Simply use a vegetable peeler to take off the outer layer of the asparagus. Leave the tip where it is, that’s super tasty!

How to cook asparagus

You can serve asparagus fresh, raw. However, mostly asparagus is cooked. You can cook steam it, boil it or fry in olive oil or butter.

You can also simply place the asparagus on a griddle pan as I have and give it barely a minute on each side.

Ingredients for the Asian inspired dip

A red chilli pepper, fresh lime for its juice. Fresh ginger, clear honey and those traditional Asian ingredients of soy sauce and sesame oil.

1/2 lime juiced and zested

1/2 tsp chopped red chilli pepper

1/4 tsp grated fresh ginger

1 tsp clear honey

1 tbsp soy sauce

1/2 tbsp sesame oil

How to make the Asian dip

Finely chop the chilli and crush it with the ginger into the honey, this really brings out the flavour. Stir with the lime juice and zest, soy sauce and sesame oil.

you can use this dipping sauce right away or if you have time set it aside for about half an hour to really let those flavours dance and mingle together.

Ingredients for Italian inspired dipping sauce

1 fat clove of garlic

2 tbsp mayonnaise

1/2 tbsp olive oil

1/2 lemon juice plus 1/2 tsp lemon zest

1 tbsp grated parmesan or other hard cheese

How to make the Italian dipping sauce

Grate or finely chop the garlic and mix with mayonnaise, add all the other ingredients, season with salt and pepper to taste.

Again, if you have time set this aside for half an hour to let the flavours develop.

How to serve asparagus with dips

Cook the asparagus whichever way you like and serve with these dipping sauces at the side of the plate. Add some fresh crusty French bread to make it a real treat.

This recipe makes more than enough dipping sauce which will keep in the fridge for a few days and both can be used in other ways.

Use the Italian sty;e dip with crisps, chips and veggies. You can also spread this mayonnaise style dip onto sandwiches too.

The Asian inspired dipping sauce is terrific stirred into a stirfry or just added to a simple bowl of rice. You can also use it with spring rolls as a tasty dip too.

Looking for more easy asparagus recipes? Then check these out before you go;

Chilled cream of asparagus soup with almonds and thyme

Ham and asparagus pizza bianca with honey and Brie

Salmon, broccolini and asparagus traybake

Easy chicken and asparagus risotto

How to make classic asparagus mimosa

Finally, if you do try this recipe don’t forget to leave a comment/star rating below as I just love to hear from readers. Want more Larder Love? Then follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter and sign up for my newsletter too of course.