Asparagus and Eggs

Asparagus and eggs go together really well and there are a wide range of combinations.

They make a great breakfast or lunch time snack. As for the eggs free range win everytime.

Take a look at the selection of options below then experiment for yourself with variations on the theme.

If you have asparagus ready to eat and eggs in the larder you'll always be able to come up with something delicious to eat.

Asparagus and Boiled Eggs

If you've never soft boiled an egg, popped it in an egg cup and used some freshly steamed or even raw asparagus as soldiers to dip in the egg (instead of the customary toast fingers) you really need to give it a try. Its very simple.

1. Prepare your asparagus by snapping the ends off and rinsing in cold water.
2. Bring some water to the boil in a pan and lower your eggs in gently so they don't crack, bring back to the boil and turn the heat down to a simmer. Simmer for 3-4 minutes according to how big the eggs are and how runny you like them.
   
3. Whilst the eggs are boiling steam the asparagus lightly (just a few minutes in the microwave will do the job)
   
4. When cooked take the eggs out of the pan with a slotted spoon, place in an egg cup and take the top off with a spoon to stop them cooking.
5. Sprinle a little salt in the top of the eggs.
6. Serve with the cooked asparagus dipping the asparagus into the egg.
7. Finger must be used, mess must be made and Yummyness will prevail!
   

Asparagus and Scrambled Eggs

Srambled eggs lend themselves to being served with asparagus. My suggestion woudl be scrambled egg on toast with grilled or roasted asparagus lying on top served as a rather special easter brunch or mothers day breakfast treat. (Hope my duaghter is reading this).

Here's our recipe:

1. Preheat oven to roast the asparagus in to 400F, 200C or put grill on to pre-heat if grilling.
   
2. Whisk together 4 eggs (for a good portion for two people) wth a dash of milk and a knob of butter, season with salt and pepper.
3. Prepare the asparagus and roast following our roasting asparagus instructions (or grill if you prefer.
4. While the asparagus is roasting or grilling place the egg mixture in a small pan or microwave dish. Either cook on the hob in the pan on a low heat stirring continuously or cook in the microwave stopping every 30 seconds to stir. If like me you liek your scarmbled eggs creamy be very careful not to overcook them and remember they will continue to cook a little until you get them on the plate. If like my daughter you like your scrambled eggs dry and overcooked feel free to massacre them by cooking them a bit longer!
5. A few minute before everything is ready put your favourite bread on to toast.
6. When ready butter the toast lightly, put the egg on the toast and the asparagus on top of the srambled egg.
   
7. I can't imagine anyone turning down that breakfast delight.
   

Asparagus and Poached Eggs or Fried Eggs

A bed of crisscrossed steamed asparagus is quickly turned into something that bit more by balancing a freshly cooked paoched or fried egg on top. If the center of you egg is nice and runny give it a quick cut with your knife and enjoy the belnd of flavours as you tuck into your asparagus with its sheen of runy egg yolk. 

Try adding a few crumbs of grated cheese for even more bold flavours with your asparagus and eggs.

Asparagus Omlette

I love an omlette and if you are a dab hand with an omelette you can add anything you fancy for a change of flavour. I was taught how to cook omlettes in my first year at University and the key has stuck with me since then. The knack I was taught was that after a few minutes with the mix in the pan start lifting different corners of the setting egg to allow some of the runny mixture to run under the cooking egg to form a new layer underneath.

If you do this continuously you will end up with a lovely fluffy omlette which you can either fold over to finish off or pop under the grill to brown on top.

So to cook an omlette with asparagus in it:

1. Prepare asparagus by snapping of the ends, rinsing in cold water and chopping into short lenghts.
2. Whisk up about 6 eggs, a little milk and a knob of butter, season with salt and pepper.  
   
3. Give the asparagus a quick two minute fry in a small amount of olive oil just to lightly cook.
4. Put the asparagus on a side plate.
5. Heat a little oil in a frying pan (ideally non stick), tip the egg mixture into the pan and useing my tip above allow to cook for a while lifting the edges to allow mix underneath.
6. When nearly cooked add the asparagus along with any other ingrediants you fancy.....i suggest trying sweetcorn, mushrooms, fresh herbs, grated cheese, pieces of ham, tuna, pre-cooked bacon etc. but not all at once!
7. As suggested above finish by either folding over and cooking for a further minute or two until the center is just set or pop under a pre-heated grill to brown thte top off.
8. Serve hot either as it is or with some salad or crusty bread.
9. My daughter would add: Don't forget the tomoato ketchup!!! 

For Best Results with Asparagus and Eggs

For best results I cannot recommned more highly using in season farm shop or out of the garden asparagus and eggs whose mummy's spent their days running around outside.

Nutritional Value of Asparagus and Eggs

Combining asparagus and eggs will give you a meal or snack combining a number of  components of your diet: protein, vitamins, fibre and fat. The amount of fat will vary according to how much butter you put on the asparagus so go easy with the butter if you are trying to cut back on fat, otherwise this will make a excellent part of a sensible balanced diet.

Other Ways to combine Asparagus and Eggs

Asparagus Frittata is a really great lunch box cut and come again asparagus recipe.

Asparagus Souffle is a more sophiositcated way to eat asparagus and

Hardboiled eggs and asparagus make a very tasty basis for a salad

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