How to make pickled asparagus at home? Pickled Asparagus comes with a lot of health benefits especially when consumed in moderation. They have a flavorful pleasant taste that can be served and enjoyed as a side meal, condiments, or appetizers.
The name “pickled asparagus” is given because it involves the immersion of your asparagus into a solution of water, salt, vinegar, and other ingredients of your choice. Apart from its tangy taste, the pickling process helps to preserve its freshness for a long time.
How To Make Pickled Asparagus?
Ingredients, Cook Time, Step To Make
Ingredients
1. Water
2. Fresh asparagus
3. Pickling salt
4. White vinegar
5. Garlic gloves
6. Red pepper flakes or dill weeds
7. Containers or jars
Cook Time
It takes about twenty to thirty minutes to prepare or make your pickled asparagus fully.
Steps To Make
1. Your asparagus must be properly washed, trimmed, and peeled.
2. The container or the canning jars and their covers must be thoroughly sterilized.
3. For the standard procedure, add a cup of water and a cup of vinegar to your saucepan. You then add one tablespoon of salt to the mixture.
4. The next step is to heat the liquid solution until it starts boiling.
5. Additional ingredients like dill weeds, red pepper flakes, or garlic cloves can be included. However, it is important to note that they are optional.
6. After placing your thoroughly washed and trimmed asparagus in each sterilized jar, you then pour your already boiled mixture into the pot.
7. It is best to leave an inch of space in the jar before covering it finally.
8. Place the jars in a water bath for about fifteen minutes and then bring them out to cool naturally on a cooling rack or towel.
9. If you hear a popping sound during the cooling process then it means that it was appropriately covered. But if the jars are not covered well, do not fail to store them in the refrigerator quickly. Also, it must be consumed within a few weeks.
10. For best results, you should allow it to properly soak for about a week before consumption. This will ensure that the flavors and ingredients are deeply immersed.
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How Long Will Pickled Asparagus Last?
Pickled asparagus can last up to a year, only if it is prepared and stored properly.
Incorrect preparation methods and failure to store them in a conducive environment can cause them to spoil quickly.
That is why it is very important that you follow the right steps and ingredients needed for its preparation.
You can store them in a cool dry place like your pantry or cupboard.
You must note that pickled asparagus can only last up to a year in an unopened state.
Once opened, it can last for two or three months.
At this point, it is best that you store them in the refrigerator as it helps to preserve their quality for some time.
Do I Have To Blanch Before Pickling?
No, you don’t have to blanch before pickling your asparagus. This step is totally optional and depends solely on you.
Most people love to blanch their asparagus because it helps to maintain the color, enhance its taste, and texture,
And the slaying of minor contamination since it involves boiling.
On the other hand, if you do not blanch your asparagus, you will notice that the texture will not be crispy but soft.
Also, the color may look dull instead of bright and it may taste a little bit raw.
Are Pickled Asparagus Healthy?
Pickled asparagus is very healthy to consume as it contains essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber.
They also contain some probiotics which help in improving the health of your gut.
However, they must be consumed in moderation as they contain a high amount of sodium, acid, and sugar.
These combinations can be very detrimental to your health if taken in large quantities and regularly.
In order to enhance the nutritional benefits of your pickled asparagus,
You must ensure that the ingredients used which include the asparagus are fresh, natural with high quality.
Best Pickled Asparagus For Canning?
Of course, You have to have to can pickled asparagus to make it last longer, and here’s the best way to do that;
How To Can Asparagus At Home
1. After washing your asparagus and preparing the liquid mixture in a saucepan, it is very important that you properly sterilize your jars and their covers before canning.
2. The next step is to place your well-trimmed asparagus into the sterilized jar and then pour the solution. You must ensure that the liquid mixture has completely covered the asparagus. It is important that you leave an inch of half-inch head space in the jar before canning.
3. Use a tool like a spatula which is nonmetallic to gently tap the jar as it helps to remove any trapped air or bubbles inside the container.
4. The following step is to properly seal it with your sterilized lid or cover so that it doesn’t get contaminated.
5. Place the sealed jar in a boiling bath of water for about ten to fifteen minutes. You must ensure that it is fully immersed for the best results. Bring it out and allow it to cool. If you hear any popping sound, it means that your canning process and the sealing was successful. If you do not hear the popping sound, then you must store it in the refrigerator immediately.
6. Label them correctly with specific dates. It is very important that you label and store them properly as it helps you to keep track of time.
10 Best Substitutes For Asparagus
Here are the ten best veggies that you can pickle in place of Asparagus;
- Cauliflower
- Artichoke hearts
- Brussels sprouts
- Spinach
- Snow peas
- Fiddlehead ferns
- Cabbage
- Zucchini
- Green beans
- Broccoli
How To Spice Pickled Asparagus
Spicing your pickled asparagus is not that difficult.
After you have followed the normal process of preparing your asparagus and its liquid mixture, you can now add some spices to the liquid solution.
Some spices include dill, garlic cloves, black peppercorn, red pepper flakes, or any other spice of your choice.
Adding these various spices also helps to enhance the taste which makes it more appealing and enjoyable.
However, it is good that you know that adding spice to your pickled asparagus is optional.
Do You Salt Asparagus Before Cooking?
Yes, you can decide to salt your asparagus before cooking it.
All you have to do is sprinkle a little bit of salt on the asparagus before cooking it. Doing this will help to enhance its flavor.
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3 Best Ways On How To Blanch Asparagus
Here are the best methods to blanch Pickled Asparagus;
1. Boiling:
This method involves boiling water in a clean pot. Then you add your already trimmed asparagus inside the boiling water.
Add a little bit of salt to the water and allow it to boil for about three minutes.
You must ensure that the texture of your asparagus is slightly soft and the color is bright.
After boiling, you then bring it out from the pot and place it in a bowl of cold water.
This will help to quickly stop the cooking process, after which you can now use it for any desired purpose.
2. Microwave:
Using this method involves placing your trimmed asparagus in the safe dish of your microwave.
Add a little amount of water to the safe dish and then cover it up properly.
The next step is to microwave your asparagus and make sure that it is on high heat.
Allow it to stay for about two to three minutes before bringing it out and transferring it to a bowl of cold water.
3. Steaming:
After trimming your asparagus to the right size, the next step is to place your steamer basket on top of the clean pot of boiling water.
Place the trimmed asparagus in the steamer and cover the pot.
Allow it to steam for about four minutes before bringing it out.
And transferring it to a bowl so that it cools down properly before usage.
How Do You Keep Pickled Asparagus
The best way to keep your asparagus is by placing them in a very conducive environment that is cool and dry.
In an unopened condition, you can store them in the pantry or counter.
Do not place them in an area that is exposed to sunlight or close to any form of heat source like a microwave or oven.
Once opened, it is best that you store them in the refrigerator as it helps to preserve the quality and freshness.
How To Tell If Pickled Asparagus Is Bad
Here are the best tips on how to know if your freshly pickled asparagus is going stale;
1. If you notice that there are some visible changes in the color, cloudiness, or the development of molds, then it means that it has gone bad.
2. A good sniff test can also be of help especially when trying to identify a bad pickled asparagus.
If it smells awful or unpleasant, then you must discard it immediately.
3. If the texture of your pickled asparagus is too soggy, soft, or slimy, then it means that it has gone bad and must be discarded quickly.
4. Just like smelling your pickled asparagus, you can also taste a very little portion of it.
If it tastes different, bitter or sour, then you must do the needful by disposing of it immediately.
5. Whenever you notice frequent gas release or too much bubbling as you open the jar,
It could be that it has undergone fermentation. This new development means that your pickled asparagus is unsafe to consume.
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Conclusion
Pickled Asparagus is very enjoyable especially when prepared in the right way.
It is very important that you ensure that the environment used for preparation is very clean.
The utensils must be washed and sterilized.
The asparagus and other ingredients used for preparation must be of high quality so that they can last longer.
Remember, we started with how to make pickled asparagus at home.