White Asparagus

@Modestah (11179)
United States
April 26, 2009 2:05am CST
I got a fabulous price on Asparagus today - 49cents a bundle, I imagine the bundles to be around a pound weight. Could barely believe it! only, I have never cooked white asparagus only green. My son tells me that white asparagus is the same plant as green but it is not permitted sunlight so it does not get the photosynthesis to help its color. Since the price was so wonderful I bought 5 bundles! I sure hope it is good. I am wondering if the flavor is not as strong as in the green. Have you ever cooked/eaten white asparagus? how was it prepared, how was it served. Did you like it?
3 people like this
7 responses
• United States
26 Apr 09
I love white asparagus. My hubby brought some home from the supermarket and I was skeptical but tried it. The flavor is milder than the green type. You really got a great bargain on them! I wish I could find them for such a great price.
1 person likes this
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
27 Apr 09
after eating them tonight for the first time I sure wish I had purchased more than the 5 bundles. delicious! I agree the flavor is a lot milder than the green - but also bitter.
• United States
26 Apr 09
49 cents a bundle?? That is a fantastic price!! At that price I am pretty sure that I would have felt compelled to buy so much of it that I would not be able to eat it all and it would rot in my fridge!! hehehehe. I finally found one asparagus spear growing in one of the numerous wild patches along the road... it was growing way back under a bush and had all kinds of tall grass around it too and was almost totally white! It was just as delicious though! I prefer asparagus raw if I collect it myself, but if I am going to cook it then I prefer it lightly steamed and served with Hollandaise sauce. YUM!
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
26 Apr 09
oh I have never tried raw asparagus... I figured it would be too woody. I also like mine steamed and my family loves the hollandaise sauce. do you cook yours whole spear? I would always steam them standing upright with some foil around the tips - and my children never liked it.... a friend cooked them cut into little bits and the kids devoured them... so now I cook them that way, against my natural inclinations so that the kids will eat them at least.
1 person likes this
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
27 Apr 09
I agree about the woodiness The best asparagus I have had has been home grown, I have never come across any wild grown. these stalks today were about 9 inches long and I probably cut off the bottom 3-4 inches.
• United States
26 Apr 09
I don't know that I've ever eaten a store bought asparagus raw either. I don't think it's possible for them to taste as good as fresh picked though. When I collect my own I do not let the stalks get so long! Once they are taller than 3 or 4 inches they get too woody for my taste. And when I buy them from the store I cut off most of the stalk till there is only the tender tops and maybe 2 or 3 inches below that. Chopping them up like that to make them more appealing to kids sounds good to me! I'd eat them that way too!
@Zelmarq (12585)
• Cebu City, Philippines
27 Apr 09
Ihave not eaten white asparagus.I dont think its available here in our country. Thank you for sharing and have a nice day!
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
27 Apr 09
zel I only started seeing it in our markets the last couple of years. As I understand it it is the same plant as the green asparagus but it is denied sunshine during its growth
• United States
26 Apr 09
49 cents!!! oh wow-that's a steal.last bundle i saw was $3.49,no kidding. i don't think i'd ever had white asparagus..i imagine that cheese sauce would be good for it too..
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
26 Apr 09
yep! it makes me wonder if they were mispriced... but they went through the register and it is a very small store mostly family run so I figured they wanted them sold at that price. maybe they are a little old intended for easter - but they still had nice formation, not wilty tops or anything. Cheese sauce might be good indeed - will try them plain first to get an idea of their flavor and go from there.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
26 Apr 09
I have never had white asparagus.....so you'll have to let me know what it tastes like! I love the green asparagus and my mother and I used to make a meal of creamed asparagus over toast! It's so very nice to see you back! I have missed you!
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
26 Apr 09
Jill I plan on fixing some tonight - we are having veal parmegiano (haven't had that in a decade or so) and figured the asparagus would be an acceptable side. Creamed asparagus on toast - mmmmm! Thank you for missing me, your kind words really touch my heart.
@Archie0 (5636)
26 Apr 09
White asparagus is treated as a medicnal herb in my country that is india, as we know india is land where herbs and ayurveda has born.so we have a deep knowledge on how and which herb works better.asparagus here is made in powdered form mixing some more herbs which is then suppose to be mixed up with warm milk and then taken before sleeping at night. it is said that it helps in giving strength both mentally and phsyically as well as heals skin and inner parts of the body.
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
26 Apr 09
that is really intersting to me, Archie! thank you for sharing this information.
@kuan01 (135)
• Philippines
26 Apr 09
I've never seen a white one.