Steamed Asparagus with Caper Crumbs

I am the kind of person who does a little hop, skip and jump when I see the produce that signals a season in my local fruit shop. Asparagus is certainly a pointer to spring and pert local asparagus has started to peep into vegetable stands. I love it! This recipe first appeared in my Entertaining book and the original recipe is  such an easy way to dress up gently steamed greens. Asparagus loves to get glammed up with a little salty crunch so this minty, nutty caper crumb is just the ticket.

I’m sharing it today because I want to tell you all the many ways that I adapt the original recipe. See the Variations down below!

Serves: 6
Time: 30 minutes

Method

1. Place bread and lemon zest into mixing bowl and chop 5 sec/speed 8. Without a Thermomix, finely chop in a food processor or use a knife.

2. Add capers, almonds, paprika, parsley, mint and pepper and chop 6 sec/speed 7. Without a Thermomix, finely chop capers, almonds and herb and combine ingredients.

3. Place a large frying pan over medium-high heat and add butter and olive oil. Transfer crumb mixture into pan and fry, stirring frequently, until golden brown and crunchy (5–10 minutes). Transfer into a bowl and set aside.

4. Place water into mixing bowl. Place Varoma dish into position and place asparagus into it. Secure Varoma lid and steam 10 min/Varoma/speed 1. Without a Thermomix, steam over stovetop or cook in microwave. Transfer asparagus into a bowl filled with cold water to cease cooking. Once cooled, drain and transfer onto paper towel and pat dry.

5. Place asparagus onto a serving platter and drizzle with olive oil. Scatter generously with crumbs before serving.

Variations

• Replace almonds with walnuts, pine nuts or hazelnuts, if preferred.
• If asparagus is not in season, use broccolini instead. This crumb (and the variations) also work well on boiled or steamed potatoes. I also love it on grilled cos lettuce.
• Try adding 50 grams (1.8 oz) finely chopped chorizo or bacon to crumb mixture in step 2.
• Use blood orange zest instead of lemon zest and squeeze blood orange juice into the steaming water for a little more citrusy atmosphere. You can grate extra zest over the top to serve too, because it looks so pretty.
• Try anchovies instead of (or as well as) capers.
• Use smoked paprika instead of sweet paprika.
• Add ½ tsp caraway seeds at step 2.
• Sub out some or all of the parsley for sage.
• Use Australian pepperberry instead of black pepper.

Want more delicious asparagus recipes?

• Try my Asparagus Tart with Sour Cream Pastry – this pastry recipe is an essential one to have in your repertoire.
• Low & Slow Asparagus Risotto – I fixed the Thermomix risotto!
• Mushroom & Millet Minestrone – this is a gorgeous soup and I love putting asparagus in it.
• Sea Corn Taco – this is a really fascinating (and very cheffy) recipe with cool and interesting ideas that you can break out and simplify. Chef Shaun Quade has now moved to the US and started a vegan cheese company which is going gangbusters!