Black Pepper Free Steamed Asparagus with Brown Butter
Asparagus has a natural elegance that really shines when you keep the seasoning simple and intentional. Steaming the spears right in a skillet with just a shallow pool of water keeps them bright green and perfectly tender without any fuss or special equipment. The real star here is the brown butter — a few minutes of patient swirling transforms plain unsalted butter into something deeply nutty and golden, coating every spear in rich, toasty flavor. Fresh flat-leaf parsley and optional thyme add a pop of color and herbal brightness that rounds everything out beautifully. For anyone avoiding black pepper due to sensitivity or intolerance, this dish is a genuine treat — the sea salt and herbs do all the heavy lifting, and nothing feels like a compromise. It comes together in minutes and works just as well as a weeknight side as it does on a dinner party table.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 1 lb fresh asparagus, woody ends snapped off
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Arrange the asparagus in a single layer in a large skillet. Add enough cold water to reach about 1/4 inch up the sides of the pan. Cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then steam for 3–5 minutes, until the spears are bright green and just tender when pierced at the thickest point with a paring knife — they should bend slightly but not flop.
- 2
Transfer the asparagus to a serving platter using tongs and discard the steaming water. Pat the skillet dry or use a separate small light-colored saucepan for the butter.
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