Gluten Free Steamed Asparagus with Brown Butter
Tender asparagus spears meet a glossy, nutty brown butter sauce in this elegant side dish that feels far more impressive than the effort involved. The asparagus is steamed right in a skillet with just a splash of water, keeping the spears bright green and perfectly crisp-tender — no mushy, overcooked vegetables here. Then the real magic happens in the pan: butter slowly cooked until the milk solids turn golden and the whole kitchen smells like toasted hazelnuts. A shower of fresh parsley and thyme ties everything together with a pop of color and herbaceous freshness. This is the kind of dish that naturally sidesteps gluten concerns without any substitutions or workarounds — every single ingredient is inherently clean and simple. No sauces from a bottle, no flour-thickened dressings, no hidden additives to second-guess. Just fresh produce, real butter, and good salt. It works beautifully as a weeknight side or an elegant addition to a dinner party spread, and it comes together in minutes from start to finish.
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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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