Soy Free Steamed Asparagus with Brown Butter
Few side dishes manage to feel both effortless and genuinely impressive, but this one pulls it off with ease. Fresh asparagus is gently steamed right in a skillet until the spears turn vivid green and just tender — that perfect bend-but-don't-flop moment that signals they're ready. The real magic happens in the butter, which gets cooked low and slow until the milk solids turn golden and the whole thing smells deeply nutty and caramelized. That brown butter gets poured straight over the warm spears, where it pools and mingles with flaky sea salt, fresh parsley, and a whisper of thyme. The ingredient list is refreshingly short and completely clean — just real butter, fresh herbs, and good produce, with absolutely nothing hidden to worry about. It's the kind of dish that makes a weeknight dinner feel like something worth sitting down for, and it comes together before you've even finished setting the 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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