Asparagus and Peas Recipe
Dutch Oven Asparagus and Peas is made with simple, spring fresh ingredients that yields bright bold flavors with every bite.
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 316kcal
Equipment
- 5 quart enameled Dutch oven or larger
Ingredients
- 2 lbs asparagus trimmed and sliced
- 3 cups frozen sweet peas
- 1 lb bacon chopped
- 1 leek halved and sliced
- 3 tablespoon butter
- ½ tablespoon tarragon fresh, chopped
- 1 tablespoon parsley fresh, chopped
- 1 tablespoon chives fresh, chopped
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt +/- to taste
- ½ teaspoon pepper +/- to taste
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Bring a large saucepan of water to boil over high heat; salt generously
- Prep all the ingredients
- Heat the Dutch oven over medium high heat and cook the bacon for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the leeks to the bacon and cook until bacon is done, another 2-3 minutes.
- Blanch the asparagus for 1 minute then add the peas boiling for an additional 1 minutes; drain and rinse under cold water.
- Add the butter to the bacon and leeks, once melted, add the blanched asparagus and peas.
- Stir in the tarragon, parsley, and chives.
- Season with the salt and pepper then squeeze in the fresh lemon juice. Serve and enjoy.
Video
Notes
Expert Tips:
- Snap, don't cut, the woody ends. The stalk snaps naturally at the transition between tough and tender fibers. Cutting with a knife means guessing where the tender part starts.
- Salt the blanching water generously. It should taste like the sea. This seasons the vegetables from the inside out, something a post-cook sprinkle cannot match.
- Don't overcook the peas. One minute in the boiling water is plenty. Overcooking turns them army-green and mushy.
- Drain excess bacon fat, but keep a tablespoon. The best asparagus and bacon dishes keep just enough rendered fat to carry flavor without making the dish greasy.
- Add the lemon last. Acid dulls the vibrant green color if applied too early. Squeeze it on just before serving for maximum brightness.
Nutrition
Calories: 316kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 825mg | Potassium: 522mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1567IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 4mg
