Asparagus.
It tastes weird and makes your pee smell even weirder.
Why, you wonder?
Well, it tastes weird because…it just tastes weird…and it makes your urine smell like sewage because it contains asparagusic acid, which the body turns into sulfur-containing compounds.
If you’ve always avoided this veggie for one or both of these reasons, then I invite you to give these asparagus recipes a try.
Your pee is still gonna stink (nothing we can do about that), but they’re packed with essential nutrients and, as you’ll see, they’re quite tasty too.
For example, if you’re looking for a delicious new take on breakfast, try the Egg-In-a-Basket Grilled Cheese with Sautéed Asparagus.
If you’ve got a thing for all things Mediterranean, I think you’ll love the Grilled Asparagus Salad with Feta & Hazelnuts.
And if you want to really indulge, go in for the Asparagus-Spinach Pesto Pasta with Blackened Shrimp and you can thank me later. 🙂
Enjoy!
Asparagus is nutritious yet low in calories. To turn it into a substantial salad that’ll keep you full, mix it with lentils.
This veggie salad also has green beans, potatoes, and olives for added nutrition. It’s finished with a caper-shallot dressing, and the base is a simple white wine vinaigrette.
325
Calories12 g
Protein35 g
Carbs18 g
FatCaper Shallot Dressing:
1 small shallot, finely minced (about 2 Tbsp.)
2 Tbsp. capers, minced
1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Asparagus-Lentil Salad:
1/2 cup French lentils, rinsed
1/2 lb. mini potatoes
1/3 lb. green beans, stems removed
1 1/2 lbs. asparagus, ends trimmed off
1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/4 cup pitted black olives, cut in half
4–5 radishes, cut into wedges
1 Tbsp. minced chives
Get the RecipeOne of the biggest differences between white asparagus and the usual green variety is the color.
The flavor is slightly milder, but one of the only things missing is chlorophyll. So go ahead and get white asparagus if you see it in the market, and use it for an awesome healthy recipe like this.
251
Calories9 g
Protein9 g
Carbs21 g
Fat20 spears white asparagus
20 thin Serrano ham slices (about 5 oz.)
Handful of fresh spinach leaves
2 Tbsp. sour cream
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 tsp. sugar
4 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. butter
Get the RecipeGrilled asparagus can be good with just olive oil, salt, and a squeeze of lemon juice. But it doesn’t take much more to upgrade it to an awesome summer appetizer to serve at a backyard cookout.
This recipe has other veggies like red onion, arugula, and grape tomatoes. The best part, though, is the topping of hazelnuts and crumbled feta cheese.
212
Calories7 g
Protein10 g
Carbs18 g
Fat1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
16 spears asparagus (about 1 bunch), trimmed
3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 cups baby arugula
2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup crumbled feta
1/4 cup toasted unsalted hazelnuts
Get the RecipeVegetables don’t always have to taste like a healthy side dish. This asparagus is coated in a mix of Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and bread crumbs, then finished in the oven for a short time.
Altogether it takes 20 minutes or less from start to finish, so you can prepare this while you wait for your protein of choice to cook.
104
Calories6 g
Protein12 g
Carbs5 g
Fat1 lb. asparagus spears, trimmed
Cooking spray
1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup (about 1 oz.) grated Parmesan
2 tsp. grated lemon zest
1 tsp. canola oil
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tsp. unsalted butter, melted
Get the RecipeEven if someone at your table doesn’t love asparagus, you can sneak this healthy spring veggie into the meal. Make a pesto sauce for pasta with spinach and asparagus, and no one will be the wiser.
It looks the same as the traditional pesto made with fresh basil, and it still has pine nuts for a similar flavor. Serve with less pesto to reduce fat per serving.
601
Calories33 g
Protein49 g
Carbs32 g
FatPasta:
1 lb. dried whole-wheat pasta
1 lb. raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 Tbsp. blackening powder (or Cajun seasoning)
1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
Asparagus-Spinach Pesto:
1 bunch asparagus spears (about 1 lb.), ends trimmed and cut into 2” pieces
3 cups baby spinach leaves, loosely packed
4 cloves garlic, peeled
1/2 cup (about 2 oz.) freshly grated Parmesan
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Get the RecipeAsparagus doesn’t just have to be a side dish or salad. Here it’s part of a whole meal, stuffed inside a salmon fillet with ricotta and fresh basil.
There’s tons to enjoy here, in terms of both flavor and nutrients, so you don’t really need a side dish. If you need something, mashed cauliflower or brown rice is all it takes for a full plate.
347
Calories46 g
Protein6 g
Carbs15 g
Fat4 (5 oz.) salmon fillets, skins removed
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 container (12 oz.) fat-free ricotta
1/2 cup (about 2 oz.) grated parmesan
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil
2 tsp. lemon zest
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/2 lb. asparagus, trimmed
1 Tbsp. butter
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tsp. cornstarch
Get the RecipeEggs in a basket are a favorite American breakfast. They’re an easy way to cook eggs and toast in one dish. Make space in the middle of sandwich bread, creating a circle with either a biscuit cutter or the rim of a round glass.
But in this grilled cheese, that’s just the start. After making the skillet eggs and toast, that’s turned into an asparagus sandwich with melted cheese.
402
Calories22 g
Protein28 g
Carbs24 g
Fat2 slices whole-wheat bread
2 large eggs
1 Tbsp. butter
3–4 spears asparagus, sliced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Get the RecipeWhen asparagus is in season, winter root vegetables like celery root are also in the market. And it’s delicious to combine them to transition from cold weather to springtime.
Then you also benefit from the nutrients like vitamin C, which is found in both asparagus and celery root.
139
Calories6 g
Protein13 g
Carbs9 g
Fat2 bunches asparagus, washed and trimmed
Zest of 1 lemon
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 head celery root, peeled and roughly cubed
1 large shallot, peeled, trimmed, and thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 cup milk (or non-dairy milk of choice)
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Get the RecipeThis asparagus quiche is the ultimate breakfast because, instead of using regular pastry dough, it’s baked in a hash brown crust. Basically you’ll get three brunch items – eggs, hash browns, and veggies – in one bite.
And once the quiche in the oven, you can kick back and drink coffee until brunch is served.
317
Calories14 g
Protein18 g
Carbs21 g
Fat4 medium russet potatoes (about 2 lbs.), peeled
1 1/2 tsp. salt, divided
3/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, divided
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, divided
4 medium shallots, thinly sliced
6 large eggs, room temp.
1 1/4 cups half-and-half
1 tsp. mustard powder
Pinch of grated nutmeg
1 Tbsp. finely chopped tarragon
1 1/2 cups (about 5 oz.) grated Fontina cheese
3/4 cup (about 4 oz.) fresh goat cheese, crumbled
1/2 lb. asparagus, ends trimmed
Get the RecipeHeavy cream is usually the main ingredient to make asparagus soup into a rich appetizer. But you don’t have to add that much fat to fresh veggies in order to make an amazing soup.
This recipe uses Greek yogurt with a spoonful of olive oil instead to add more protein with a fraction of the fat. Each bowl of soup has a whopping 15 grams of protein, so it even makes a great post-workout snack.
165
Calories15 g
Protein16 g
Carbs5 g
Fat1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 leek, cleaned and thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 1/2 lbs. asparagus, ends trimmed off, cut into 1–2” pieces
1/2 cup frozen peas
Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth (or vegetable stock)
1 cup water
1 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
1/4 cup shaved Parmesan, for topping
Get the RecipeWho knew quarantine cooking could be so tasty?
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Many companies use shipping and handling fees to increase their profit margins, but here at Legion, we hate profits, so our shipping is free!
Okay, so we do dig on profits, but we also go in for happy customers, and free shipping works like gangbusters. So, if you live in the UK, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Puerto Rico, or Guam, your order ships free when it’s over $199.
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Also, if you don’t absolutely love our stuff for whatever reason, we don’t request you deliver it to a PO box in the Gobi Desert by carrier pigeon.
We just . . . wait for it . . . give you your money back. No returns. No forms. No nonsense. Holy moo cows.
That means you can say “yes” now and decide later. You really have nothing to lose.
Many companies use shipping and handling fees to increase their profit margins, but here at Legion, we hate profits, so our shipping is free!
Okay, so we do dig on profits, but we also go in for happy customers, and free shipping works like gangbusters. So, if you’re outside the USA, your order ships free when it’s over $299.
Why the restriction on international orders? Unfortunately, shipping abroad is very expensive, and if we didn’t require a minimum order size, we’d lose a lot of money. But! We're also hustling to improve our international logistics and will be passing our savings along to our international customers.
Also, if you don’t absolutely love our stuff for whatever reason, we don’t request you deliver it to a PO box in the Gobi Desert by carrier pigeon.
We just . . . wait for it . . . give you your money back. No returns. No forms. No nonsense. Holy moo cows.
That means you can say “yes” now and decide later. You really have nothing to lose.
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