Whole Story

With Sure Deals, more than $56 in coupons, 11 new budget-friendly recipes, a daily meal planner and money-saving tips, The Whole Deal value guide is all about seizing the most of the season for less money.

Asparagus is one of the season’s superstars – freshest and at its best during the spring.

Hot or cold, sautéed or steamed, roasted or grilled, this versatile vegetable can do it all so don’t waste a spear. Here are five of our favorite (read: tastiest) ways to make the most of asparagus season:

5 Money-Saving Asparagus Tips

1. Chopped. It takes just a few stems to add flavor and nutrients to a (budget-friendly) frittata for brunch or dinner.
2. Puréed. Make the star of the season shine in a soup, stretching with puréed potatoes, or in baby food (see below). Try this delightfully green Creamy Spring Asparagus Soup.
3. Shaved. Get two dishes from one bunch by reserving a stalk or two from the first recipe, and using a veggie peeler to shave into a green salad, as in this Spring Salad with Strawberries and Creamy Orange-Avocado Dressing.
4. Tossed. Stretch your asparagus power by adding a lightly steamed and chopped stalk to tuna (a Sure Deal), shrimp, chicken or egg salad.
5. Wrapped. Trim your asparagus serving size by adding a cooked spear to a wrap sandwich with smoked ham or turkey (download coupon) and Dijon mustard (a Sure Deal).

Although some people don’t discover asparagus until adulthood (gasp!), it’s a veggie for all ages. Featuring in-season, fresh asparagus (preferably organic), Asparagus Baby Food is just right for your little one as is, but you can combine with puréed potatoes or apples if their tiny taste buds prefer. (At only 58¢ per serving, it will nourish your budget too!)

Asparagus Baby Food

About six 1/4-cup servings

Ingredients:

1 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces

Method:

Steam in a steamer basket set over 1 inch of water in a large, covered pot until tender, about 10 minutes; reserve cooking water. Purée in a food processor until smooth, adding a tablespoon or 2 of the cooking water, if needed. If desired, push purée through a fine sieve. Cover and chill for up to 3 days, or freeze in tightly sealed containers.

If those ideas whet your palate, we’ve got more than 50 recipes that spotlight asparagus to satiate your hunger.

Have a favorite asparagus idea or recipe? I would love to hear it.