Asparagus question??

[Katie-pie]

Is it true that if I peel the "woody" ends of my asparagus, it can be used like regular asparagus?

I made Sesame Asparagus Salad last weekend and saved the ends. I wanted to make a cream of crab and asparagus soup. Do I need to buy more asparagus or can I use the ends?

[LGBurns]

I'm sure that's true: my mom used to peel and use the woody parts of both broccoli and asparagus and it tasted fine. Especially if the soup calls for you to blend the vegetable into the soup, which I expect it does for a cream soup. I'd love to hear how your soup turns out--I love crab!

[Katie-pie]

Thanks for your help! I'll give it a whirl...

[greysangel]

Katie-Pie;

I would love to hear how that soup turns out as well. I had some cream of asparagus and crab soup at Tujaque's in New Orleans and the soup was better than the meal!! YUM http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

JeAnne

[ewatkins]

I was always told to take each piece and let it break off naturally, usually about the bottom 1/4. That I throw away, but I guess you could use for a soup base. Then, what's left, I peel with a parer, and we eat the whole thing! I ignore any recipe that calls for only tips--what a waste of great asparagus.
By the way, I also peel and steam broccoli stems -- I think they're the sweetest part.

[Anne]

I remember my mother peeling the base ends of asparagus and broccoli and adding them to stir fry at the last minute as a substitute for water chestnuts (the substitution was for the crunchy texture, not for the flavor. I still peel my broccoli stems and I agree with ewatkins - they are very sweet.