Asian Stir Fried Asparagus

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posted by Liz Berg

on June 28, 2023 (updated 5/3/24)

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This Asian Stir Fry Asparagus is a delicious change of pace from my typical roasting recipes made with simple pantry ingredients.

A little soy sauce, sugar, sherry, and garlic provide a terrific flavor profile for this Easy Asparagus Recipe the whole family will love.

Asian Stir Fried Asparagus - Healthy & Flavorful! - That Skinny Chick Can Bake (1)

Table of Contents hide

1 Why You Must Make

2 Ingredient Notes:

3 Recipe Tips

4 Frequently Asked Questions

5 You May Also Like

6 Asian Stir Fried Asparagus

Why You Must Make

My go-to recipe for asparagus has been to roast it with a drizzle of olive oil, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Easy, peasy. Occasionally, I’ll add a sprinkle of grated Parmesan near the end of cooking time a la Ina Garten. Then I have a fabulous balsamic brown butter sauce that is also a winner over asparagus.

This sauteed asparagus is a totally different route, a tasty change of pace from my go-to roasting technique.
The Asian flavors are marvelous with asparagus.
A few simple pantry ingredients are all you need to make this stir fry after picking up some beautiful seasonal asparagus!

Ingredient Notes:

Kitchen Staples – Sugar, Fresh Garlic, Olive Oil
Fresh Asparagus – Washed, trimmed, and cut into 1 ½-inch pieces.
Soy Sauce – I keep the Kikkoman brand on hand.
Dry Sherry – Alcohol is always a flavor enhancer like salt. Most of the alcohol will evaporate during the cooking time.
Ginger – Peel, then finely mince. It’s optional, but a popular flavoring in many Asian stir fry recipes.

Asian Stir Fried Asparagus - Healthy & Flavorful! - That Skinny Chick Can Bake (2)

Recipe Tips

I spent my junior year of high school in Vancouver, British Columbia. My dad took a sabbatical at the University of British Columbia and we swapped homes with another Physics professor who got to move to Ames, Iowa. We got the better deal for sure! My mom made stir fry green beans while we lived there….and I loved them so much, I tweaked the recipe slightly and used asparagus.

When buying asparagus, look at the tips. They should be tight and fresh appearing, not dried or soft and moist.
The asparagus ends can be woody. Make sure to remove the tough ends. If you bend your spears, they will naturally break between the woody stems and the more tender spears. But you will waste less if you trim them with a knife.
Or use a vegetable peeler to remove the tough outer layer.
For a fancy look, cut your asparagus spears on the diagonal.
I use fresh ginger when I make this recipe with beans, but I prefer the asparagus without. You can certainly use ginger if you’d like.

Asian Stir Fried Asparagus - Healthy & Flavorful! - That Skinny Chick Can Bake (3)

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Select Fresh Asparagus?

Buy your asparagus in season which is from February through June. Look for bright green stalks and tight tips. It’s best cooked on the day it is purchased.

How Long Can You Keep Asparagus in the Refrigerator?

Keep it tightly wrapped in plastic and use it within 3 to 4 days. You can also slice the bottoms off the stalks and place the spears upright in a container of water then cover them with a plastic bag. If the tips look soft and mushy, they are probably past their prime.

How Long Will Leftover Chinese Asparagus Keep?

Like most leftovers, store it covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Prep Time5 minutes

Cook Time10 minutes

Total Time15 minutes

Ingredients

1 ½- 2 pounds fresh asparagus, washed, trimmed, and cut into 1 ½-inch pieces
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1-2 tablespoons olive oil
4 teaspoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon dry sherry
Minced ginger, optional

Instructions

Saute crushed garlic (and ginger if using) in olive oil.
Add asparagus and stir till coated with oil. Cook for 2 minutes.
Add soy and sugar. Stir and cook for about 2 more minutes. Add sherry and decrease heat.
Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until just tender.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 81Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 231mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 3gSugar: 3gProtein: 4g

Thatskinnychickcanbake.com occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although thatskinnychickcanbake.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased can change the nutritional information in any given recipe. Also, many recipes on thatskinnychickcanbake.com recommend toppings, which may or may not be listed as optional and nutritional information for these added toppings is not listed. Other factors may change the nutritional information such as when the salt amount is listed “to taste,” it is not calculated into the recipe as the amount will vary. Also, different online calculators can provide different results.To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in any given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information obtained is accurate.

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posted by Liz Berg on June 28, 2023
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43 Comments on “Asian Stir Fried Asparagus”

Swathi — June 21, 2024 @ 1:11 am Reply

I like stir fried aspargus so tried your recipe so yum and perfect flavor.
Sonja — June 20, 2024 @ 3:07 am Reply

Was just wondering what to do with the seasonal asparagus I bought in bulk yesterday and this might be the perfect recipe for it. I just love the flavor balance of sweet and umami with the hint of sherry. And it comes together so quickly! Amazing for the warmer days!
Dr Dave — June 13, 2024 @ 5:15 pm Reply

Stir fry thick spear asparagus pieces in sesame oil only until emerald green. Add soy sauce and sherry and stir-fry rapidly on high until liquid evaporates. Asparagus should be crunchytsweet and raw internally– not soft and limp. Other spices are optional. Serve as is or wth hollandaise or bearnaise sauce.
DO NOT OVERCOOK THE ASPARAGUS!
- Liz Berg — June 13, 2024 @ 5:26 pm Reply
  
  Yes, nothing worse than overcooked asparagus. Thanks for your tips, Dave!
Linda Okkels — May 11, 2024 @ 10:47 am Reply

What can you use of you don’t have Sherry ?
- Liz Berg — May 11, 2024 @ 2:52 pm Reply
  
  I think a dry white wine or even vermouth would be fine. Hope you enjoy this recipe, Linda!
James H — March 12, 2024 @ 11:55 am Reply

Very good recipe! I would definitely say DON’T leave out the ginger. Ginger and garlic pair perfectly in this dish. To reduce calories, I used cooking spray instead of olive oil and left out the sugar. I also added a couple teaspoons of Penzey’s toasted onion powder. Yum!!
See Also
The BEST Crispy Tofu {Baked}
- Liz Berg — March 12, 2024 @ 1:43 pm Reply
  
  I’m so glad you enjoyed this, James! And thanks for the suggestion of Penzey’s onion powder—my kitchen is stocked with all Penzey’s spices.
angiesrecipes — June 28, 2023 @ 9:11 am Reply

A simple but very tasty side dish! Now the asparagus season is over, though you can still see some markets carry them, but the price is so much higher.
Toni — March 12, 2021 @ 4:58 pm Reply

This is such a delicious side dish! So easy to make, too!
cathy — March 12, 2021 @ 10:30 am Reply

This turned out so good! Can’t wait to make it again.
Ashley Presciutti — March 11, 2021 @ 2:13 pm Reply

This is the only way I will eat asparagus!
Sandra — August 11, 2011 @ 1:49 am Reply

How’d you know I love asparagus?
Lauren Hairston — August 10, 2011 @ 2:19 pm Reply

Asparagus is a favorite in our household, but I wish the season were longer because there are so many yummy-sounding asparagus recipes and so little time that asparagus is available! These look fabulous.
Annie @ From the Bookshelf — August 10, 2011 @ 2:22 pm Reply

So great to have another go to recipe for asparagus! I usually only roast for blanche them! This looks yummy!
Tina — August 10, 2011 @ 9:47 am Reply

Asparagus is one of those veggies that I could eat cold or hot! Your method of cooking is by far the best, stir fried with a little seasoning-lets the true flavor shine. Thanks for sharing.
Kim Bee — August 10, 2011 @ 3:57 am Reply

I love this recipe. I just started eating asparagus this year. I have no idea how I lived without it.
Ann — August 10, 2011 @ 3:10 am Reply

This looks amazing! I love asparagus…I love that you gave your mom full credit, too!
Torviewtoronto — August 9, 2011 @ 11:39 pm Reply

this looks delicious lovely addition of soya sauce
ButterYum — August 9, 2011 @ 11:38 pm Reply

What a lovely side dish. I can taste it now! I can easily eat my weight in asparagus this time of year ;).
Elaine — August 9, 2011 @ 10:57 pm Reply

We eat asparagus probably more than any other green vegetable. Can’t wait to try it with your mom’s recipe!
Cassie @ Bake Your Day — August 9, 2011 @ 10:42 pm Reply

Lovely, Liz! I love stir-fried green beans but I have never stir-fried asparagus. It’s one of my favorite veggies though, I will have to give this one a try. Thanks for sharing!
Michelle O — August 9, 2011 @ 10:32 pm Reply

So healthy too. I am going to try this. I’ve never stir fried asparagus before, only grilled and blanched!
Lola Lobato — August 9, 2011 @ 10:26 pm Reply

I love asparagus, nice family recipe! I’m sure I will be making it.
Tina (PinayInTexas) — August 9, 2011 @ 10:12 pm Reply

I love stir-fried asparagus. I sometimes use sesame oil instead of olive oil to give it an Asian flavor. 🙂
Jennifer — August 9, 2011 @ 8:28 pm Reply

I can tell that must have been good. Wish asparagus was cheaper here. I often buy the canned variety (I know, I know!) – it’s cheaper.
Erin — August 9, 2011 @ 7:50 pm Reply

I love asparagus. This is great! I usually just roast it in the oven, but I love the extra stuff here!
Maris (In Good Taste) — August 9, 2011 @ 11:48 pm Reply

Awesome way to dress up asparagus!
Anonymous — August 9, 2011 @ 8:30 pm Reply

I think we’ll buy some asparagus on the way home… Can’t wait to try this!!! Kate @ kateiscooking
RavieNomNoms — August 9, 2011 @ 8:20 pm Reply

Looks delicious! I sure do love some good asparagus!
Gloria — August 9, 2011 @ 4:12 pm Reply

I love asparagaus!! look lovely Lizzie! gloria
Tiffany — August 9, 2011 @ 7:15 pm Reply

I’d much rather have asparagus! This looks great Lizzy!
Terri @ that's some good cookin' — August 9, 2011 @ 3:00 pm Reply

Lizzy this looks beautiful. We love asparagus at our house and the addition of soy sauce puts this recipe over the top.
thefooddoctor — August 9, 2011 @ 6:35 pm Reply

We don’t get asparagus easily here..I will try it with green beans..it seems too yummy to miss
Barefeet In The Kitchen — August 9, 2011 @ 1:32 pm Reply

This looks delicious. I haven’t made asparagus in quite a while. I think I’ll pick some up this week. It sounds great.
elisabeth@foodandthriftfinds — August 9, 2011 @ 4:38 pm Reply

Lizzy-I just bought a real nice new stir-fry pan, and I’m thrilled to make your mom’s recipe, but the ginger and the sherry is a must for me, and not optional.
Love asparagus, every which way I can make it, even eating it raw!
xoxo
Parsley Sage — August 9, 2011 @ 12:35 pm Reply

Awesome, easy and perfectly delicious.
Su — August 9, 2011 @ 10:37 am Reply

I adore asparagus in every possible way, and these ones look delicious 🙂
yummychunklet — August 9, 2011 @ 2:12 pm Reply

Looks delicious! I love throwing heaping spoonfuls on my salads!
Nava.K — August 9, 2011 @ 10:12 am Reply

Very simple and bursting with taste Lizzy, just over here, we add some shrimp paste and pounded chilly.
Pretend Chef — August 9, 2011 @ 11:44 am Reply

Asparagus is my favorite veggie. Anytime it makes an appearance in a recipe title I become giddy and have to bookmark it. No exception here. This sounds amazing. This is a different recipe than one I’ve ever tried for asparagus and a must make. Yummy!
Manu — August 9, 2011 @ 11:24 am Reply

I love asparagus! I always make risotto with them though. This looks like the perfect recipe to try something different with them. Simple and delicious… who needs complicated recipes when the main ingredient is so fresh and yummy!!!
claudia @What's Cookin' Italian Style Cuisine — August 9, 2011 @ 10:23 am Reply

If this is moms recipe it will be treasured forever, bookmarking and thank you for sharing, it looks amazing as I am sure your mom is.

Asian Stir Fried Asparagus - Healthy & Flavorful! - That Skinny Chick Can Bake (2024)