3 Tasty new ways to serve asparagus this Thanksgiving

Ditch the hollandaise this holiday season, and serve your asparagus a new way. Not only do these sauces bring flavor to the table, but they add beautiful color too.

Here’s a light Alfredo sauce that pairs beautifully with asparagus, and the best part about the sauce is that it’s made with fresh sage. Savory and creamy goodness with each bite will make this asparagus disappear in no time.

This sauce is so easy to make too. It can be made ahead of time and warmed up just before serving.

For something a little different, try cutting the asparagus into pieces instead of using the whole spear.

Asparagus and sage Alfredo cream sauce recipe

Serves 2

Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 15 minutes | Total time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

• 10 spears fresh asparagus, dry ends snapped off, each spear cut into 4 pieces
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup fresh shredded Parmesan cheese, for the sauce
• 8 leaves fresh sage, thinly chopped
• Salt, to taste
• Water, for cooking the asparagus
• 2 tablespoons fresh, shredded Parmesan cheese, for topping

Directions:

1. To a small pan, add the butter, and stir as it melts. Add the cream, Parmesan and sage, and continue to stir.
2. Let the sauce simmer on low heat while cooking the asparagus. Stir the sauce while simmering.
3. Heat a shallow pan on medium heat, and add enough water so that it’s about 1 inch deep in the skillet. Add a couple of dashes of salt to the water.
4. Add the asparagus to the pan, and let it cook for about 5 minutes or until the asparagus is tender.
5. Remove the asparagus from the pan and onto a serving plate.
6. Top the asparagus with Alfredo sauce and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
7. Serve while hot.

Serves 2

Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 15 minutes | Total time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons bourbon
• 1 tablespoon real bacon bits, for the sauce
• 2 garlic cloves, diced
• 3 dashes ground cumin
• 10 spears asparagus
• 2 teaspoons real bacon bits, for garnish
• Salt, to taste

Directions:

1. Heat a small pan on low to medium heat. Add the butter, and constantly stir as it melts.
2. Continuously stir until the butter starts to turn a golden color, then add the maple syrup, and carefully add the bourbon and then the bacon bits. Let simmer, and continuously stir while the asparagus is cooking. Add salt to taste.
3. Heat a shallow pan on medium heat, and add enough water so that it’s about 1 inch deep in the skillet. Add a couple of dashes of salt to the water.
4. Add the asparagus to the pan, and let it cook for about 5 minutes or until the asparagus is tender.
5. Remove the asparagus from the pan and onto a serving plate.
6. Top the asparagus with the bourbon and brown butter sauce. Garnish with bacon bits.

Serves 2

Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 15 minutes | Total time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

• 10 spears asparagus, dry ends snapped off, each spear cut into 4 pieces
• 1 large jalapeño pepper (add more for additional heat), thinly sliced widthwise
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 5 slices American cheese
• 1 Roma tomato, diced

Directions:

1. Heat a small pan on low to medium heat. Add the cream, cheese and jalapeño. Stir as the cheese melts. Continue to stir as the cheese sauce cooks.
2. Heat a shallow pan on medium heat, and add enough water so that it’s about 1 inch deep in the skillet. Add a couple of dashes of salt to the water.
3. Add the asparagus to the pan, and let it cook for about 5 minutes or until the asparagus is tender.
4. Remove the asparagus from the pan and onto a serving plate.
5. Top the asparagus with the cheese sauce, and serve while hot.

More asparagus recipes

Salmon, asparagus and Brie quiche
Vegan asparagus soup
Cheesy asparagus chowder