Lemon Butter Asparagus Almonds (Printable)

Asparagus sautéed with lemon butter and almonds delivers bright flavor and elegance to any spring celebration.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed

→ Dairy

02 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

→ Nuts

03 - 1/3 cup sliced almonds

→ Citrus

04 - 1 lemon, zest and juice

→ Seasonings

05 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
06 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Optional Garnish

07 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

# How-To Steps:

01 - Bring a large skillet filled with salted water to a boil. Add asparagus and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until crisp-tender. Drain and immediately transfer asparagus to a bowl of ice water to halt the cooking. Drain once more and gently pat dry.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter. Add sliced almonds and toast, stirring frequently, until golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove almonds and set aside.
03 - Using the same skillet, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add blanched asparagus and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until heated through.
04 - Incorporate lemon zest, lemon juice, sea salt, and black pepper. Toss asparagus thoroughly to ensure even coating.
05 - Transfer asparagus to a serving platter. Sprinkle with toasted almonds and garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The lemony butter clings to every asparagus spear like a secret you wish you&aposs discovered sooner.
  • Toasted almonds bring a nutty crunch that feels a million miles away from everyday veggie sides.
02 -
  • If you leave the almonds in the pan a second too long, they&aposll go from toasted to burnt almost instantly—I learned this the smoky way.
  • Plunging the asparagus in ice water after blanching not only keeps the color vivid but also preserves its gentle snap.
03 -
  • Always zest your lemon before juicing—in a rush I&aposve skipped this, only to be left fishing wet, slippery halves for zest.
  • Blanching is truly the secret to the most vibrant, tender asparagus—once you try it, you&aposll never skip the ice bath.
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