Asparagus
WLR's Laura Meads highlights the health benefits of eating asparagus and gives some asparagus recipes to tempt your appetite.
Food In Season: Asparagus
By WLR Staff, Laura Meads
Asparagus
Asparagus is packed with healthy nutrients. It contains high levels of vitamin A, folic acid and dietary fibre which may help prevent the onset of cancer and heart disease.
Asparagus is a mild diuretic and is believed to help detoxify the body, helping it to get rid of excess water and help combat cystitis.
Asparagus contains prebiotics, which stimulate the growth of friendly bacteria in the gut, soothing the stomach and aiding digestion.
So an all round great vegetable!
Asparagus Recipes
Barbecued Asparagus with Parmesan and a Lemon & Mint butter
- Serves: 4
- Calories Per Serving: 192.1cals
- Fat Per Serving: 17.4g
Ingredients
- 2 bundles of asparagus
- 2 tbsp. olive or rapeseed oil
- Diet/low fat margarine
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tbsp. mint leaves, finely chopped
- 50g parmesan shavings
Method
- Trim the asparagus as necessary. Place in a bowl and toss with the oil, making sure all the asparagus is fully coated. Season with salt and pepper. Put the asparagus on the grill rack of the barbecue and cook for approximately 2 minutes each side, until it is lightly charred. Remove from the barbecue and divide between 4 serving plates.
- Melt the butter on a low heat. Add the lemon juice and chopped mint leaves. Pour over the asparagus, season with salt and pepper again and sprinkle on the Parmesan shavings.
Asparagus & Pea Spring Minestrone Soup
- Serves: 4
- Calories Per Serving: 199.5cals
- Fat Per Serving: 8.3g
Ingredients
- 250g asparagus tips
- 150g frozen petit pois peas
- 6 spring onions
- 3 small carrots
- 100g fresh or frozen podded broad beans
- 1 medium-sized fennel bulb trimmed and thinly sliced
- 5 tbsp. chopped mixed herbs
- 30g butter
- 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 150ml dry white wine
- 510ml vegetable stock
- 100ml single cream
- Freshly grated or shaved Parmesan to serve
- Squeeze of a lemon Salt & Pepper
Method
- Melt the oil and butter in a large pan. Add the fennel and carrots and stir over a gentle heat for about 5-6 minutes being careful not to burn.
- Add the spring onion and cook until softened.
- Pour in the white wine and reduce by half.
- Add the vegetable stock and cook for a further 5 minutes on a low to moderate heat.
- Add the asparagus, broad beans and peas and cook for a further 5 minutes until tender.
- Stir in the herbs and cream and season well with a squeeze of lemon juice, sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Serve at once with the Parmesan and warm bread.
Penne with Asparagus & Parma Ham
- Serves: 3
- Calories Per Serving: 325.8cals
- Fat Per Serving: 6.3g
Ingredients
- 16/240g spears asparagus
- 300g penne
- A knob of butter
- 8 slices/30g Parma ham roughly cut into strips
- 3 tbs crème fraiche
- Black Pepper
- Grated Parmesan cheese
Method
- Cook your penne according to the instructions on the packet.
- Meanwhile, steam the asparagus, cut each spear into three and toss in a little butter.
- When the pasta is cooked, drain it and return to the pan.
- Add the asparagus, parma ham, crème fraiche and black pepper to the pan and toss well.
- Serve in warm bowls with a sprinkling of Parmesan on top of each serving.
Start a Free Trial Today
WLR has an extensive range of low-fat and low calorie recipes to help you follow a healthy, balanced diet. Try it free for 24 hours.
Rachel, 26 lost
7 Stone with

Rachel was 18st 5lb, now 11st 2lb
"When I was big it was like I was invisible… Now it feels like the world has noticed I exist!"
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Calorie Carb and Fat Bible 2012
See the calories in over 22,000 UK foods and calorie count your own recipes. Best price on the web!
Yes… You need to lose weight
Your weight is substantially above your healthy weight range
You have a BMI of - a BMI of 20-25 is considered healthy.
You should lose to be within the healthy weight range for your height. Losing would also be beneficial to your health and could make you look and feel better.
You could lose in weeks with Weight Loss Resources.
Our free trial will show you how…
It takes just 2 minutes to input your details and could well be the breakthrough you've been waiting for!
Start Your Free Trial Today »“(Weight Loss Resources) has truly been the best weight loss assistance I have ever had.”
Rachel (RunningRach) lost 7 stone with Weight Loss Resources
Yes… You need to lose weight
Your weight is significantly above your healthy weight range.
You have a BMI of - a BMI of 20-25 is considered healthy.
You should lose to be within the healthy weight range for your height. Losing would also be beneficial to your health and could make you look and feel better.
You could lose in weeks with Weight Loss Resources.
Our free trial will show you how…
It takes just 2 minutes to input your details and could well be the breakthrough you've been waiting for!
Start Your Free Trial Today »“(Weight Loss Resources) has truly been the best weight loss assistance I have ever had.”
Rachel (RunningRach) lost 7 stone with Weight Loss Resources
Yes… You need to lose weight
Your weight is above your healthy weight range.
You have a BMI of - a BMI of 20-25 is considered healthy.
You should lose to be within the healthy weight range for your height. Losing would also be beneficial to your health and could make you look and feel better.
You could lose in weeks with Weight Loss Resources.
Our free trial will show you how…
It takes just 2 minutes to input your details and could well be the breakthrough you've been waiting for!
Start Your Free Trial Today »“(Weight Loss Resources) was just the resource I wanted!
I signed up for a free trial and bought a 6 month subscription the same day.”
Matt (BeerMatt) has lost 4st 10lb with Weight Loss Resources
Yes… You should lose weight
Your weight is above your healthy weight range.
You have a BMI of - a BMI of 20-25 is considered healthy.
Losing would put you in the middle of the healthy weight range for your height. Losing would be beneficial to your health and could make you look and feel better.
You could lose in weeks with Weight Loss Resources.
Our free trial will show you how…
It takes just 2 minutes to input your details and could well be the breakthrough you've been waiting for!
Start Your Free Trial Today »“The free trial tempted me to try and I've hardly gone a day since without visiting the site!”
Simon (SpyBey) has lost 3 stone with Weight Loss Resources
Maybe… Just a little
Your weight is within your healthy weight range.
You have a BMI of - a BMI of 18.5-25 is categorised as healthy.
However, you could lose up to and remain within your healthy weight range. Losing could make you look and feel better.
You could lose in weeks with Weight Loss Resources.
Our free trial will show you how…
It takes just 2 minutes to input your details and could well be the breakthrough you've been waiting for!
Start Your Free Trial Today »“I took the free trial and that was me, it was fantastic just what I had been looking for.”
Emma (Emsy1981) lost 1st 5lb with Weight Loss Resources
Maybe… maybe not!
Your weight is within your healthy weight range.
You have a BMI of - a BMI of 18.5-25 is categorised as healthy.
However, you could lose up to and remain within your healthy weight range. Losing could make you look and feel better.
You could lose in weeks with Weight Loss Resources.
Our free trial will show you how…
It takes just 2 minutes to input your details and could well be the breakthrough you've been waiting for!
Start Your Free Trial Today »“Once I'd lost my first few pounds I felt fantastic, and my clothes started to fit with a little more ease.”
Emma (Emsy1981) lost 1st 5lb with Weight Loss Resources
No… You don't need to lose weight
Your weight is within your healthy weight range.
You have a BMI of - a BMI of 18.5-25 is categorised as healthy.
You should aim to maintain your current weight by eating a healthy, balanced diet.
You can see how healthy your diet is with Weight Loss Resources
Our free trial will show you how…
It takes just 2 minutes to input your details and could be a real eye-opener!
Start Your Free Trial Today »“Fill in the food diary and analyse what you are putting into your mouth. You can learn a lot about healthy eating this way.”
Maria (EinsteinMC), Weight Loss Resources' member
No… You need to gain weight
Your weight is below your healthy weight range.
You have a BMI of - a BMI of less than 18.5 is categorized underweight.
You should not try to lose any weight, and putting on a few pounds may benefit your health.
You could use Weight Loss Resources to help you gain weight.
Our free trial will show you how…
It takes just 2 minutes to input your details and could be a real eye-opener!
Start Your Free Trial Today »“Blimey, this site has helped put my life back on track… I looked at the weight range for my height and settled on the lowest that was healthy… put the goal as maintaining that weight and off I went!”
Suzi (Whiskas) gained 2½ stone with Weight Loss Resources

