Asparagus tends to get the spotlight in early to late spring because it's one of the first fresh vegetables to make an appearance after the doldrums of winter.
But now that it's May, another long green stalk is ready for its closeup. This one, however, isn't as tender as asparagus, and you probably don't want to eat it out of hand raw unless you love food that causes your face to pucker.
kAm}@H :D E96 E:>6 H96? =@?8[ G:3C2?E DE2=<D @7 C9F32C3 2CC:G6 :? =@42= >2C<6ED W:E 42? 8C@H FA E@ b 766E E2==X[ E9C:==:?8 4@@<D 2?5 32<6CD H:E9 :ED F?:BF6[ E2CE 7=2G@C 2?5 6?5=6DD A@DD:3:=:E:6D]k^Am
kAmx 8C6H FA 62E:?8 C9F32C3 :? 2? @2E>62=\32D65 4C:DA DH66E6?65 H:E9 DEC2H36CC:6D[ 2D >J >@> H2D AC6EEJ @=5\D49@@= H96? :E 42>6 E@ 56DD6CED] p 4@FA=6 J62CD 28@[ x 6G6? 8@E 2 A=2?E @7 >J @H? 7C@> >J 8C66?\E9F>365 @=56DE D:DE6C[ z2E9J[ H9@ H2D >2?286C @7 8C@F?5 D6CG:46D 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 !:EED3FC89 367@C6 C6E:C:?8] xE D:ED :? 2 8:2?E A=2?E6C ?6IE E@ >J E@>2E@ 82C56?[ 2 92C3:?86C @7 2== E96 8@@5 E9:?8D E@ 4@>6 E9:D 8C@H:?8 D62D@?]k^Am
kAmq642FD6 C9F32C3 :D @7E6? E@DD65 H:E9 DF82C[ 9@?6J[ >2A=6 DJCFA @C 282G6 ?64E2C E@ E2>6 :ED ?2EFC2==J E2CE 7=2G@C[ E96 QA:6 A=2?EQ � 2 >6>36C @7 E96 3F4<H962E 72>:=J � >@DE @7E6? 7:?5D :ED H2J :?E@ DH66E 56DD6CED =:<6 A:6[ 4CF>3=6D 2?5 4C:DAD[ :46 4C62> 2?5 ;2>] ~7E6?[ :EVD A2:C65 H:E9 DH66E 2?5 ;F:4J 7CF:ED DF49 2D DEC2H36CC:6D @C C2DA36CC:6D]k^Am
kAmqFE E9:D G688:6 =6?5D :ED6=7 AC6EEJ H@?56C7F==J E@ 2?J ?F>36C @7 D2G@CJ 5:D96D[ E@@] u@C :?DE2?46[ J@F 42? D=@H\C@2DE :E H:E9 2 A:?49 @7 D2=E[ DE:C :E :?E@ 2 4FCCJ @C 4@@< :E :?E@ 2 49FE?6J E@ D6CG6 H:E9 A@C< @C 49:4<6?]k^Am
kAmx7 J@F =@G6 2?JE9:?8 2?5 6G6CJE9:?8 A:4<=65[ J@FV== 36 56=:89E65 E@ =62C? C9F32C3 2=D@ 42? 36 AC6D6CG65 :? 2 E2CE 3C:?6 H:E9 82C=:4 2?5 8:?86C] p?5 :E 42? 255 2 E2CE K:?8 E@ 2 D>@@E9:6 @C 4@4<E2:=]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 :EVD 3@E2?:42==J 4=2DD:7:65 2D 2 G686E23=6[ C9F32C3 :D @7E6? E9@F89E @7 2D 2 7CF:E 3J 4@@<D 3642FD6 :EVD FD65 D@ @7E6? :? DH66E 56DD6CED] qFE C62==J[ 2== E92E >2EE6CD :D E92E J@FVC6 62E:?8 D@>6E9:?8 4@=@C7F= E92EVD 8@@5 7@C J@F]k^Am
kAm#9F32C3 :D 9:89 :? G:E2>:?D r 2?5 z W:>A@CE2?E 7@C 3@?6 962=E9X[ 2?5 :EVD 2 8@@5 D@FC46 @7 5:6E2CJ 7:36C] {@H :? 42=@C:6D WE96C6VD =6DD E92? b_ 42=@C:6D A6C C2H 4FA[ D@ =@?8 2D J@FVC6 ?@E 255:?8 DF82CX[ E96 A=2?E 2=D@ AC@G:56D 3@?6\3F:=5:?8 42=4:F>]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 C9F32C3 :D 72>@FD 7@C :ED 4C:>D@?\C65 DE2=<D[ :E 24EF2==J 42? 2=D@ 36 A:?< @C 8C66?j 4@=@C :?5:42E6D E96 G2C:6EJ[ 2?5 5@6D?VE 27764E 7=2G@C @C :?5:42E6 C:A6?6DD] (92E6G6C 9F6[ :E EJA:42==J 2CC:G6D 2E E96 72C>6CD >2C<6E[ 8C@46CJ @C :? J@FC r$p 3@I DEC:AA65 @7 2?J 8C66?6CJ 3642FD6 @?=J E96 DE2=<D 2C6 65:3=6 W:ED 962CE\D92A65 =62G6D 2C6 E@I:4X]k^Am
kAm(96? 49@@D:?8 C9F32C3[ =@@< 7@C H6==\4@=@C65 DE2=<D E92E 2C6 7:C> 2?5 4C:DAJ\=@@<:?8] s@?VE H@CCJ 23@FE A66=:?8 :E @C 92G:?8 E@ 4@@< :E 2D D@@? 2D J@F 3C:?8 :E 9@>6j DE@C65 :? 2 A=2DE:4 328[ C9F32C3 H:== DE2J 7C6D9 :? E96 C67C:86C2E@C 7@C FA E@ E9C66 H66<D]k^Am
kAm%96 G686E23=6 2=D@ 42? 36 4FE FA 2?5 7C@K6? 7@C FA E@ 2 J62C � C2H[ 3=2?4965 @C 4@@<65] yFDE C6>6>36C E@ 7C66K6 E96 :?5:G:5F2= A:646D D6A2C2E6=J @? 2 EC2J 367@C6 A=24:?8 E96> :? 2 328 E@ <66A E96> =@@D6]k^Am
k9C ^m
k9cm#9F32C3 r@4<E2:=k^9cm
kAm%9:D DH66E\E2CE[ AC6EEJ\:?\A:?< 5C:?< ;FDE E2DE6D =:<6 DAC:?8] %96 DJCFA 2=D@ 42? 36 FD65 E@ 7=2G@C 8C2?:E2[ E@ DH66E6? E62 @C =6>@?256 @C 6G6? 2D 2 8=2K6 7@C 49:4<6?]k^Am
kAmu@C E96 DJCFAk^Am
kAmb^c 4FA DF82Ck^Am
kAma A@F?5D C9F32C3[ EC:>>65 2?5 49@AA65k^Am
kAmu@C E96 4@4<E2:=Dk^Am
kAmx46 4F36Dk^Am
kAmg @F?46D G@5<2 W` 4FAXk^Am
kAmba @F?46D D6=EK6C Wc 4FADXk^Am
kAm{6>@? A66=[ A:E9 C6>@G65[ 4FE :?E@ DEC:ADk^Am
kAm|2<6 C9F32C3 DJCFAi r@>3:?6 DF82C 2?5 a 4FAD H2E6C :? =2C86 A@E 2?5 3C:?8 E@ 2 3@:= @G6C 9:89 962E]k^Am
kAmp55 C9F32C3 2?5 DE:C E@ >2<6 DFC6 DF82C 5:DD@=G6D] r@G6C A@E[ =@H6C 962E ;FDE 2 =:EE=6 2?5 3@:= F?E:= C9F32C3 D@7E6?D[ 23@FE d >:?FE6D]k^Am
kAm!F== A2? @77 962E 2?5 2==@H C9F32C3 E@ 4@@= :? 4@G6C65 A@E] |2D9 C9F32C3[ E96? DEC2:? ;F:46 E9C@F89 2 5@F3=6 =2J6C @7 4966D64=@E9 :?E@ 2 D>2== D2F46A2?]k^Am
kAmqC:?8 ;F:46 E@ 3@:= @G6C >65:F>\9:89 962E[ E96? C65F46 F?E:= ;F:46 :D 4@?46?EC2E65 2?5 DJCFAJ 2?5 J@F 2C6 =67E H:E9 23@FE a 4FAD] %2DE6 DJCFA 2?5 25;FDE DF82C :7 ?646DD2CJ] r@@= DJCFA :? A2?] %C2?D76C E@ 2 4@?E2:?6C 2?5 C67C:86C2E6 F?E:= H6== 49:==65]k^Am
kAm|2<6 4@4<E2:=Di !@FC 2 86?6C@FD E23=6DA@@? @7 49:==65 C9F32C3 DJCFA :?E@ 6249 @7 c 49:==65 8=2DD6D]k^Am
kAmp55 :46[ G@5<2 2?5 D6=EK6C E@ E2DE6] $E:C[ E96? D6CG6 H:E9 2 =6>@? DEC:A :? 6249 8=2DD] #67C:86C2E6 @C 7C66K6 E96 C6>2:?:?8 C9F32C3 DJCFA]k^Am
kAm$6CG6D c]k^Am
kAm� Q%96 q66E=63F?8 u2C> r@@<3@@<Q 3J r9C:D u:D496Ck^Am
k9cm#9F32C3 $=2Hk^9cm
kAm%9:D 3C:89E=J 4@=@C65 D=2H H:== 255 2 C2:?3@H @7 4@=@C 2?5 E6IEFC6 E@ J@FC DAC:?8 5:??6C E23=6] xEVD 8C62E @? E@A @7 D2?5H:496D @C 2 3FC86C[ 42? 36 DEF7765 :?E@ E24@D[ @C 42? 36 D6CG65 @? :ED @H? 2D 2 D:56]k^Am
kAm`^a A@F?5 C9F32C3[ D=:465k^Am
kAm` 4FA 2AA=6 4:56C G:?682Ck^Am
kAm$2=E 2?5 A6AA6Ck^Am
kAmb^c 4FA =:89E 3C@H? DF82Ck^Am
kAm`^c 4FA A66=65[ D=:465 7C6D9 8:?86Ck^Am
kAm` 4=@G6 82C=:4[ >:?465k^Am
kAm` E23=6DA@@? C65 A6AA6C 7=2<6Dk^Am
kAm` E23=6DA@@? >FDE2C5 D665Dk^Am
kAm`^a D>2== 8C66? 4233286[ E9:?=J D=:465 @C D9C65565 W23@FE a 4FADXk^Am
kAm` =2C86 42CC@E[ A66=65 2?5 ;F=:6??65k^Am
kAm` E23=6DA@@? @=:G6 @:=k^Am
kAm!=246 C9F32C3 :? 2 =2C86 962EAC@@7 ;2Cj D6E 2D:56]k^Am
kAmp55 G:?682C[ ` E23=6DA@@? 6249 D2=E 2?5 A6AA6C[ 3C@H? DF82C[ 8:?86C[ 82C=:4[ C65 A6AA6C 7=2<6D 2?5 >FDE2C5 D665D E@ 2 D>2== A@E]k^Am
kAmqC:?8 E@ 2 3@:= @G6C 9:89 962E[ E96? A@FC @G6C C9F32C3 2?5 =6E 4@@=] #67C:86C2E6 @G6C?:89E]k^Am
kAmsC2:? C9F32C3[ C6D6CG:?8 `^a 4FA @7 E96 3C:?6]k^Am
kAmx? 3@H=[ E@DD C9F32C3 H:E9 4233286[ 42CC@E[ C6D6CG65 3C:?6 2?5 @=:G6 @:=[ E96? D62D@? E@ E2DE6 H:E9 D2=E 2?5 A6AA6C] #67C:86C2E6 7@C 2E =62DE a 9@FCD[ @C F?E:= 4233286 D@7E6?D]k^Am
kAm$6CG6D c]k^Am
kAmU>52D9j 252AE65 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^r@F?ECJ=:G:?8]4@>Qmr@F?ECJ=:G:?8]4@>k^2mk^Am
k9cm#9F32C3\{6>@? qF?5E r2<6k^9cm
kAmr@>3:?65 H:E9 =@ED @7 DF82C[ C9F32C3 >2<6D 2 8C62E 7:==:?8 7@C A:6] qFE E96 E2CE 2?5 4CF?49J G686E23=6 2=D@ 42? 255 2 H@?56C7F= 7=2G@C E@ 42<6]k^Am
kAm|2CE92 $E6H2CEVD 52:CJ\7C66 Q5F>A 2?5 H9:D<Q 32EE6C >62?D E9:D qF?5E :D 6IEC2 62DJ E@ >2<6] %96 @=:G6 @:= 2?5 H9:AA65 688 H9:E6D 8:G6 :E 2 =:89E[ 7=F77J E6IEFC6 E92EVD C6>:?:D46?E @7 2 42<6 5@?FE[ 2?5 E96C6VD 2=D@ E96 4:ECFDJ E2?8 @7 =6>@?]k^Am
kAm(92E >2<6D :E 6G6? >@C6 @7 2 <?@4<\@FE 56DD6CE :D E96 4@2E @7 D2?5:?8 DF82C :? E96 qF?5E A2?[ H9:49 32<6D :?E@ 2 DA2C<=J D96== W2?5 2=D@ 96=AD C6=62D6 E96 42<6 :? @?6 A:646X]k^Am
kAm` `^c 4FAD 6IEC2\G:C8:? @=:G6 @:=[ A=FD >@C6 7@C A2?k^Am
kAm$2?5:?8 @C DA2C<=:?8 DF82C[ 7@C A2?k^Am
kAma 4FAD F?3=624965 2==\AFCA@D6 7=@FCk^Am
kAm`^a 4FA 7:?6 J6==@H 4@C?>62=k^Am
kAm` E62DA@@? 32<:?8 A@H56Ck^Am
kAm`^a E62DA@@? 32<:?8 D@52k^Am
kAm` `^c E62DA@@?D <@D96C D2=Ek^Am
kAmb =2C86 688D[ D6A2C2E65k^Am
kAm` `^c 4FAD A=FD a E23=6DA@@?D 8C2?F=2E65 DF82Ck^Am
kAma E62DA@@?D AFC6 G2?:==2 A2DE6 @C 6IEC24Ek^Am
kAma E62DA@@?D 8C2E65 =6>@? K6DE[ A=FD `^c 4FA 7C6D9 ;F:46 W7C@> ` E@ a =6>@?DXk^Am
kAmg @F?46D C9F32C3[ 4FE :?E@ 2 `^a \:?49 5:46 Wa 4FADXk^Am
kAm!C6962E @G6? E@ bd_ 568C66D] qCFD9 2 `_â€E@â€`dâ€�4FA qF?5E A2? H:E9 @:=j 86?6C@FD=J DAC:?<=6 H:E9 D2?5:?8 DF82C E@ 7F==J 4@2E W5@ ?@E E2A @FE 6I46DDX]k^Am
kAmx? 2 =2C86 3@H=[ H9:D< E@86E96C 7=@FC[ 4@C?>62=[ 32<:?8 A@H56C[ 32<:?8 D@52[ 2?5 D2=E]k^Am
kAmx? 2?@E96C 3@H=[ H9:D< E@86E96C @:=[ 688 J@=<D[ ` 4FA 8C2?F=2E65 DF82C[ G2?:==2 2?5 =6>@? K6DE 2?5 ;F:46] x? 2 E9:C5 3@H=[ 362E 688 H9:E6D @? =@H F?E:= 7@2>J]k^Am
kAmx?4C62D6 DA665 E@ >65:F>�9:89 2?5 8C25F2==J 255 `^c 4FA 8C2?F=2E65 DF82C[ 362E:?8 F?E:= DE:77[ 8=@DDJ A62<D 7@C>]k^Am
kAm$E:C @:= >:IEFC6 :?E@ 7=@FC >:IEFC6 ;FDE E@ 4@>3:?6] $E:C `^b @7 688â€H9:E6 >:IEFC6 :?E@ 32EE6C[ E96? 86?E=J 7@=5 :? C6>2:?:?8 688â€H9:E6 >:IEFC6 ;FDE F?E:= ?@ DEC62<D C6>2:?] Ws@ ?@E @G6C>:I]Xk^Am
kAm%@DD C9F32C3 H:E9 C6>2:?:?8 a E23=6DA@@?D 8C2?F=2E65 DF82C E@ 6G6?=J 4@2E] u@=5 C9F32C3 >:IEFC6 :?E@ 32EE6C[ E96? EC2?D76C E@ A2?j D>@@E9 E@A H:E9 2 DA2EF=2]k^Am
kAmq2<6 F?E:= 42<6 :D 8@=56? 3C@H? @? E@A 2?5 2 H@@56? D<6H6C :?D6CE65 :?E@ 46?E6C 4@>6D @FE 4=62?[ cd\d_ >:?FE6D W:7 E@A :D 3C@H?:?8 E@@ BF:4<=J[ E6?E H:E9 7@:=X]k^Am
kAm{6E 4@@= :? A2? @? 2 H:C6 C24< a_ >:?FE6D[ E96? :?G6CE @?E@ 2 A=2E6 @C DE2?5 2?5 =6E 4@@= 4@>A=6E6=J 367@C6 D=:4:?8 2?5 D6CG:?8]k^Am
kAmr2<6 :D 36DE D6CG65 E96 52J :EVD 32<65[ 3FE 42? 2=D@ 36 DE@C65 :? 2? 2:CE:89E 4@?E2:?6C 2E C@@> E6>A6C2EFC6 FA E@ a 52JD]k^Am
kAmU>52D9j k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^>2CE92DE6H2CE]4@>Qm>2CE92DE6H2CE]4@>k^2mk^Am
k9cm#FE9VD $EC2H36CCJ\#9F32C3 rC:DAk^9cm
kAm|J >@> H2D <?@H? 7@C 96C 49@4@=2E6 49:A 4@@<:6D[ 3FE D96 2=D@ 4@F=5 >2<6 2 AC6EEJ >62? 7CF:E 4C:DA] %9:D C64:A6[ H9:49 A2:CD quuD C9F32C3 2?5 DEC2H36CC:6D[ C6=62D6D 2 =@E @7 DF82CJ =:BF:5 2D :E 4@@<D[ D@ J@FV== H2?E E@ 62E :E C:89E 2H2J D@ :E DE2JD 4CF?49J] *@F 42? 255 2 D4@@A @7 G2?:==2 :46 4C62> @C H9:AA65 4C62> E@ 5C6DD :E FA[ 3FE 9@?6DE=J[ :EVD 8C62E C:89E @FE @7 E96 A2?] p?5 =67E@G6CD >2<6 2 H@?56C7F= 3C62<72DE]k^Am
kAmu@C 4C:DA E@AA:?8k^Am
kAm`^a 4FA 3C@H? DF82Ck^Am
kAm`^c 4FA 7=@FCk^Am
kAm`^a E62DA@@? 4:??2>@?k^Am
kAm`^c 4FA 3FEE6C[ D@7E6?65k^Am
kAm`^a 4FA C@==65 @2EDk^Am
kAmu@C DEC2H36CCJ\C9F32C3 7:==:?8k^Am
kAma A:?ED DEC2H36CC:6D[ 9F==65 2?5 92=G65k^Am
kAmb 4FAD D=:465 C9F32C3 A:646Dk^Am
kAma^b 4FA DF82Ck^Am
kAm` E23=6DA@@? 4@C?DE2C49k^Am
kAm!C6962E @G6? E@ bd_ 568C66D]k^Am
kAmu@C 4C:DA E@AA:?8i |:I DF82C[ 7=@FC 2?5 4:??2>@? :? 2 =2C86 3@H= 2?5 3=6?5 E9@C@F89=J] rFE :? 3FEE6C H:E9 2 A2DECJ 3=6?56C @C 7@C< F?E:= >:IEFC6 C6D6>3=6D 4@2CD6 4CF>3D] |:I :? @2ED] $6E 2D:56]k^Am
kAmu@C 7:==:?8i |:I DEC2H36CC:6D[ C9F32C3[ DF82C 2?5 4@C?DE2C49 :? 2 =2C86 3@H=[ 3=6?5:?8 E9@C@F89=J] !@FC :?E@ 2 D92==@H a\BF2CE 32<:?8 5:D9] r@G6C 6G6?=J H:E9 4C:DA E@AA:?8]k^Am
kAmq2<6 7@C c_ E@ d_ >:?FE6D[ @C F?E:= 7:==:?8 :D 3F33=J 2?5 E@AA:?8 :D 3C@H?65] $6CG6 H2C> @C 2E C@@> E6>A6C2EFC6 H:E9 2 D4@@A @7 G2?:==2 :46 4C62> @C 7C6D9\>256 H9:AA65 4C62>]k^Am
kAm� #FE9 %C6?Ek^Am
k9cm#9F32C3 r9FE?6Jk^9cm
kAm%9:D 7=2G@C7F= 4@?5:>6?E :D 62DJ E@ >2<6[ H:E9 2 H@?56C7F= 32=2?46 @7 DH66E[ D2G@CJ 2?5 H2C> DA:46 7=2G@CD] $6CG6 @? C@2DE65 >62ED[ H:E9 8@2E 4966D6 @C 3C:6 @C @? 4C24<6CD]k^Am
kAm` E2CE 2AA=6[ D66565 2?5 49@AA65 :?E@ 3:E6\D:K65 A:646Dk^Am
kAm` >65:F> D92==@E[ D=:465 E9:? W23@FE `^c 4FAXk^Am
kAm`^a 4FA E2CE 5C:65 496CC:6Dk^Am
kAm`^a 4FA 8@=56? C2:D:?Dk^Am
kAm` 4FA =:89E 3C@H? DF82Ck^Am
kAmb^c 4FA 8C2?F=2E65 DF82Ck^Am
kAmb^c 4FA 4:56C G:?682Ck^Am
kAm` D6CC2?@ 49:=6[ D66565 2?5 49@AA65k^Am
kAm` E62DA@@? 7C6D9 49@AA65 8:?86Ck^Am
kAm`^a E62DA@@? D2=Ek^Am
kAmb 4FAD 49@AA65 7C6D9 C9F32C3k^Am
kAmx? 2 =2C86 D2F46A2?[ 4@>3:?6 2AA=6[ D92==@E[ 496CC:6D[ C2:D:?D[ 3C@H? DF82C[ 8C2?F=2E65 DF82C[ G:?682C[ 49@AA65 49:=6[ 8:?86C 2?5 D2=E] qC:?8 E@ 2 3@:=]k^Am
kAm#65F46 962E 2?5 D:>>6C d >:?FE6D[ DE:CC:?8 @442D:@?2==J]k^Am
kAm$E:C :? C9F32C3] qC:?8 E@ 2 3@:=j C65F46 962E 2?5 D:>>6C e\g >:?FE6D[ @C F?E:= C9F32C3 D@7E6?D 2?5 49FE?6J E9:4<6?D]k^Am
kAm!@FC :?E@ 2 3@H=j C67C:86C2E6 F?E:= 4@=5] $6CG6 H:E9 8C:==65 49:4<6? @C A@C<]k^Am
kAm� vC6E496? |4z2J[ !@DE\v2K6EE6k^Am