How to make pickled asparagus

Asparagus season is short and sweet, and so is this pickled asparagus recipe! Start making pickled asparagus now and tomorrow you’ll have deliciously spiced pickles to snack on!

This pickled asparagus recipe only requires 10 minutes of prep time. Canning isn’t necessary unless you want to cannish asparagus!

If you like pickling recipes, check out these favorites: Pickled Peppers, Pickled Banana Peppers, Pickled Red Onions, Pickled Radish, Pickled Peaches, and Pickled Cucumbers.

Ingredients

Here are the key ingredients for pickled asparagus. See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients.

• Fresh asparagus
• white wine vinegar
• Sugar
• Kosher salt
• Pickled spices (like dill, garlic, and peppercorns)

Recipe for pickled asparagus

The pickling process is simple, quick and requires few ingredients. Here is a quick overview of the main steps. For the full list of instructions, see the recipe card below:

Step 1. Boil the pickling liquid.

Step 2. Cut the spears.

Step 3. Put as many spears of asparagus as you can in a large jar, e.g. B. Glass mason jars (24 oz).

step 4 Pour the vinegar mixture over the asparagus and leave to marinate for 24 hours.

How to choose the best asparagus

High quality products correspond to higher quality pickled vegetables. Fresh asparagus is no exception. You should pay attention to this when shopping:

• Light green color with a firm stem.
• Uniform thickness (when pickling).
• Avoid stems with wrinkles or soft spots.

How to trim asparagus

There are two ways to cut asparagus depending on your preference.

Knife – Place the asparagus on a cutting board so that the ends of the spears line up. Use a knife to snip off the bottom about 1 inch where the stems start turning green instead of white.

Hands – “Break” off the bottom part of the spear with your hands. It should snap like a twig when bent.

How much to buy

To fill a pint-sized wide-mouth mason jar, use about 1.5 pounds of asparagus per jar. So if you want to make 2 jars, you’ll need 3 pounds of the greens.

variations

Sweet – Like sweet pickled vegetables? Increase the sugar by 1 tablespoon to add extra sweetness. We recommend trying the initial vinegar brine first to get a basic taste.

Sharp – If you prefer spicy pickles, add additional red pepper flakes, if desired. I’ve been known to add a full tablespoon of red pepper flakes.

Korean – To make a Korean-flavored version, add 1/2 tablespoon coarsely ground gochugaru and 1 teaspoon sesame seeds to the bottom of the jar.

Top 10 serving ideas

Aside from serving as a snack, here are the top 10 ways we love to use pickled asparagus:

1. Cocktail garnish (Michelada or Bloody Mary)
2. appetizer plate
3. Simple sausage board
4. salad ingredient
5. sandwich topping
6. Breakfast side dish (asparagus and eggs)
7. Deviled Eggs Topping (Smoked Deviled Eggs)
8. pizza topping
9. Ingredient for grilled cheese
10. Bruschetta topping

Canned asparagus

This recipe has not been tested for canning. When canning, follow proper canning methods as outlined on the NCHFP website.

tips

• It is best to pour the brine over the asparagus while it is still hot. You MUST use a glass jar that can withstand high heat.
• Once stirred in, marinate for at least 24 hours up to 3 days. The longer they marinate, the more tender and flavorful they become.
• Store the pickled asparagus jars in the refrigerator for up to two months.