If you want to know how to cook asparagus, this is a great place to start. Asparagus is the workhorse of the springtime kitchen. Unlike the fussier darlings (I still love them), fava beans, peas, and artichokes, all of which require copious amounts of preparation time. Asparagus is relatively simple. Instead of partaking in tasks like shelling, trimming, and de-choking, asparagus can be at its pinnacle with a simple trim, quick blanch, drizzle of olive oil, and dusting of salt. We get pencil-thin asparagus here, as well as asparagus thick as a candle – and everything in between. Here are a range of asparagus winners that will teach you how to cook asparagus like a pro. Happy spring, and enjoy!

1. A Simple Aspragus Soup – (101 Cookbooks)
A great starter recipe. Everyone should have a good asparagus soup in their back pocket. This one is tops – fresh asparagus, new potatoes, a bit of green curry paste, and coconut milk are pureed to make this spring favorite. Get the recipe here.

2. Avocado Asparagus Tartine – (101 Cookbooks)
An excellent impromptu springtime lunch tartine: avocado smeared across toasted day-old slabs of sesame bread, layered with arugula and garlicky-caraway pan cooked asparagus + toasted pepitas. Get the recipe here.

3. Grilled Asparagus Plate + Cilantro Pepita Pesto – (Sprouted Kitchen)
Cheers to spring produce from Sprouted Kitchen. Love this simple grilled asparagus preparation with a special pesto. It has a surprise kiss of chipotle in it, along with a hint of lime. Perfection. It’s great as a side dish or as a component in something like a grain bowl. Get the recipe here.

4. Weeknight Ponzu Pasta – (101 Cookbooks)
All things green in a quick, weeknight pasta option. It’s feel-good food that won’t weigh you down – garlic and chile ponzu dressing, green vegetables, and the pasta of your choice. Swap asparagus in for the green beans here, and you’re all good. It’s a recipe that demonstrates how to boil asparagus (or other tender green vegetables) in your existing pasta water. Get the recipe here.

5. Walnut Miso Noodles with Asparagus – (101 Cookbooks)
A hearty noodle bowl recipe. Whole grain noodles and asparagus are tossed with a creamy, walnut-miso dressing plus a dollop of chile paste. Get the recipe here.

6. Asparagus Stir-fry – (101 Cookbooks)
A favorite stir-fry recipe. Asparagus and tofu form the base, but it has quite a lot going on beyond that. You get a bite of tang from the lime, heat from the red chiles and fresh ginger, mint and basil cool things down, and a touch hoisin sauce gives you just enough sweetness to balance it all out. Get the recipe here.

7. Fava Bean and Asparagus Salad – (Bon Appétit)
Love this Alison Roman recipe. It’s the kind of thing to make when you’re ready to use your vegetable peeler. Also, a good opportunity to get your fava shelling fix on. Get the recipe here.

8. Asparagus Cilantro Salad – (101 Cookbooks)
I love this salad so much. And, unless you absolutely loathe cilantro, you must try it. Simply cilantro leaves and stems tossed with a simple shallot-forward soy sauce dressing, plus peanuts, and asparagus. So good. Get the recipe here.

9. Grilled Asparagus Spring Rolls – (Bojon Gourmet)
Yes to spring rolls. Yes to ginger lime dipping sauce. This recipe will also walk you through how to grill asparagus. Get the recipe here.

10. Asparagus Panzanella – (101 Cookbooks)
A simple asparagus panzanella – a quick, mustard buttermilk dressing accents good asparagus, alongside crusty shards of toasted bread, and a dusting of sesame seeds. Shred a hard boiled egg over the top and you’ve got an even more substantial meal. I also love this using grilled asparagus, especially as the weather improves and the grill gets dusted off. Get the recipe here.