Why Atlanta Personal Chef Service loves Asparagus

If you hire an in home chef, you’ll expect both healthy and tasty meals cooked on a regular basis. But, you are probably also going to expect a nice variety of meals that offer new and interesting tastes, balanced over a healthy diet. Because asparagus has a delicate flavor, is nutritionally rich, and lends itself to many methods of preparation, Atlanta Personal Chefs love to cook this vegetable for their clients.

Asparagus comes in four main varieties: green, purple, white, or wild. Green asparagus is the most commonly served asparagus in the US, and can be found in grocery stores year round. Keep in mind, however, that the asparagus season runs from February to June, with April and May being the peak of the season. It is best to eat asparagus grown and picked during these months as you are most likely to have a great tasting, fresh stalk to enjoy. White asparagus (which is the same as green except that it is grown without exposure to sunlight), is more common in Europe.

Like most green vegetables, asparagus is a healthy food choice. It is a low-calorie, low-sodium vegetable packed with folic acid, potassium, fiber, thiamin, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin C. Each spear contains only a mere 4 calories! Since fruits and vegetables should make up nearly 50% of your diet, asparagus offers plenty of reasons to make a frequent appearance in your diet.

While some people prefer to eat asparagus roasted as a side dish, it also makes a great salad ingredient (usually blanched and chilled first), or a great base for a creamy soup. Asparagus is often served with olive oil, butter, or Hollandaise sauce, but the options don’t stop there. A personal favorite of mine is asparagus with olive oil, parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper.

If you’ve heard the rumor that asparagus causes a strange odor to appear in urine, well, that is true. But don’t worry, it’s estimated that only less than 20% of the population actually has the gene needed to detect the strange smell. So enjoy as much asparagus as you’d like, knowing it’s a smart addition to a healthy diet.