What Vegetable To Serve with Asparagus: 20 Best Vegetables

While asparagus is a vegetable that is delicious on its own, you may want to serve it alongside another vegetable to complement its flavor. One of the best vegetables to serve with asparagus is broccoli. The mild taste of broccoli is a great way to balance out the slightly bitter taste of asparagus.

Asparagus is just so delicious! I just love how they have that delicate vegetable flavor and sweet, springy texture. They’re just right at the perfect cut of freshness.

Asparagus works perfectly with other vegetables, but they do need a good match!

Some are even more delicate than asparagus.

So, if you’re wondering what vegetable to serve with asparagus, then keep reading.

Here are the best vegetables that go great with asparagus!

But before you jump straight in…

Read Also: Asparagus Wine Pairing: The 10 Best Wines for Asparagus

Why Consider Pairing Asparagus With Other Vegetables?

Asparagus is a vegetable-filled with nutrients and is often served alongside steak and pasta dishes.

However, it can be boring to eat asparagus by itself.

This is why pairing it with other vegetables can prevent asparagus from getting boring.

For example, you can serve a side salad with asparagus or a side dish with some pasta.

Additionally, you can add some sauerkraut or other fermented vegetables to your asparagus to give it a bit more flavor.

This can be a great idea to pair with asparagus in a way that doesn’t turn the vegetable into a side dish.

Another reason you might want to add a side dish with vegetables is when preparing for larger parties.

While you might feed your guests by cooking up several kilograms of asparagus, it can get expensive if you have to provide enough for everyone.

Therefore, consider adding an alternative side dish that is easier and cheaper to prepare without sacrificing flavor.

What Vegetable To Serve with Asparagus: 20 Best Vegetables

When it comes to asparagus, a perfect match is one that’s as pretty as it is tasty.

Here, are 20 vegetables that pair perfectly with asparagus:

1. Green Beans

Green beans are a great accompaniment to asparagus, and they offer lots of fresh flavour.

The best way to do this is to cook them in a pan or wok, so they’re crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

2. Broccoli

While green beans (See Also: Best Canned Green Beans Recipe) are good with asparagus, broccoli is the perfect combination with the slightly earthy flavour of asparagus.

It’s also a good option for vegetarians, as it’s one of the few vegetable combinations that’s perfect for both meat-eaters and vegans.

3. Peas

I know, I know, peas are considered a vegetable by most people, but I was once called a ‘vegetable addict’ for loving them! I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love peas, though.

They have a mild, delicate taste that works really well with the slightly earthy flavour of asparagus.

4. Artichoke

Asparagus and artichoke is a great combination, as they complement each other perfectly. The asparagus is fresh, crisp and bright, while the artichoke is fresh, creamy and rich.

Serve a side of steamed asparagus topped with artichoke hearts, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt.

5. Snow Peas

Snow peas, or pea pods as they’re sometimes called, are a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional green peas.

They’re a little bit more expensive than green peas, but they still offer a great taste and a great price to quality ratio. This is a great option if you’re going to be serving a vegetarian meal.

The little bundles of snow peas are ideal for a stir fry, and they’re also great as a side dish with your ramen.

6. Tomato

The classic accompaniment for asparagus is a big ol’ wedge of tomato. A perfectly ripe tomato is delicious when cut into wedges, and it’s so simple to prepare too.

Just wash it, slice it in half, drizzle it with some balsamic vinegar, sprinkle with some salt and pepper, and add some extra virgin olive oil.

I also like to serve it alongside a pile of grated Parmesan cheese, which is a really easy way to add another layer of flavour.

7. Eggplant

If you’re serving asparagus alongside eggplant, it’s a good idea to pair them together. Eggplant is one of my favourite vegetables to cook with, and I love to use it in a variety of different dishes.

It’s really tasty as part of a pasta dish, but you can also make eggplant parmesan, and stuff it with rice and cheese for a really delicious vegetarian option.

8. Cauliflower

I’m a sucker for cauliflower, and I think it really works well with asparagus! It brings lots of fresh crunch to the table, and is great if you want to add a bit of a twist to your plate.

There are lots of different varieties available, including white, purple, and orange. It’s also a versatile vegetable that can be served raw, steamed, or even stir fried.

9. Celery

A side of celery is the perfect match for asparagus because of its sweet, crisp flavour. For this, just slice off the stalks, rinse them in cold water, and toss them in some olive oil.

Then place them in a roasting tin and roast them at an elevated temperature for 10-12 minutes, until they’re just starting to colour. Don’t leave them in too long though, or they can start to get slightly bitter!

10. Mushrooms

If you’re looking for something that’s going to pair particularly well with asparagus, then it’s definitely time to consider mushrooms! They offer the perfect contrasting flavour to the delicate, springy vegetables, and they’re also so easy to prepare.

Just simply sauté them in a little oil with some garlic and thyme. You could even make this more of a one-pot meal by adding some tinned beans or other proteins as well!

11. Zucchini

A zucchini is the perfect accompaniment to asparagus. The vegetable is a firm, meaty one, and will work well with lots of different flavours and sauces.

You can grill it or roast it, and then serve it alongside some butter, lemon, garlic, and pepper. You can also stuff it with cheese, herbs, or chilli to add extra flavour.

12. Beets

I love serving beets with asparagus as it really brings out the earthy flavour of the vegetable.

If you don’t like beets then try to find some purple or red ones, which have a gorgeous deep colour and look really impressive on the plate. As beets aren’t very sweet, they work well with an acidic salad dressing, like an oil and vinegar one.

13. Corn

Another option to go for here is corn. It’s delicious alongside asparagus too, but you could also serve corn alongside potatoes or squash to create a meal that works well for a side dish for three. It also goes particularly well with grilled chicken!

14. Kale

Kale is one of the most versatile vegetables on the planet. It’s nutritious, easy to grow, and also has the ability to taste really good too.

I often serve it as a side dish alongside asparagus, and it goes so well with a range of main meals. If you have some leftover, you can use it to make a delicious green curry!

15. Lettuce

A side serving of lettuce works really well with asparagus, and also offers the benefit of being an easy option for any type of vegetarian diet.

You can use a wide range of lettuce here – iceberg, romaine, baby cos, red leaf, butterhead, and whatever your personal preference is. If you’re looking for something a little more exotic, you can also go for baby gem lettuces.

16. Leeks

Asparagus can go with just about anything, but when paired with a leek, it adds some depth in the way of both texture and flavour.

Try serving it with some chicken or fish, or you could even just serve it as a standalone side dish. I particularly enjoy it with my pork burger!

17. Peppers

A side serving of peppers is a great addition to your vegetable box, and is a perfect accompaniment to asparagus!

I like to choose peppers such as peppers, yellow capsicum, and sweet red peppers, but of course, you can go for whatever kind you like. Just remember that you want them to be firm and crunchy.

If you’re not sure how to achieve this, use the heat from your mouth to judge the correct doneness. If it doesn’t burn your mouth, then they’re probably ready.

18. Squash

Asparagus is one of the most popular vegetables served alongside a starter, but you might find that it doesn’t suit every palate.

If that’s the case for you, then try serving some roasted squash as a side dish. It’s a versatile vegetable that can be eaten raw or cooked, and makes a really pretty addition to a starter.

You can peel the skin off to make eating the vegetable easier, or leave it on if you prefer the natural look. I like to roast mine in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius until golden and soft, but you can also cook it in a pan with some olive oil, salt, and pepper.

19. Spinach

Spinach is a versatile vegetable that offers lots of benefits for both you and your body. It’s a great source of fibre, and is also packed with vitamin K and iron.

It’s also really good for your digestion, helping to prevent constipation and keep your digestive tract running smoothly.

When you pair spinach with asparagus, the combination of these two vegetables is especially delicious! You could also add a few spoonfuls of grated Parmesan cheese to the spinach before serving for an extra boost of flavour.

20. Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are such a versatile veggie that they work really well alongside everything from asparagus to egg mayonnaise sandwiches, but they’re also great if you’re looking for a quick and easy side dish for a romantic dinner.

I love them roasted with garlic, salt, pepper, and butter!

How to Choose the Perfect Vegetable To Serve With Asparagus

While there’s no right or wrong way to serve asparagus, there are some great ideas for serving your asparagus.

Below, you’ll learn how to choose the perfect vegetable to serve with asparagus.

Choose A Vegetable That Has A Similar Texture

One thing that you should keep in mind is that you should use a vegetable that has a similar texture to your asparagus.

You don’t want to use a vegetable that is too soft or crunchy because this is going to make your bite a bit too chewy. You want to pick a vegetable that has a bite to it but also a nice texture.

Consider The Flavor

Another thing that you should consider is the flavor. You want to pick a vegetable that is going to compliment the flavor of the asparagus, but you also want to make sure that you don’t pick a vegetable that is going to be too sweet or too bitter.

You also want to make sure that the vegetable that you are choosing pairs well with one another.

Look For Vegetables That Will Bring Something Extra To Your Meal

Don’t just pick veggies based on how delicious they are, and don’t just serve them as a side dish—think about what they can do for your meal.

For example, if you serve cauliflower with asparagus, maybe you want to add some spicy mustard for an extra kick?

Or maybe you have a favorite dressing that would enhance the flavors of your salad. The point is, you should be looking at each vegetable to see what it brings to the table.

Go With What You Have

If you are having difficulty choosing the perfect vegetable to accompany asparagus, go with what you have on hand. That can mean using whatever veggies you have. In that case, it doesn’t matter what they taste like or how they’re prepared.

Pick a Vegetable that Has a Strong Flavor Profile

You can use any vegetable to make a salad. But if you are serving asparagus, look for a vegetable that is bold. For example, carrots are good, but they don’t have the same texture as asparagus.

So if you are using carrots as part of your salad, serve them raw or lightly cooked.

Conclusion

Asparagus is delicious in its own right.

However, some people don’t like its texture or just don’t like the taste of it.

That’s why we recommend serving asparagus with some of these other veggies.

Some of the best options for vegetables are zucchini, squash, and peppers.

They go well with asparagus and help to make the dish more interesting.