How To Make Pickled Asparagus

Asparagus season is short and sweet just like this pickled asparagus recipe! Start making pickled asparagus now and you’ll have delicious seasoned pickled vegetables for tomorrow!

Only 10 minutes of prep time is required to make this pickled asparagus recipe. No canning required, unless of course canned asparagus is what you’re going for!

If you’re into pickling recipes, check out these favorites: Mexican Pickled Carrots, Pickled Peppers, Pickled Banana Peppers, Pickled Red Onions, Pickled Daikon, Pickled Peaches, and Pickled Cucumbers.

Component

Here are the key ingredients for pickling asparagus. For the full ingredient list, see the recipe card below.

• Fresh asparagus
• white vinegar
• Sugar
• kosher salt
• Pickling spices (such as dill, garlic and peppercorns)

Pickled asparagus recipe

The pressing process is simple, fast and requires only a few ingredients. Below is a brief overview of the main steps. The full list of instructions is on the recipe card below:

Level 1. Boil the pickling liquid.

level2. Cut the spears.

Step 3. Squeeze as many asparagus spears as you can into a large jar, such as 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

Quality produce equals higher quality pickled vegetables. Fresh asparagus is no exception. When shopping, here’s what to watch out for:

• Bright green color with a sturdy stem.
• Uniform thickness (when pressed).
• Avoid stems with wrinkles or soft spots.

How to cut asparagus

There are two ways to trim asparagus, depending on your preference.

knife – Place the asparagus on a cutting board so that the bottom of the stems line up. Use a knife to cut off the bottom 1 inch or so, where the stems start to turn green instead of white.

hands – “Pinch” the bottom of the spear with your hands. It should break just like a branch when bent.

how much to buy

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

Variations

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

spicy – If you prefer spicy pickled vegetables, add more red pepper flakes to taste. I have been known to add a heaping spoonful of red pepper flakes.

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

Top 10 submission ideas

In addition to serving as a snack, here are the top 10 ways we like to use pickled asparagus:

1. Cocktail garnish (Michelada or Bloody Mary)
2. Appetizer tray
3. A simple charcuterie board (next to pickled mustard seeds)
4. Salad ingredient
5. Topping for a sandwich
6. Side dish for breakfast (asparagus and eggs)
7. Deviled Eggs coating (smoked eggs)
8. Pizza toppings
9. Grilled cheese ingredient
10. Topping bruschetta

Canned asparagus

This recipe has not been tested for canning. If canning, follow the correct canning methods as described on NCHFP Website.

tips

• For best results, you want to pour the salt over the asparagus while it’s hot. You must use a glass jar that can withstand high heat.
• After the jar, settle for a minimum of 24 hours to 3 days. The longer they settle, the softer and tastier they will be.
• Keep the jars of pickled asparagus in the refrigerator for up to two months.