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    Home » Side Dishes

    Steamed Asparagus with Tarragon Butter

    Published: Apr 5, 2016 · Modified: Jan 21, 2019 by Mamma C · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe

    Steamed Asparagus with Tarragon Butter is a simple, delicious and always impressive side dish! A family favorite for years!

    Asparagus with Tarragon Butter on a platterI'm a big fan of simple, no-brainer recipes that are delicious enough to serve to guests. So, I consider it my duty to share one of our favorites: steamed asparagus with tarragon butter.

    I've been making this for decades, and it's my go-to asparagus, company or not. It's always a hit and never fails to impress, despite having just four ingredients.

    And that's counting the pepper.

    But isn't asparagus like that one friend who's always elegant and sophisticated, seemingly without trying? (In case you're wondering, I'm never that friend.)

    I mean, all we're doing here is steaming the veggies on the stove for 10 minutes, then topping them with melted, salted butter that's been seasoned with tarragon and black pepper.

    It doesn't sound like anything.

    overhead view of Asparagus with Tarragon Butter and a forkBut as anyone who's tried this at my house will attest, it's everything. Even Mom makes this now.

    The tarragon lends so much flavor, you don't even need to add salt (but I haven't tried it with unsalted butter.)

    In fact, I stock dried tarragon just for this asparagus. But I need to experiment using it in other dishes.

    Do you use tarragon in your cooking? Let me know!

    (Recipe Source: Adapted from a recipe I once saw in a Time cookbook)

    Asparagus with Tarragon Butter on a platter

    Steamed Asparagus with Tarragon Butter

    Steamed Asparagus with Tarragon Butter is a simple, delicious and always impressive side dish!
    5 from 1 vote
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    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 3 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 13 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 76kcal
    Author: Mamma C

    Ingredients

    • 1 bunch asparagus
    • 3 tablespoons salted butter
    • ⅛ teaspoon tarragon
    • 2-3 dashes black pepper
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    Instructions

    • Fill the bottom pot of your steamer with a couple inches of hot water. Set it on the stove, covered, over high heat to bring it to a boil.
    • While the water is heating, rinse your asparagus and cut off the bottom two inches. Add the asparagus to your steamer basket.
    • When the water is boiling, place the steamer basket on top of the boiling pot and cover the steamer basket with a lid. Steam your asparagus for 10 minutes, or until it is just tender.
    • When the asparagus is almost done cooking, place your butter in a small, microwave-safe bowl and cover it with wax paper. Melt the butter in the microwave. Rub the tarragon between your thumb and fingers to crush it up a bit, and sprinkle it into the melted butter. Add your pepper and stir to blend.
    • Serve the asparagus in a platter with the bowl of tarragon butter on the side. Each person can spoon some tarragon butter over his or her portion. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to four days.

    Notes

    If you don't have a steamer, you can add an inch of hot water to a large skillet and bring it to a boil. Add the asparagus to the pan and cook until it is just tender.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 76kcal | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 75mg | Vitamin A: 295IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Mention @cookingwithmammac or tag #CookingWithMammaC!

     

    Two photos of Asparagus separated by the words \"Asparagus with Tarragon Butter\"

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cheryl "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser

      April 05, 2016 at 9:30 pm

      Hi Andrea, love asparagus! Yes I use tarragon a lot in many recipes. Glazed honey-carrots with tarragon, chicken salad with tarragon-grapes-walnuts, very flavorful herb! Cheryl

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        April 06, 2016 at 9:15 am

        Ooh, your carrots and chicken salad sound wonderful, Cheryl!

        Reply
    2. Angie

      April 05, 2016 at 1:18 pm

      Love asparagus! I'd love to grow it but I don't have the patience, I'll just buy it 🙂 I think I have a tarragon /chicken recipe . This sounds wonderful, very spring!

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        April 05, 2016 at 2:07 pm

        This would go perfectly with your chicken recipe, Angie! I don't have any kind of garden, thanks to all of the deer in my yard, so I buy all of my veggies. Anyone with a home garden is lucky! 🙂

        Reply
    3. [email protected]

      April 05, 2016 at 10:36 am

      5 stars
      These are my favorite kind of dishes!! With all the asparagus in the world these days, this recipe will definitely be added to my bunch of favorites! Thanks for sharing, my friend!

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        April 05, 2016 at 10:38 am

        I'm so happy it's asparagus season. I hope you try this, Annie!

        Reply

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    I'm Andrea, also known as Mamma C. I share family-tested recipes from my Italian-American kitchen. I hope you'll visit often! Read More…

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