Sauteed Asparagus with Lemon Cream Sauce - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

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by Stephanie Manley, Last Updated 14 Comments

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Sauteed Asparagus with Lemon Cream Sauce is an easy way to prepare fresh asparagus. Asparagus is the perfect vegetable for any time of the year.

Sauteed Asparagus with Lemon Cream Sauce - CopyKat Recipes (1)

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Quick and Easy Pan Fried Asparagus Recipe

Do you love simple side dishes? I love side dishes that take no time to prepare. Sometimes just the mere fact you are putting dinner on the table is challenging.

So often when you are putting together a meal it is difficult to get everything to the table at once. Making asparagus with a creamy lemon sauce means you can spend a minimum of time on a side dish you will love.

This creamy asparagus recipe is one that I adapted from the From Julia Child’s Kitchen cookbook. This is one of her books that includes French recipes but with an American palette in mind. Many of the recipes in the book are very simple and completely accessible to cooks of all skills.

What I love about this asparagus with lemon cream sauce recipe is that you can make it in about 15 minutes. What a great side dish to make on a busy day!

Why You Should Try This Recipe

Lemon and cream is a classic flavor pairing in French cuisine and works extraordinarily well in this dish. The tang of the lemon juice cuts the richness of the butter and cream, creating a sauce that is complex in flavor yet extremely easy to make.

Pan-seared asparagus with lemon-cream sauce is sophisticated enough to serve at a dinner party but straightforward enough to make for your family’s weekday dinner.

Low Carb and Keto Friendly Asparagus Recipe

Yes! Creamy sauteed asparagus is low in carbohydrates and a perfect side dish to make for anyone on a keto diet.

Creamy Asparagus Recipe Ingredients

Here’s a list of what you need:

  • Fresh asparagus spears
  • Unsalted butter
  • Shallots
  • Salt
  • Ground black pepper
  • Fresh lemon juice
  • Heavy cream
  • Lemon slices for garnish
Sauteed Asparagus with Lemon Cream Sauce - CopyKat Recipes (2)

Tips for Fresh Asparagus

When I purchase asparagus, I like to buy the thin stalks, as they are often more tender and they are not woody like thick asparagus can be.

If you buy thick asparagus, you may want to peel the skin off of it before you begin to cook it. The skin is where the woodiness can be.

How to Make Sauteed Asparagus with Lemon Sauce

To make this pan fried asparagus recipe:

  1. Slice off the fibrous ends of the asparagus. While many people snap the ends off, this causes a lot of food waste. Instead, just cut an inch off the bottom. If you are using asparagus stalks thicker than your pinkie, use a peeler to remove the peel two or three inches from the end.
  2. Cut the shallot into small dice.
  3. In a large, heavy-bottomed pan, melt the butter over medium heat.
  4. Once the butter stops foaming, add the shallots, and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Saute the shallots until they just begin to become translucent.
Sauteed Asparagus with Lemon Cream Sauce - CopyKat Recipes (3)
  1. Place the asparagus in a single layer in the pan. Use the back of a spatula to roll the asparagus to ensure even cooking.
  2. Cook the asparagus long enough until the stalks deepenin color and become crisp tender. Exactly how long to saute asparagus depends on the thickness. Try to use stalks that are roughly the same diameter so all the asparagus will finish cooking at the same time.
Sauteed Asparagus with Lemon Cream Sauce - CopyKat Recipes (4)
  1. Remove the asparagus onto a wire rack over paper towels to drain.
  2. Pour the heavy cream into the same pan and scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen any stuck on bits.
  3. Simmer the sauce until it thickens slightlyand stir in the lemon juice.
  4. Return the asparagus to the pan and toss to coat.
Sauteed Asparagus with Lemon Cream Sauce - CopyKat Recipes (5)
  1. Serve immediately.
  2. Garnish with lemon slices if desired.
Sauteed Asparagus with Lemon Cream Sauce - CopyKat Recipes (6)

How To Serve Creamy Asparagus

Place the asparagus on a serving platter or individual plate. If you are serving the meal family-style, reserve any extra sauce in a gravy boat; otherwise, drizzle a tablespoon or two of sauce over each portion.

Finish the dishwith a squeeze of lemon, a thin lemon slice, and a little freshly ground black pepper over the top of the asparagus.

What To Serve With This Pan Seared Asparagus Recipe

Sauteed Asparagus with Lemon Cream Sauce pairs wonderfully with pan seared chicken, roast beef, or grilled steak. Serve creamy asparagus alongside poached eggs and home fries for a memorable brunch menu.

How To Store Leftover Asparagus

Trim the bottoms of the asparagus and place the stalks cut-end down in a glass with an inch of water. Keep the asparagus uncovered in the fridge for up to five days. Changethe water daily.

Can You Freeze Asparagus with Lemon Sauce?

The lemon sauce for the asparagus doesn’t do well in the freezer. It is best to prepare the sauce freshly. However, you can freeze asparagus to prepare the recipe in the future.

To do this:

  1. Blanch for 30 seconds in boiling water and cool immediately in a bowl of ice water.
  2. Remove the asparagus from the water and dry.
  3. Lay the asparagus on the baking sheet and place the tray in the freezer until the asparagus freezes —about two hours.
  4. Transfer the frozen asparagus to a freezer bag and store it in the freezer for up to three months.

Thaw the asparagus in the fridge before cooking.

Sauteed Asparagus with Lemon Cream Sauce - CopyKat Recipes (7)

Love asparagus? Try these recipes!

  • Air Fried Asparagus
  • Asparagus Casserole
  • Parmesan Crusted Asparagus
  • Roasted Asparagus

Favorite Vegetable Side Dish Recipes

  • Boiled Carrots
  • Broccoli and Cheese
  • Fried Okra
  • Garlic Green Beans
  • How to Cook Cabbage
  • Mixed Vegetables
  • Parsley Potatoes
  • Roasted Red Potatoes
  • Scalloped Corn

Check out more of my easy vegetable side dish recipes and the best low carb recipes here on CopyKat!

Sauteed Asparagus with Lemon Cream Sauce

Sauteed asparagus with lemon cream sauce is a delicious side dish to make for dinner. This is the perfect sauce for asparagus.

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Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: French

Keyword: Asparagus with Cream Sauce, Asparagus with Lemon Sauce, Keto, Low Carb, Sauteed Asparagus

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 144kcal

Author: Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons diced shallots
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 to 1 1/2 pounds fresh asparagus washed and trimmed
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • lemon slices optional garnish

Instructions

  • Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.

  • Add the shallots and sauté them until they are soft and almost translucent. Season the shallots with salt and pepper while they are cooking.

  • Add the asparagus and toss to coat with the butter. Cook the asparagus until it changes color. The cook time will depend on the thickness of the asparagus.

  • Add the lemon juice and heavy cream, and stir to combine. Cook for 5 minutes.

  • Transfer the asparagus from the skillet to a serving dish.

  • Pour the sauce over the asparagus.

  • Garnish with lemon slices if desired.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 144kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 204mg | Potassium: 255mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1325IU | Vitamin C: 7.3mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 2.5mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. SamT

    Sauteed Asparagus with Lemon Cream Sauce - CopyKat Recipes (9)
    My family loved asparagus prepared like this.

    Reply

  2. Ashleigh

    Sauteed Asparagus with Lemon Cream Sauce - CopyKat Recipes (10)
    This was a great way to serve Asparagus. This recipe was so good, I am going to make this one again.

    Reply

  3. Houstonfit

    Sauteed Asparagus with Lemon Cream Sauce - CopyKat Recipes (11)
    This was a great casserole my whole family loved.

    Reply

  4. Stephanie

    This would be a great recipe for a diabetic. I have some recipes that work great for diabetics, here is another one. https://copykat.com/red-lobster-fresh-roasted-brussel-sprouts/

    Reply

  5. Mary harris

    I love the recipes. Do you have any recipes for diabetic

    Reply

    • Stephanie

      This would be a great recipe for a diabetic. I have some recipes that work great for diabetics, here is another one. https://copykat.com/red-lobster-fresh-roasted-brussel-sprouts/

      Reply

  6. Oma x 3

    Wouldn’t the lemon juice cause the whipping cream to curdle?

    Reply

  7. Docmo

    One of my favorite dishes, but I’ve never made it myself. I’ve always eaten it in restaurants and I haven’t found a bad one yet. Thank you for the recipe. God Bless.

    Reply

    • Stephanie

      I hope you enjoy the asparagus!

      Reply

  8. Mary

    Thank you for updating the recipe, will be making this as one of my sides for Thanksgiving.

    Reply

  9. theone snow

    How much lemon juice? When do you add the cream? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Jo Wells

      Read the recipe, you add it with the lemon juice.

      Reply

      • Theone Snow

        Jo Wells, when I read the recipe, it didn’t say, “and the heavy cream” . However, it does now. :0)

    • Mary harris

      I am a diebitic , do you have any recipes for me?

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Sauteed Asparagus with Lemon Cream Sauce - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the recipe for asparagus Jamie Oliver? ›

Simply preheat the oven to 220°C, gas mark 7, line a tray with foil or baking paper, lay the asparagus spears onto the tray, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. You can also try adding a couple of fresh cloves of garlic and a little grating of lemon zest. Roast for ten minutes.

Should you soak asparagus before cooking? ›

Fine grit can lurk in asparagus tips. To get rid of it, fill a bowl with cold water and soak the asparagus for a few minutes, then rinse off. That should rid the stems of any unpleasant sandiness.

Why is my asparagus tough after cooking? ›

Lignin is not softened by heat, so it remains fibrous and tough after cooking. To eliminate lignin, snap (don't cut) the end of each spear just before cooking. It will break right at the point where the stalk becomes tender. Do this just before cooking so you leave no time for asparagus to accumulate yet more lignin.

Does asparagus get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

Undercooked asparagus, crunchy and forbidding, can taste like a punishment. But if you simmer asparagus long enough to cook it through, its texture becomes soft and almost creamy, and its lovely flavor comes into full bloom.

How many stalks of asparagus should you eat? ›

For asparagus, a standard serving size is six medium spears, a 1/2 cup of pieces, or just over three ounces cooked. For only 20 calories, you get a lot of nutrients!

Why shouldn't you snap ends off asparagus? ›

It is not necessary to trim asparagus. On some spears, especially fresh, pencil-thin stalks, the woody ends may tenderize once cooked. But on larger stalks, the ends of the asparagus are often woody and dense—Which makes them difficult to chew, no matter how soft the asparagus is after cooking.

What's the best way to cook asparagus? ›

Chop the spears into 1-inch pieces and drop them into the boiling water for about 1 minute, or until tender but still bright green. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the blanched asparagus to the ice water and chill for 1 minute. Drain, pat dry, and toss into salads, pastas, or squeeze with lemon and enjoy!

What spice or herb goes well with asparagus? ›

Asparagus can be steamed, roasted, grilled, broiled, boiled, blanched, dried or pickled. Combines well with: garlic, lemon juice, nutmeg, honey. Fine herbs: rosemary, basil, dill, marjoram, Mediterranean oregano, thyme, cilantro, etc.

What is the healthiest way to eat asparagus? ›

Try adding shredded, raw asparagus to pasta dishes and salads. Alternatively, enjoy the spears lightly steamed or sautéed in a frittata, or as a stand-alone side dish. Asparagus is a nutritious choice, regardless of whether it's cooked or raw. Try eating a combination of the two for maximum health benefits.

What does baking soda do to asparagus? ›

Add something alkaline, such as baking soda, and the chemical reactions are altered so the chlorophyll turns bright green. Unfortunately, alkalinity also speeds up the breakdown of plant tissues. Cell walls break down, vitamins leak out — it's not a pretty picture.

What's the healthiest way to eat asparagus? ›

Boil, griddle or roast fresh, tender asparagus and eat on its own with some low-fat dairy-free yogurt, or sprinkle with low-fat dressing, balsamic vinegar or soy sauce. Slice – raw or cooked – asparagus stalks and add to stir-fries, risottos, soups, sauces, tarts and quiches.

Why do you soak asparagus in ice water? ›

Another way to prevent overcooking is to shock the asparagus in an ice bath. Once you remove asparagus from the heat, pour the veggies into a bowl of ice-cold water. The cold water will stop the cooking process as well as bring out the vegetable's naturally bright color and maintain its crisp texture.

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