Asparagus is a green vegetable that's easily recognizable for its long, pointy spears, which are commonly grilled, steamed, or roasted. It's known as a springtime vegetable and is primarily grown commercially in warm areas of the world.

Its elegant, snappy stalks stand up well to a variety of preparations, including roasting, steaming, sautéing and grilling. You can even eat asparagus raw: shave it into ribbons with a vegetable peeler and toss into dishes like Shaved Asparagus Salad with Lemon and Parmesan or Asparagus Fettuccine Carbonara.