To prepare the asparagus, bend the base and snap the woody bottom from the stem. To guarantee the most tender results, you can also peel the bottom two-thirds of the stems using a peeler.
- Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil
- Carefully lower the asparagus into the boiling water
- Leave to cook for 2–4 minutes, depending on the thickness of the stems
- Using tongs, remove the asparagus and plunge it into iced water for at least 5 minutes. This will stop the cooking processes and preserve the color.
- Drain the asparagus on kitchen paper