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How to cook asparagus in a ninja cooker?


Asparagus is a delicious and nutritious vegetable that can be prepared in many different ways. One popular method is to cook asparagus in a ninja cooker, which is a type of electric pressure cooker. Ninja cookers make cooking asparagus fast and easy with very little effort. In just minutes, you can have perfectly cooked asparagus ready to enjoy.

Benefits of Cooking Asparagus in a Ninja Cooker

There are several advantages to using a ninja cooker to prepare asparagus:

  • Speed – A ninja cooker can cook asparagus in just 2-3 minutes under pressure. This is much faster than boiling, steaming, roasting or grilling.
  • Convenience – Simply add asparagus and water to the ninja cooker pot, lock the lid, and press a button. Set it and forget it!
  • Uniform cooking – The pressurized environment ensures every spear is cooked evenly throughout.
  • Retains nutrients – Pressure cooking is gentler than other high-heat methods, preserving more vitamins and minerals.
  • Bright green color – Asparagus cooked in a ninja cooker stays bright green, instead of turning olive-y gray.
  • Tender texture – Asparagus comes out perfectly tender, but not mushy.
  • Minimal cleanup – With only one pot to clean, ninja cookers are simple to use with hardly any mess.

For best results and food safety, it’s important to follow proper ninja cooker operating instructions. With the right techniques, you can enjoy restaurant-quality asparagus cooked to perfection using your ninja cooker.

Selecting and Preparing Asparagus for Cooking

When selecting asparagus to cook in your ninja cooker, look for firm, straight spears with compact tips and smooth skin. Avoid any spears that appear withered, limp or damaged. For ideal flavor and texture, thinner spears around 1/2 inch thickness are best.

Recommended Asparagus Varieties for Ninja Cooking

– Green – This is the most common variety. Choose bright green spears with purplish-green ends.

– White – More delicate and milder flavored than green. The spears are pale green to white.

– Purple – Has tender purple-tinged tips that turn green when cooked. Offers a slightly fruitier taste.

Rinse the asparagus under cool running water to remove any grit. Use a vegetable peeler or paring knife to peel away the bottom 2-3 inches of the spear bottoms. The woody stem ends can be tough and fibrous. Peeling removes this part.

For even cooking, trim all spears to the same length by holding them at both ends and bending until the end snaps off naturally. The spears will naturally break where the tender part meets the tough end.

Cutting on the diagonal creates more surface area for absorbing flavor during cooking. For ninja cooking, cut spears into 1-2 inch diagonal pieces.

Add Water to the Ninja Cooker Pot

One downside to cooking asparagus in a ninja cooker is that the high heat and pressure can cause scorching if there is not enough liquid. Adding water to the pot prevents burning and helps the asparagus cook evenly.

For 4 servings of asparagus, add 1/2 cup of water to the pot. The spears should be partially submerged in the water. For larger quantities, add more water as needed to come about 1/3 to 1/2 of the way up the asparagus pieces.

Some tips for adding the water:

– Use fresh cool water, not hot or warm water which can accelerate browning.

– Consider using vegetable broth or chicken broth for more flavor.

– To cut bitterness, add a teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar to the water.

– Add a pinch of sugar or pinch of salt to season the water.

– For flavor infusion, add garlic cloves, onion slices, fresh herbs or citrus slices to the water.

Load Asparagus into the Ninja Cooker

Once the water is added to the pot, place the asparagus pieces into the cooker. Spears can be stacked vertically or laid in horizontally – both ways work fine.

Arrange spears in an even layer without overcrowding them. Asparagus cooks best with some room around each piece.

For 4 servings:
– Use 1 pound of trimmed asparagus
– Load spears to fill about half the pot

To keep stalk ends from drying out, place some of the pieces with tips pointing up and some pointing down. The moisture in the middle of the pot will help evenly steam all areas.

Do not add any seasoning like salt or pepper yet, as it can cause the ninja cooker to corrode. You can season the asparagus after cooking instead.

Pressure Cook the Asparagus

With the asparagus loaded, lock the lid of the ninja cooker into place. Make sure the pressure valve is sealed – refer to your model’s manual for proper valve settings.

Most ninja cookers have pre-programmed buttons making operation easy. Select the “Pressure Cook” or “Manual” mode.

Pressure cook the asparagus for just 1 minute at high pressure. The short cook time prevents overcooking while still ensuring doneness.

As the pot builds pressure, the cooker heats up past the boiling point of water so that the asparagus cooks rapidly.

Once pressure cooking completes, allow the pot to naturally release pressure for 5 minutes. Then do a quick pressure release to depressurize fully.

After 5 minutes of natural release, the asparagus will be just shy of perfect doneness. The quick release finish ensures the spears are perfectly tender without becoming mushy.

Remove and Season the Asparagus

When the ninja cooker is depressurized, remove the lid carefully. The asparagus will be a vibrant green and fork tender.

Use tongs to transfer the asparagus to a serving platter or dish. Allow the spears to drain briefly – you can gently pat with a paper towel if needed.

Drizzle the asparagus with olive oil or melted butter. Season to taste with salt, pepper, garlic powder, lemon juice or any of your favorite seasonings.

The hot cooked asparagus will readily absorb any flavors and oils for delicious results. Enjoy your tender ninja cooked asparagus right away for maximum flavor and texture.

Tips for the Best Results

Here are some helpful tips for unlocking the best asparagus flavor and texture using a ninja cooker:

– If spears are thicker than 1/2 inch, increase pressure cook time to 2 minutes.

– Add herbs, garlic or citrus to the water for extra flavor dimension.

– Ice bathing after cooking stops carryover cooking for perfect crisp-tender texture.

– Toss in a skillet with olive oil after cooking to caramelize and enhance flavor.

– Top with lemon juice, grated parmesan, bacon crumbles or your favorite garnishes.

– Roasting or grilling for 1-2 minutes before or after pressure cooking adds char.

– Refrigerate and serve chilled, dressed as a salad or appetizer.

– Purée extra cooked asparagus with broth for a vibrant soup.

With the right techniques, your ninja cooker can produce restaurant-worthy asparagus with ease. Adjust cooking times and seasoning to suit your taste. Enjoy this quick, healthy side dish or elegant vegetable entrée any night of the week.

Ninja Cooker Asparagus Recipes to Try

The tender texture and beautiful color of ninja cooked asparagus lends itself to all kinds of easy recipes. Here are a few must-try recipe ideas:

Lemon Garlic Asparagus – Asparagus, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper

Asparagus with Bacon and Balsamic Vinegar – Asparagus, bacon, balsamic vinegar, olive oil

Teriyaki Chicken Asparagus Stir Fry – Asparagus, chicken, teriyaki sauce, garlic

Asparagus Quiche – Asparagus, eggs, milk, savory crust of your choice

Asparagus Risotto – Asparagus, Arborio rice, onions, broth, parmesan

Asparagus Frittata – Asparagus, eggs, cheese, sautéed vegetables

Asparagus Soup – Asparagus, onions, broth, cream or milk

The possibilities are endless! Use your perfectly pressure cooked asparagus in all kinds of delicious dishes.

Common Questions

Should I peel asparagus before pressure cooking?

Peeling the bottom 2-3 inches is recommended. This removes any fibrous texture. The tender parts of the stems do not need to be peeled.

Can I cook frozen asparagus in my ninja cooker?

Yes, frozen asparagus can go straight into the pressure cooker, but add an extra minute to the cook time. Add extra water too since frozen asparagus releases less moisture.

Why does my ninja cooked asparagus turn out mushy?

If asparagus is overcooked and mushy, reduce the pressure time to 30 seconds to 1 minute max. Quickly release pressure immediately after cooking stops.

Is it necessary to add water when cooking asparagus in a ninja cooker?

Yes, adding water is strongly recommended to prevent scorching. Use 1/2 cup water per 1 pound of asparagus.

Can I cook more than 1 pound of asparagus at a time?

Yes, you can cook up to 2 pounds of asparagus by increasing the pressure time by 1-2 minutes and adding more water to the pot. Do not overfill.

Conclusion

Cooking tender, vibrant asparagus is quick and easy with the pressurized environment of a ninja cooker. In just minutes, you can have perfect asparagus using your ninja foodi or ninja pressure cooker. With minimal prep, a short cook time, and easy cleanup, enjoy this healthy side more often. Experiment with different seasonings, ingredients like garlic or lemon, and use in all kinds of recipes.