I'm always looking for fresh, new ways to prepare warm weather veggies other than my go-to grilling and summer salads. Asparagus, is one of my favorites for this season, and I thought I'd share one my favorite way to prepare them...Asian style.
1. Trim the ends of a pound or two of asparagus. {doesn't everyone keep a cap-gun on their kitchen island?}
![asparagus](https://gracelacedrecipes.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/7b395-1.jpg)
2. Make your sauce. You'll need soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, and fresh garlic. {you all don't have stuffed bunnies either?}
![-2](https://gracelacedrecipes.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/4294e-2.jpg)
3. Combine 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup sugar, drizzle of sesame oil, and 1 clove of garlic, minced.
![SoyVinegarSauce](https://gracelacedrecipes.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/e2e0b-soyvinegarsauce.jpg)
4. Boil a big pot of water, and cook asparagus for 5 minutes, or just until fork easily pierces the ends.
![-6](https://gracelacedrecipes.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/fa103-6.jpg)
5. Meanwhile, make an ice bath for your asparagus, and dunk them in immediately after cooking.
![icebath](https://gracelacedrecipes.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/9e9c3-icebath.jpg)
6. Drain asparagus, and place in a sealed container or ziploc bag with all the sauce. Chill.
![-11](https://gracelacedrecipes.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/3e35b-11.jpg)
7. Serve when chilled for at least 1 hour.
![Asparagus in Soy](https://gracelacedrecipes.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/83583-14.jpg)
What to serve it with? Well, there's teryiaki chicken, grilled salmon, and my fave: seared ahi tuna with soba noodles.
This is how we do DIY sushi minus the rolling. We did it with sobas, but of course you can make some sushi rice.
![DIY sushi](https://gracelacedrecipes.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/170fc-15.jpg)
...and, some of the men-folk around here are creative about how to put it all together, a la tuna hand roll.
![-16](https://gracelacedrecipes.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/710a9-16.jpg)
Just the right combination of flavors and textures for a laid-back evening under the arbor. Don't be impressed. It's way easier than you think. Try it...you'll see! Have a fresh and flavorful Monday.