Pistachio Asparagus In Orange Sauce is a delicious, simple side dish! Steamed asparagus is topped with browned butter orange/pistachio sauce.
My husband and I love fresh asparagus, especially when it comes into season here locally. Many years ago I came across a unique sounding recipe while browsing through a food magazine I subscribed to. The idea of adding crunchy pistachios, orange juice and zest in a browned butter sauce to steamed asparagus made me want to try that recipe. Let me tell you… this veggie dish does not disappoint!
Overall the recipe is quite simple. Trimmed asparagus are steamed for just a few minutes, and while it’s steaming, you make a simple butter/orange/pistachio sauce. Serve the asparagus drizzled with the pistachio and orange sauce, and enjoy! All in all, it only takes about 20 minutes from start to finish, and the recipe makes 4 servings. It’s delicious! Here’s how to make this dish:
Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page
Prepare The Asparagus
Cut or snap off the “woody” ends of the asparagus stalks. Place 1″ of water into a large skillet (you need a skillet with a cover). Put the asparagus into a steamer basket, and place the basket in the skillet, over the water.
Bring the water to a boil on medium-high heat, then place a lid on the skillet and steam the asparagus for 4-5 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat once the asparagus is crisp-tender, and keep the asparagus warm.
Make The Pistachio And Orange Butter Sauce
While the asparagus is cooking, make the orange pistachio butter sauce. Melt butter in a separate large skillet on medium heat. Add chopped pistachios, and cook them for 3-4 minutes, until the nuts are lightly browned. Add orange juice and orange zest to the skillet, and stir to combine with the other ingredients.
The liquid will become foamy as it cooks, and the butter will begin to brown as the butterfat solids separate. Stir the sauce often as it cooks.
You can see (below) the butter has begun to brown, resulting in a slightly nutty flavor. Once the butter has browned, turn off the heat, and the foaminess will dissipate, leaving a richly colored brown butter, pistachio and orange sauce.
Time To Serve The Pistachio Asparagus In Orange Sauce
Place the asparagus stalks on a serving platter, then drizzle the orange sauce and pistachios evenly over the top of the asparagus. Season with a dash of black pepper, and serve immediately, while hot.
I hope you have the chance to make this simple, yet delicious veggie side dish for yourself or those you love. Thanks for stopping by today, and I hope you’ll come back soon for more recipes. Take care, and have a GREAT day.
Looking For More ASPARAGUS Recipes?
You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have some delicious recipes with asparagus (and other veggies) you might enjoy, including:
- Asparagus Cashew Stir Fry
- Cream Of Asparagus Soup
- Chicken and Asparagus Risotto
- Grilled Asparagus with Lemon And Parmesan
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Original recipe source: “Taste of Home” magazine, April/May 2001 edition, pages 33-34, Reiman Publications
↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓
Pistachio Asparagus In Orange Sauce is a delicious, simple side dish! Steamed asparagus is topped with browned butter orange/pistachio sauce.
- 1 pound fresh asparagus ends trimmed
- 3 Tablespoons chopped pistachio nuts
- 5 Tablespoons butter
- 3 Tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 1½ teaspoons orange zest (finely grated peel)
- 1 pinch black pepper
Cut or snap off "woody" ends of asparagus. Pour water in a large skillet to a depth of 1". Lay asparagus on a steamer basket; place basket over water in skillet, Bring water to a boil on medium-high heat. Put lid on skillet; steam asparagus for 4-5 minutes. Remove skillet from heat when asparagus is crisp-tender; keep asparagus warm.
While asparagus cooks, make the sauce. Melt butter in a separate large skillet on medium heat. Add chopped pistachios; cook for 3-4 minutes, until lightly browned. Add orange juice and zest to skillet; stir to combine. Liquid will become foamy as it cooks; butter will turn brown as butterfat solids separate. Stir sauce often until sauce is heated through and nicely browned.
To serve, place asparagus on serving platter. Drizzle sauce and pistachios evenly over asparagus. Season with a dash of pepper. Serve immediately while hot.
Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!