Lindy Valdez
You can boil asparagus, roast them, and cook them in the oven – but can you eat asparagus raw? This is not as far-fetched as it might first sound. Under these conditions, you can enjoy asparagus as raw food.
April to June is asparagus season. Then the vegetables come in all variations on the table. The green and white stalks are usually boiled and served with a sauce. But can you eat asparagus raw or is it poisonous?
How healthy is asparagus?
100 grams of raw asparagus contain around 2 grams of protein and fiber and almost no fat. The water content is 93 percent, which is why asparagus has a hydrating and diuretic effect. In addition, asparagus is a great source of nutrients, it contains a lot of potassium, folate, vitamin K and calcium.
But asparagus is not that healthy for everyone. Eating too much asparagus can be particularly harmful to gout patients. Because asparagus contains purines that increase the uric acid content in the body. This can cause uric acid crystals to form, which can settle in the joints and trigger a gout attack.
Can you eat asparagus raw?
Not only can asparagus be eaten raw, but it should also be. Like any vegetable, asparagus loses some of its nutrients when heated. Even with gentle cooking methods such as blanching, the content of vitamins, minerals, and trace elements is reduced. Cooked asparagus also provides a lot of nutrients, but not as many as when raw.
In addition, unlike raw potatoes, raw asparagus does not contain any toxic or harmful substances. Eating asparagus raw is therefore not only completely harmless but also very healthy.
However, raw asparagus has a small disadvantage: the characteristic taste that makes asparagus so popular is missing in the raw state. Raw asparagus can still convince: It has a sweetish-nutty taste reminiscent of pea pods and artichokes.
Can you eat both white and green asparagus raw?
Asparagus can be eaten raw, regardless of whether it is green or white. However, since white asparagus has to be covered with plastic sheets during cultivation to protect it from sunlight, the green variant is much more environmentally friendly.
You should pay attention to this when you eat asparagus raw
If you want to eat asparagus raw, you should consider a few points when buying and preparing it:
- The asparagus should be fresh, so prefer regional vegetables from farmers or imported goods from the weekly market.
- Rely on organic quality. How to avoid asparagus contaminated with pesticides.
- The spears should be as thin as possible, as thick asparagus tastes more bitter when raw.
- Wash the asparagus thoroughly before eating.
When it comes to preparation, raw asparagus is no different from cooked: white asparagus must always be peeled and the wooden ends removed. With the green variant, you only have to separate the purple-colored lower part.
Tip: There are many great ways to eat asparagus raw; the vegetable is particularly good in salads, e.g. with strawberries and basil or with tomato and mozzarella.
