Sea Asparagus Recipe (2024)

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Sea Asparagus Recipe – Quick and easy way to prepare Sea Asparagus (Salicornia), an edible aquatic succulent, rich in folic acid, B vitamins, vitamin C, calcium and iron. Serve in salads, sandwiches soups, pasta or just on its own, as a side dish for meat, fish and seafood.

Sea Asparagus Recipe (1)

What are sea asparagus?

Sea asparagus is foundalong shorelines, salt marshes, and tidal flats without strong wave action. It is a common coastal species, and occurs all along the west coast of North America from southeastern Alaska to Mexico. It is also found along the eastern coast of North America and the Gulf of Mexico. (Source: Centralcoastbiodiversity).

They may look like the “baby” version of regular asparagus, with the same bright green color and crunchy texture, but they are different. Called a “superfood” by some nutrition scientists, because they are low in calories and rich in some vitamins and iron.

Known as “Sea beans, Samphire or Salicornia”, these are sea vegetables, that can be cooked as any other vegetable. They are salty, with a tint of “ocean flavor” and when cooked they taste similar to green beans.

Sea Asparagus Recipe (2)

How to cook sea asparagus?

Sea asparagus are usually blanched or sautéed, in order to give them a quick “cook”, but preserve them bright green and crunchy.

Recipe Tips:

  • Sea asparagus can last for up to 2 weeks in the fridge, once harvested. They don’t go bad, if stored properly, but may darken in color with time. I recommend cooking them as quickly as possible, for best results.
  • This “vegetable” is already salty, so keep this in mind. Don’t use too much salt, when cooking. I suggest adding salt at the and of the cooking process, a little bit at a time, to make sure the raste is perfect.

Toppings – optional. Here are some ideas:

  • Cayenne pepper
  • Chopped nuts
  • Seeds (sesame, sunflower)
  • Bacon bits
  • Cheese

Sea Asparagus Recipe (3)

How to store cooked sea asparagus?

There are still crunchy, after a quick fry, so you can store in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Drying sea asparagus: I’ve seen people drying these to preserve and rehydrate for future uses. The method usually involves blanching the asparagus (boiling for 1 minute, then placing in a bowl with ice water), then dry very well. Use a dehydrator or dry at room temperature. Store in an air tight container for up to 2 months. To rehydrate: place in hot water for 15 minutes, then drain and rinse.

Can you freeze sea asparagus?

The answer is yes, you can. You still have to blanch them, then dry and place in freezer bags. Keep un the freezer for up to 2 months.

Sea Asparagus Recipe (4)

Nutritional benefits:

You can read more about this vegetable on Wikipedia.

Salicornia is low in calories ( 133 Calories per 100 grams), 93 mg of sodium, 3 grams of carbs and 13 grams of protein. It is rich in Vitamin A, Calcium and Iron.

Growing Sea Asparagus

These grow around the shorelines, where no strong waves are present. But the good news is that they can be grown at home – either by your window in containers or in the field. They need full sunlight and sandy soil to grow. Another requirement is salty water. They can be watered with saline solution for best results. Don’t use table salt, just use sea salt and water to make the saline solution.

Greenhouse growing is also a great option, since it will preserve them from weather fluctuations.

What to serve with?

These taste amazing on their own, just with a drizzle of lemon or lime juice. You can serve them with eggs, use in frittatas, add to sandwiches, wraps or salads. Sauteed Salicornia makes a great side dish for meat, fish and seafood. Serve with Baked Halibut, Grilled Filet Mignon of Air Fryer Chicken Breast.

More recipes with sea asparagus:

Sea Asparagus Recipe (5)

Sea Asparagus Recipe (6)

5 from 1 vote

Sea Asparagus

Quick and easy way to prepare Sea Asparagus (Salicornia), an edible aquatic succulent, rich in folic acid, B vitamins, vitamin A, calcium and iron.

Prep: 2 minutes mins

Cook: 2 minutes mins

Servings: 2

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Ingredients

  • 1/2 lb 250 grams Salicornia (Sea Asparagus/Sea Beans/Samphire Greens)
  • 1 tbsp butter or ghee
  • 1 tbsp olive or vegetable oil
  • 2 pinches black pepper
  • 2 pinches salt, or more to taste
  • Optional:
  • 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds
  • 1 tsp hot pepper flakes

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Wash and pat dry asparagus. Trim the ends (I cut about 2 centimeters at the end).

  • Heat oil and butter in a cast iron pan of wok.

  • Add the greens.

  • Cook at medium-high heat for 2 minutes, turning a few times

  • Transfer to a plate.
Drizzle with lemon juice and add toppings of your choice.

  • Serve.

  • Store in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to 2 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 140kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 15mg, Sodium: 450mg, Potassium: 53mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 0.1g, Vitamin A: 477IU, Vitamin C: 0.01mg, Calcium: 49mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Tried this recipe?Mention @cookinglsl or tag #cookinglsl!

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Sea Asparagus Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can you eat sea asparagus raw? ›

And the best news? It tastes fantastic! You can definitely just nibble on the sea asparagus raw for a crisp, light, super-salty snack {Noah loves it this way!}.

What does sea asparagus taste like to eat? ›

What Does Sea Asparagus Taste Like? Sea asparagus boasts a crunchy, salty, and bright flavor profile that elevates our pesto and lends it a taste that is much fresher than many other comparable sauces.

How long does sea asparagus last? ›

Sea asparagus is a delicate, green tiny plant that's best bought fresh and in a pile that's bundled up for the customer. You need to store it in the fridge in a paper bag and use it up within 3-4 days. Vendor literature claims up to 14 days for fridge shelf life.

Is sea asparagus good for you? ›

' Hawaiian Sea Asparagus has been considered one of next anti-aging foods. The Sea asparagus has very high content of folic acid (Vitamin B9) which helps to improve skin, make you look younger. It also has a high amount of Vitamin B 2 and electolytes of Sea Asparagus keep you high viatility.

What is the best way to eat asparagus cooked or raw? ›

Cooking asparagus can help boost the activity of the antioxidants in asparagus, but this method can also contribute to nutrient loss, especially with heat-sensitive vitamins like vitamin C. To reap the greatest health benefits, consider incorporating both cooked and raw asparagus into your diet.

Why don't you eat the bottom of asparagus? ›

Asparagus stalks are famously tender at the tips and hard and woody at the ends, so nearly every recipe you'll find online starts with trimming those tough bases before cooking.

Why do you shock asparagus? ›

Shocking veggies stops the cooking process and keeps their color vibrant and bright. Immediately after blanching the spears, use tongs or a spider strainer to transfer them to a large bowl of ice water. Swirl them around in the cold water until their temperature drops, then remove and drain.

Can you freeze sea asparagus? ›

Cut off the tough ends, blanch quickly and shock in ice water to set the bright green colour, then chop sea asparagus to serve in salads, use it as a salty herb with oysters, sauté it in butter to serve as a vegetable, or pickle it. Blanched, it keeps for up to 10 days in the refrigerator or it can be frozen.

What's the difference between asparagus and sea asparagus? ›

Sea asparagus has long, green spears that closely resemble garden asparagus. Both are slightly bitter yet savory—but the taste is different. Sea asparagus is briny and a bit crunchy, delicious on its own or paired with something that would normally need salt. It's perfect with just about any seafood.

What is a substitute for sea asparagus? ›

On the East Coast, it's most often called samphire greens or beach asparagus, but it's also known as sea beans, glasswort, crow's foot greens and many other regional names. If you can't find sea asparagus (it has a short season), you can substitute regular pencil thin asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch lengths.

What organ is asparagus good for? ›

Asparagus contains potassium, an important nutrient for keeping your heart, bones, kidneys and nerves functioning and healthy. You may be surprised to learn that this stalky vegetable also consists of a compound called asparaptine, which may help improve blood flow, in turn lowering blood pressure.

Which is the healthiest sea vegetables? ›

What are some of the healthiest sea vegetables? Good news: Most sea veggies are very healthy (unless they have been harvested near a place with contaminated water). Nori, spirulina, Salicornia, and dulse, kombu, wakame, sea purslane, and Irish moss are common and very healthy sea veggies.

Does asparagus clean your liver? ›

Asparagus: Liver enzymes ADH and ALDH have both been found to be elevated with the consumption of asparagus. These enzymes help to metabolize ethanol (alcohol that may have been consumed), and also makes a great hangover remedy, as it protects the liver from contaminates that may lead to scarring or fatty liver.

Can you eat sea vegetables raw? ›

Whole sea vegetables can all be eaten as a raw snack straight from the bag, but most people prefer adding them in small amounts to other foods.

Is sea asparagus the same as asparagus? ›

It's not really from the sea and it's no relation to asparagus. It's not really from the sea and it's no relation to asparagus, but sea asparagus is a popular ingredient for creative chefs on Canada's coasts. In Acadian fishing communities in New Brunswick, occasional signs offer “Samphire for Sale” along rural roads.

Are sea vegetables safe to eat? ›

Eating seaweed is safe for most people. But there are a few things to watch out for: Too much iodine. While iodine is vital for thyroid health, too much of this trace mineral can lead to hypothyroidism.

How can you tell if asparagus is safe to eat? ›

First, check the appearance. If the asparagus looks limp and is slumping over in the jar, that's a sign it's beginning to spoil (fresh asparagus should stand straight). Another thing to look at is the texture. Asparagus should be firm and crisp, so if your spears appear mushy or soft, it's best to toss them.

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