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    Home » Indian

    Asparagus Stir Fry Subzi

    Published: Jun 21, 2021 · Modified: Jul 29, 2021 by Archana · This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 6 Comments

    96 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    Indian Asparagus Stir Fry showcases my favorite kind of vegetable recipe to share with you! Asparagus Subzi requires just a few basic ingredients, has BIG flavor, is quick to make, and celebrates a beautiful seasonal ingredient. Crisp tender asparagus flashed in a pan with toasted spices and gram flour topped with a squeeze of lemon is an absolute delight.

    asparagus stir fry Subzi with roti

    In fact, what I love most about this dish is how the toasted spices and gram flour cling to the asparagus-like the most delicious savory crumb coating. Gram flour adds protein to this vegetarian dish, and a nutty, earthy flavor. It also adds body and a cozy satisfying mouthfeel.

    Jump to:
    • My first taste of Asparagus
    • Ingredient Spotlight
    • Tips
    • Instructions
    • What to Serve with Subzi
    • Recipe
    • Tips

    My first taste of Asparagus

    I first tasted asparagus when I came to the US. My Aunt prepared a delicious Indian subzi with asparagus. It instantly became a favorite of mine so I learned how to make it myself. I still get excited for Asparagus season and this lovely dish.

    The spices in this dish are commonly found in Indian food. Whole carom seeds give a nice crunch next to the ground cumin and cardamom. Hing and garam masala are optional but so lively in this stir fry that if you have them on hand go ahead and use them. 

    I personally like the sharp up-front spice of green chili in this subzi, but you can use the milder, more mellow Kashmiri red chili powder if you prefer. Or leave out the chili altogether—this dish is made to suit your taste!

    Asparagus can be found pretty much year-round in grocery stores but is a spring vegetable. April through June are the main months of the Asparagus season with the peak arriving in May. 

    ingredients for asparagus stir fry

    Ingredient Spotlight

    This Indian Asparagus Stir Fry recipe uses basic ingredients and here are a few I would like to highlight:

    • Asparagus--Spring vegetable rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support healthy functioning systems throughout the body and may help prevent certain diseases. High in dietary fiber, potassium, folic acid, calcium, B vitamins, Vitamins A, C, E, and K.
    • Carom Seeds (Ajwain)--tiny dried fruits of an herb plant. Pungent, bitter, complex flavor. Widely used in Indian cooking. Dry roasting and cooking in hot oil, butter, or ghee as part of the tadka tempers the pungency. Contains a wealth of medicinal benefits: especially good in aiding digestion and relieving symptoms of the common cold.
    • Gram Flour (Besan)-- A fine flour made of chana dal or split brown chickpeas. It is much finer than the chickpea flour available in US grocery stores. Gluten-free, protein-packed besan is a staple in Indian cuisine. 
    • Hing (Asafetida) – Dried and powdered tree resin, an essential spice in Indian cuisine. It adds smooth, umami flavors and a little bit goes a long way. Many varieties contain gluten, but gluten-free versions are available from some sources.
    asparagus stir fry Subzi with rice

    Tips

    • How to select good fresh asparagus - Choose bunches that are vibrant green with firm, straight stalks. In this recipe, I have used the thin spears but the thick ones are equally good too.
    • How to store asparagus until ready to use Here are 2 ways to keep asparagus at its best, similar to how you would store fresh herbs. But it is preferable to use it soon after buying. Wait to wash spears until ready to use.
      1. Trim an inch off of the woody stem bottom and store upright in a jar with enough cool water to cover the ends. Cover the bunch loosely with a plastic bag or plastic wrap.
      2. Trim approximately an inch off of the ends of the stalks and wrap the bottoms in a damp paper towel. Then wrap the bunch loosely in a plastic bag or plastic wrap.
    • How to prep asparagus - To remove the woody end of the asparagus stalk: grasp each end of the stalk and gently bend until the bottom snaps. Use this trimmed asparagus spear as your guide to line up with the rest of the stalks and cut to the same length. Or simply trim approximately an inch off of the bottom.

    Instructions

    Here is how to make Asparagus Stir Fry with Step by step instructions and photos. A printable recipe card with measurements can be found at the end of this post.

    • Trim asparagus and discard the woody thick ends. Then cut into 1-inch pieces, if the asparagus is thick, slice it vertically down the middle to make thinner segments.
    photos one though four showing how to prep asparagus
    • Preheat a medium skillet over medium heat. Dry roast gram flour for 5 minutes, breaking any lumps and stirring frequently. Take out the roasted flour and reserve.
    • Wipe the skillet with a dry towel. Heat oil over medium heat and add carom seeds, garlic, and hing. Saute for 30 seconds to one minute or until aromatic.
    • Add the asparagus and salt.
    photos five through eight showing how to make asparagus stir fry
    • Add green chili, mix well and cook covered for 5 to 10 minutes on medium heat until the asparagus starts to get tender. Do not overcook as you want to have a crunchy bite. Thicker asparagus will take a couple more minutes to cook.
    • Add cumin, coriander powder, and mix well. Sprinkle gram flour a spoonful at a time, mixing well between each addition. Cook covered for 2 more minutes. Turn the heat off. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the top and garnish with cilantro.
    photos nine through twelve showing how to make indian asparagus

    What to Serve with Subzi

    Serve Asparagus Subzi with hot roti or parathas for a light fresh lunch. Pair it up with spinach dal, rice, and raita for a full meal.

    Asparagus stir fry served with roti

    Did you enjoy this quick and easy stir fry dish? Here are some more Indian Vegetarian Recipes to try:

    • Cabbage Stir Fry
    • Stuffed Bhindi
    • Tindora Stir Fry
    • Beans Poriyal

    Recipe

    Tried this recipe? We love your feedback.Please click on the stars in the recipe card below
    asparagus stir fry with roti
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    5 from 5 votes

    Indian Asparagus Stir Fry

    Stir fried asparagus subzi with ajwain seeds, garlic and green chilli.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time15 mins
    Total Time25 mins
    Course: dinner, Lunch
    Cuisine: Indian
    Servings: 3
    Calories: 130kcal
    Author: Archana Mundhe

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb asparagus spears
    • 4 tablespoons gram flour
    • 1 tablespoon oil
    • 1 teaspoon carom seeds
    • 1 tablespoon garlic finely minced
    • ⅛ teaspoon hing asafoetida, optional
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon green chili minced
    • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
    • ½ teaspoon ground coriander
    • ⅛ garam masala
    • ½ lemon
    • cilantro for garnish

    Instructions

    • Trim asparagus and discard the woody thick ends. Then cut into 1-inch pieces, if the asparagus is thick, slice it vertically down the middle to make thinner segments.
    • Preheat a medium skillet over medium heat. Dry roast gram flour for 5 minutes, breaking any lumps and stirring frequently. Take out the roasted flour and reserve.
    • Wipe the skillet with a dry towel and heat oil over medium heat. Add carom seeds, garlic, and hing and saute for 30 seconds to one minute or until aromatic.
    • Add the asparagus, salt, and green chili. Mix well and cook covered for 5 to 10 minutes on medium heat until the asparagus starts to get tender. Do not overcook as you want to have a crunchy bite.
    • Add cumin, coriander powder, and mix well. Sprinkle gram flour 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing well between each addition. Cook covered for 2 more minutes. Turn the heat off. Sprinkle garam masala, add a squeeze fresh lemon juice over the top and garnish with cilantro.

    Video

    Notes

    Tips

    • How to select good fresh asparagus - Choose bunches that are vibrant green with firm, straight stalks. In this recipe, I have used the thin spears but the thick ones are equally good too. 
    • How to store asparagus until ready to use Here are 2 ways to keep asparagus at its best, similar to how you would store fresh herbs. But it is preferable to use it soon after buying. Wait to wash spears until ready to use.
      1. Trim an inch off of the woody stem bottom and store upright in a jar with enough cool water to cover the ends. Cover the bunch loosely with a plastic bag or plastic wrap.
      2. Trim approximately an inch off of the ends of the stalks and wrap the bottoms in a damp paper towel. Then wrap the bunch loosely in a plastic bag or plastic wrap.
    • How to prep asparagus - To remove the woody end of the asparagus stalk: grasp each end of the stalk and gently bend until the bottom snaps. Use this trimmed asparagus spear as your guide to line up with the rest of the stalks and cut to the same length. Or simply trim approximately an inch off of the bottom.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 130kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 797mg | Potassium: 433mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1157IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 4mg
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    Author: Archana

    Hey there! I am a techie turned recipe developer, cooking instructor, and food blogger. I love food and enjoy developing easy and healthy recipes for busy lifestyles. I live in New Jersey with my husband and two sons.
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    1. Maneesha says

      June 25, 2021 at 8:36 am

      What a unique recipe, Archana! I have never used asparagus in Indian food, and this was such a great dish! Thank you so much!5 stars

      Reply
      • Archana says

        June 27, 2021 at 11:19 am

        You are most welcome! I am so glad you enjoyed it. This is on repeat at my home.

        Reply
    2. SS says

      July 03, 2021 at 9:07 pm

      After making the usual asparagus stir fry, this was a great change with excellent flavors.....really loved it!! Thank you!

      Reply
    3. Geet says

      July 03, 2021 at 10:29 pm

      This was super easy and very delicious. And vegan too. I never imagined there was another way to make asparagus. I've not seen or tried a asparagus recipe other than roast/grill. I tried this recipe last week and it was yum5 stars

      Reply
    4. Rod says

      February 28, 2022 at 11:41 pm

      All three of us thought this was absolutely delicious, I'll definitely have this again and again! I did use ghee though.5 stars

      Reply
      • Archana says

        March 02, 2022 at 12:04 pm

        Thank you for the feedback! I love the idea of using ghee in this recipe.

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Archana: a former software engineer, now a full-time blogger. I am a mother of two boys who share my love for food and cooking. Words I love to hear are, “Mom, what’s for dinner?” The same words I say to my mom every time we speak. I live in the greater New York City Area with my husband and sons.

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