• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Recipes
  • Meal Planner
  • Subscribe

Framed Recipes

menu icon
go to homepage
  • About Us
  • Recipes
  • Meal Planner
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About Us
    • Recipes
    • Meal Planner
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • Ɨ

    Home Ā» Asparagus Stir Fry

    Published: May 11, 2021 Ā· by Sree Ā· This post may contain affiliate links Ā· 2 Comments

    Asparagus Stir Fry

    Jump to Recipe

    Vegan asparagus stir fry - simple, effortless, delicious! Finally, spring is here and it is asparagus season. Fresh asparagus spears abound in my local grocer as well as farmers' market. I can never resist them. I use fresh asparagus to make this pasta.

    I have adapted the Kerala style thoran to use asparagus and it is such an easy & simple recipe that you can prepare as a side dish every time you find asparagus :).

    This vegetarian asparagus stir fry is made in the footsteps of Kerala-style thoran, seasoned with red chilli flakes, garlic, shallots, and fresh coconut.

    You can make a no-onion-no-garlic version too.

    simple strir fry with asparagus seasoned with chilli flakes, cumin, shallots and garlic and garnished with coconut.
    Jump to:
    • Ingredient Details & Substitutions
    • Equipment
    • Step By Step Instructions
    • How To Coarsely Grind To Make The Coconut Paste?
    • Can You Make This Without Onion/Garlic?
    • How To Cut Asparagus For This Recipe?
    • How To Keep Asparagus Fresh For Long?
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Additional Notes
    • Asparagus Stir Fry

    Ingredient Details & Substitutions

    • Asparagus
    • Oil
    • Mustard Seeds
    • Red Chilli Flakes; adjust to taste
    • Cumin Seeds
    • Udad Dal
    • Haldi/Turmeric Powder
    • Hing/Asafoetida; optional
    • Salt to taste

    coarsely grind

    • Coconut
    • Pearl Onion
    • garlic clove
    Kerala style asparagus stir fry

    Oil - Use coconut oil for an authentic taste. If not using coconut oil, any cooking oil that can be heated can be used for this recipe.

    Mustard Seeds - Use whole black mustard seeds.

    Red Chilli Flakes - You can use whole dried red chilies also. If large, break into smaller pieces. This is what imparts the heat/spice to the stir fry. Adjust the quantity used according to your taste. If using whole red chillies, remove the seeds to make a milder version. You can also use some green chillies if you like the taste.

    Udad Dal/Urad Dal - This adds a crunchiness to the asparagus thoran and breaks the monotony :). This is not a usual ingredient in Kerala-style thoran, but I use it in almost all stir frys/thorans. Omit if you do not like this.

    Hing/Asafoetida - This is a pungent smelling spice used as a digestive aid and a flavor enhancer in Indian cooking. Optional.

    If you follow a gluten-free diet, make sure to read the labels to ensure that the product you are using is gluten-free.

    Coconut - Use freshly grated coconut. Frozen & thawed coconut also works well in the recipe.

    Pearl Onion - Preferably use red ones. Small shallots will work beautifully in the recipe.

    Equipment

    • large skillet/frying pan (preferably non-stick or a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet)
    • chopping board & knife
    • mixer-grinder/blender
    • cooking spoons
    • measuring spoons/cups
    • serving dish

    I prefer a large non-stick skillet/frying pan for this recipe. If you have a very well seasoned cast iron pan, that would work as well. You might have to use a little more oil if you are using a castiron skillet depending on how well seasoned it is.

    Step By Step Instructions

    close up of asparagus spear tips

    prep work

    Wash & chop asparagus stems into small pieces.

    Crush coconut, garlic & pearl onions together. (Do this as part of your prep work and keep it ready). [Use the mixer-grinder/blender with a pulse option for this step]

    Get all your other ingredients ready.

    cooking

    Heat oil in a large skillet on stovetop on medium heat. . (I use my 11-inch skillet for about 500 grams of asparagus)

    Add mustard seeds and when they splutter, add cumin seeds and udad dal. Fry until udad dal turns brown. Add red chilli flakes. Give a quick stir.

    Turn the heat from medium to medium-high/high. Add asparagus and haldi. Mix well. Season with salt. Cook on high heat or medium-high heat for a couple of minutes or until asparagus is cooked and is bright green. Stir occasionally to ensure even cooking.

    Add the crushed coconut mix. Mix well to combine. Turn off the heat.

    Serve hot.

    If you are preparing a larger quantity of the stir fry or your skillet is not large enough to hold asparagus in mostly one layer, then work in batches. Do not overcrowd the skillet for best results.

    How To Coarsely Grind To Make The Coconut Paste?

    You would need a mixer-grinder or a blender preferably with a pulse option. Add coconut. garlic clove & pearl onion and pulse a few times. Make sure not to make a paste. You are just crushing it all together.

    In Malayalam, this process is called chathakuka meaning, everything is crushed together.

    Can You Make This Without Onion/Garlic?

    YES! I do it all the time.

    Omit the pearl onion and garlic from the recipe. Use the grated coconut as such (No need to pulse it in the mixer-grinder/blender).

    How To Cut Asparagus For This Recipe?

    lady holding some fresh asparagus spears in hand.

    Wash the asparagus spears to remove any dirt.

    Grab a few (how many you are comfortable holding in your hand) and trim off an inch from the bottom. This part is usually sturdy, stringy & hard. Repeat with the rest.

    Now hold those spears tightly with your hand and make small pieces (about ½ cm-1 cm in length) by cutting crosswise. Try to keep the pieces as uniform as possible. But it is definitely ok if some of the pieces are slightly larger than the others. Repeat with the rest.

    See the Video at the end of the recipe card.
    (P.S. In the video I am trimming all the asparagus spears first before chopping them)

    How To Keep Asparagus Fresh For Long?

    fresh asparagus spears wrapped in cheese cloth

    Here is a trick/food hack that you can try to keep Asparagus fresh for longer in the refrigetor.

    Remove the asparagus from the package. [Sometimes they come as a bunch with a rubber band around to hold the spears together OR they come in plastic packaging]

    Fill a mason jar or any glass bottle with 1-2 inches of water. Place the asparagus in water. Keep refrigerated until ready to use. (Replace the water everyday).

    When stored like this, my fresh asparagus stems have lasted fresh for more than a week.

    Serving Suggestions

    vegetarian asparagus stir fry with garlic

    I usually serve this with steamed rice. Here are a few ideas to serve with Asparagus thoran to complete your meal.

    vegetarian

    Kadala Curry

    Pineapple Pachadi

    Beetroot Aviyal

    Apple Pulissery

    Errissery

    Chayote Squash Curry

    Moru Curry

    non-vegetarian

    Simple Chicken Roast

    Chicken curry with coconut

    Spicy Kerala Fish Curry

    Nadan Meen Curry

    Fish curry with coconut milk

    Fish curry with coconut & ginger

    vegetarian asparagus stir fry with garlic

    WebMD discusses the differences between Asparagus racemosus, a plant whose root is used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine, and Asparagus Officinalis, which is mostly used as a vegetable.

    Additional Notes

    1 CUP = 250 ML. (US cups are typically 240 ml. You can use US cups with no significant change to the dish)

    Grams to cups measurements – we strive to provide these conversions as accurately as possible. There might be some slight variations depending on the brand, weighing scale, etc.

    Serving size – This serves 4  people along with the rice and one or two of the dishes mentioned in the serving suggestions. Adjust the serving size to fit your dietary needs. 

    The trick is to not cook the asparagus too much. This is a pretty quick recipe. Once you add the asparagus, you are cooking at a higher heat - consider it like heating through.

    Do not add water.

    Prep Time - Time to chop asparagus and crush coconut, and get ingredients ready. Cook Time - Time for actual cooking. 

    While recording the video, I did not have curry leaves at hand, so I have not added them.

    asparagus thoran

    Asparagus Stir Fry

    Vegetarian/Vegan asparagus stir fry - simple, effortless, delicious! Finally, spring is here and it is asparagus season. Fresh asparagus spears abound in my local grocer as well as farmers' market. I can never resist them.

    I have adapted the Kerala style thoran to use asparagus and it is such an easy & simple recipe that you can prepare as a side dish every time you find asparagus :).

    This stir fry is made in the footsteps of Kerala-style thoran, seasoned with red chilli flakes, garlic, shallots, and fresh coconut. You can make a no-onion-no-garlic version too.
    Print Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes
    Servings 3 -4

    Ingredients
      

    • 500 grams approx. 1 lb Asparagus
    • 1 tablespoon Oil
    • 1 teaspoon Mustard Seeds
    • 1 teaspoon Cumin Seeds
    • 1 teaspoon Udad Dal
    • 1 teaspoon Red Chilli Flakes; adjust to taste
    • a generous pinch Hing/Asafoetida; optional see Recipe Notes
    • 1 sprig curry leaves
    • ½ teaspoon Haldi/Turmeric Powder
    • Salt to taste

    coarsely grind

    • 20-25 grams ¼ cup Coconut
    • 7-8 grams 1 small Pearl Onion/Shallots
    • 5-6 grams 1 medium-sized garlic clove

    equipment

    • large skillet/frying pan preferably non-stick or a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet
    • chopping board & knife
    • mixer-grinder/blender
    • cooking spoons
    • measuring spoons/cups
    • serving dish

    Instructions
     

    how to make asparagus stir fry (Kerala Style Asparagus Thoran)

      PREP WORK

      • Wash & chop asparagus stems into small pieces.
      • Crush coconut, garlic & pearl onions together. (Do this as part of your prep work and keep it ready).[Note: Use the mixer-grinder/blender with a pulse option for this step]
      • Get all your other ingredients ready.

      COOKING

      • Heat oil in a large skillet on the stovetop on medium heat. (I use my 11-inch skillet for about 500 grams of asparagus)
      • Add mustard seeds and when they splutter, add cumin seeds and udad dal. Fry until udad dal turns brown. Add red chilli flakes. Give a quick stir.. Add the curry leaves. [Note: WHen you add curry leaves, they splutter spitting oil.]
      • Turn the heat from medium to medium-high/high. Add asparagus and haldi. Mix well. Season with salt. Cook on high heat or medium-high heat for a couple of minutes or until asparagus is cooked and is bright green. Stir occasionally to ensure even cooking. [Note: Do not overcook]
      • Add the crushed coconut mix. Mix well to combine. Turn off the heat.
      • Transfer to a serving dish. Serve hot.

      Video

      Notes

      • 1 CUP = 250 ML.Ā (US cups are typically 240 ml. You can use cups with no significant change to the dish)
      • Grams to cups measurements – we strive to provide these conversions as accurately as possible. There might be some slight variations depending on the brand, weighing scale, etc.
      • Serving size – This serves 4Ā  people. Adjust the serving size to fit your dietary needs.Ā 
      • The trick is to not cook the asparagus too much. This is a pretty quick recipe. Once you add the asparagus, you are cooking at a higher heat - consider it like heating through.
      • Do not add water while pulsing the coconut or while cooking the asparagus. .
      • Hing/Asafoetida is optional. If following a gluten-free diet, read the labels to ensure it is gluten-free.
      • Prep TimeĀ - Time to chop asparagus and crush coconut, and get ingredients ready.Ā Cook TimeĀ - Time for actual cooking.Ā 
      instagram prompt to tag us

      Inspiration For This Recipe

      This recipe idea came from a very dear friend Asha , who runs a Youtube Channel and is an amazing cook. You can follow her on Instagram or on Facebook. Asha shared the recipe a few years ago and my family loves it. I don't know when my own additions might have crept into the original recipe Asha shared. :).

      « Tips to get rid of slimy okra
      Meal Plan Number 8 »

      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Asha says

        May 11, 2021 at 6:59 pm

        Awww!!! Thank you Sreeā˜ŗļø
        Sooo beautifully presented.
        Loved the picsšŸ˜

        Reply
        • Sree says

          May 12, 2021 at 9:00 am

          Thank you Asha. So happy you shared the recipe with me. Sonshine loves stir frys and this is one of his favorites.

          Reply

      If you tried this recipe, please consider giving us a star rating and feedback. Reviewing, leaving feedback, and star rating a recipe, not only helps me grow as a food blogger but also helps others discover my blog. I L-O-V-E to hear from you! :) Your email address will not be published. Thank you for your support! When leaving a comment on framedrecipes, you will be asked to enter your name and email address. This is to help prevent spam comments. Your name will be displayed with the comment, but your email address will not. If you prefer not to display your real name, using a nickname or pseudonyms is perfectly OK. You will also see an option to save your information for future comments – this function uses a cookie to store the information on your browser. Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

      Primary Sidebar

      Sree - the blogger

      Hi! I am Sree and welcome to my sweet little corner of the internet! Good Food = Good Mood! This blog is all about celebrating good food – from desi (Indian) to videshi (global).Ā 

      More about me →

      New Recipes

      • sweet potato salad with chickpeas & arugula with home made dressing
        Roasted Sweet Potato Salad With Arugula
      • lady holding a cup of delicious pumpkin bisque
        Pumpkin Coconut Bisque
      • weekly meal plan number 9 featured image
        Meal Plan Number 9
      • lady holding a jar of apple butter
        Apple Butter

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      About

      • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Disclaimer

      Newsletter

      • Sign Up! for emails and updates

      Contact

      Got a query? Need help with a recipe? Want to request a recipe? Or just want to say Hi?

      Email Us: [email protected]

      As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

      Copyright Ā© 2022 Framed Recipes

      We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking ā€œAcceptā€, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
      Do not sell my personal information.Read More.
      Cookie settingsACCEPT
      Privacy & Cookie Settings

      Privacy Overview

      This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
      Necessary
      Always Enabled
      Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
      CookieDurationDescription
      __cfduid1 monthThe cookie is used by cdn services like CloudFare to identify individual clients behind a shared IP address and apply security settings on a per-client basis. It does not correspond to any user ID in the web application and does not store any personally identifiable information.
      cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
      cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
      cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-advertisement1 yearThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Advertisement".
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
      viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
      Functional
      Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
      CookieDurationDescription
      __cf_bm30 minutesThis cookie is set by CloudFare. The cookie is used to support Cloudfare Bot Management.
      Performance
      Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
      CookieDurationDescription
      YSCsessionThis cookies is set by Youtube and is used to track the views of embedded videos.
      Analytics
      Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
      CookieDurationDescription
      _ga2 yearsThis cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to calculate visitor, session, campaign data and keep track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookies store information anonymously and assign a randomly generated number to identify unique visitors.
      _gid1 dayThis cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to store information of how visitors use a website and helps in creating an analytics report of how the website is doing. The data collected including the number visitors, the source where they have come from, and the pages visted in an anonymous form.
      Advertisement
      Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
      CookieDurationDescription
      IDE1 year 24 daysUsed by Google DoubleClick and stores information about how the user uses the website and any other advertisement before visiting the website. This is used to present users with ads that are relevant to them according to the user profile.
      test_cookie15 minutesThis cookie is set by doubleclick.net. The purpose of the cookie is to determine if the user's browser supports cookies.
      VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE5 months 27 daysThis cookie is set by Youtube. Used to track the information of the embedded YouTube videos on a website.
      Others
      Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
      CookieDurationDescription
      _gat_gtag_UA_49569906_11 minuteNo description
      CONSENT16 years 9 months 8 days 3 hoursNo description
      SAVE & ACCEPT
      Powered by CookieYes Logo
      x

      Subscribe to our newsletter!

      We share new recipes every week. These are tried, tested, and framed recipes. From my kitchen to your inbox. Subscribe to enjoy them!