Pickled Asparagus is a special springtime treat that’s great for snacking. Include these delicious spears on your appetizer trays and cheese boards. They’re also pretty awesome in a Bloody Mary!
I dug out my huge black-and-white-speckled enamelware canning pot and boxes of jars last weekend, after not touching them for almost 10 years.
I was hyped.
My mouth was watering at the thought of biting into spears of pickled asparagus, an addictive treat I long for every spring when asparagus is abundant, extra sweet and tender, AND inexpensive.
Pickled Asparagus. I just love this time of year!
Pickled Asparagus
This pickling recipe comes from the husband of one of my girlfriends, during the time I lived in North Dakota. This was Jim’s specialty, a treat that many people looked forward to whenever spring rolled around.
Jim had access to an asparagus field. Can you imagine?! Talk about an awesome backstage pass to fresh springtime eats.
For most of the time I lived in North Dakota, I was on a Friday night bowling team with a handful of girlfriends. (The pickled asparagus frenzy comes from one of those girlfriend’s husbands.)
We had so much fun those Friday nights. And even though my bowling was never spectacular, our time together always was.
And so were the Bloody Marys (check out my recipe for loaded 5 Pepper Bloody Mary with Grilled Jalapeño Shrimp!).
The bowling alley served unbelievably good Bloody Marys.
I’m really not a tomato juice kind of person, so liking them even a teensy bit was a surprise for me. I can only imagine how delicious those drinks would have been with a few pickled spears of this asparagus.
In a drink, or simply as a nibble on an appetizer plate, these are some very special spears of springtime goodness!
Here are a few more of my pickled favorites:
Like this Pickled Asparagus recipe? Pin it!
And here are a few appetizers to serve with pickled asparagus:
- 3 Summer Crostini Recipes from Andie Mitchell
- Crispy Fried Calamari from Fifteen Spatulas
- Easy Triple Onion Dip from Reluctant Entertainer
Pickled Asparagus
Ingredients
- 4 to 5 big bunches about 6 to 7 lbs. asparagus tips that are medium to thick in diameter
- 8 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes more or less to taste
- 8 tsp. dill seed
- 8 garlic gloves peeled, each clove cut into 3 slices
- jalapeno slices optional
- 5 c. white vinegar
- 5 c. water
- 7 T. kosher salt
- 1-1/4 c. sugar
Instructions
- * Special equipment needed: four 1-quart jars, four rims, four brand-new lids (don't use lids over again), a large canning pot with a removable wire rack or a large stock pot and a jar lifter utensil
- prepare for water bath canning: I use one of those big black-and-white-speckled enamelware canning pots with the removable wire rack that holds the jars. This recipe uses quart jars, which are tall, so you need a tall pot that allows the water to cover the tops. A tall stock pot would work, too. But if you don't have a removable rack to lift the hot jars out of the boiling water, a jar lifter utensil would be extremely helpful. Wash four quart jars, then set them in your pot, using the removable wire rack if you have one. Fill pot with enough water to cover the jars with one inch of water. Bring to a boil over high heat. My large pot took about 25 minutes to boil, so get this started right away. Covering the pot with the lid will speed up the process, too. Put your lids in a small pan with enough water to cover them. Bring to a slow simmer and keep hot until you fill the jars with asparagus. Fill a medium size stock pot or large pot about half full with water. Bring to boiling.
- blanch the asparagus: While water is heating up, trim the asparagus to 6" lengths. (You'll end up with a pile of asparagus "scraps". Don't throw them away! I roast or grill them with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkling of salt and pepper, and enjoy them with other meals.) Once the water is boiling, add the asparagus. Bring back to a boil and then immediately drain and transfer to a bowl of ice water to cool. Drain well.
- prepare pickling brine: In a medium pan, combine vinegar, water, salt, and sugar. Bring to a boil.
- prepare spices: Using the removable wire rack (I maneuver it up out of the hot water using 2 wooden spoons) or a jar lifter, remove the jars from the canning pot, carefully pouring the water from each one back into the pot, and place them upright on a folded towel. Place two teaspoons each of crushed red pepper flakes and dill seed into each hot jar, followed by two sliced garlic cloves for each jar. All of this can be pre-measured while waiting for the water to boil.
- fill the jars: Divide the blanched asparagus between the jars. I found it helps to switch the position of the jar back and forth, from upright to on its side, to pack in the asparagus. Go ahead and pack them as tight as easily manageable. Ladle the hot vinegar mixture into the jars, leaving 1/2" headspace at the top. Use a damp paper towel to wipe the rims of the jars clean, then put a hot flat lid and a ring on each jar, adjusting the ring so that it's just finger-tight.
- process the filled jars: Return the filled jars to the canning pot, making sure the water covers the jars by at least 1". Bring to a boil. I put the lid on the pot to speed up the boiling. Then remove lid and boil for 10 minutes to process. Remove the jars to a folded towel and do not disturb for 12 hours. After one hour, check that the lids have sealed by pressing down on the center of each one. If the lid is dimpled and can be pushed down, it hasn't sealed, and the jar should be refrigerated immediately. Label the sealed jars and store in a cool, dark place.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
This post was originally published June 2011 and has been a popular reader favorite. Some of the photographs and text were updated June 2017.
I’ve been using your recipe for ages and will continue to because it is the best one I have discovered .If I used apple cider will it change the taste radicall, that’s all I have.
So glad you liked this recipe, Sharon! Thanks for coming back to leave a comment and rating! Enjoy!!
Question for you? For the garlic peppers and dill what are the measurements in each jar?
Just tried your bloody Mary asparagus
recipe and loved it. I tried other recipes before and couldn’t understand why people liked them. After my first Batch made a second one three days later only did 1 cup of sugar but that’s the only change I would make. loved it.
Can I use the same recipe for dilly beans? would they be equally great?
How long do this last being stored? We have made them before with your recipe, but they never last that long. Now we made a huge batch and I don’t want to give away the old ones not knowing if they are still good.
Hi Tracey. I’m not sure what’s officially recommended, but I always try to eat them within a year of being canned.
Wish you wouldnt leave abreaveations for mesurment, what is T is it a teaspoon or tablespoon? Big difference
T = tablespoon
T = tablespoon
t = teaspoon
Common usage in recipes.
I tried your recipe a few years ago and it was a HUGE hit! It is my go to pickling recipe for everything :) I recently tasted pickled brussel sprouts and I can not wait to use them in this pickle juice. Honestly, this is my family and friends favorite treat and every time I say I am canning I always get asked if I am making more of my pickles asperagus. Thank you for sharing with us!!!
The presentation with the bloody mary was gorgeous! I cant wait to try this myself at home, it really seems like a great recipe. I’ve yet to try pickled asparagus myself, but I like most all other pickled vegetables so I think asparagus is going to be next in line to try.
I’ve been doing a ton of asparagus eating lately! So, these are definitely happening soon!
This is a treat I could feast on all summer long!