Celebrate spring with this special asparagus recipe with maple pecans

Artichokes and asparagus are versatile spring vegetables that can replace or add to the potatoes, turnips, parsnips and beets we’ve been enjoying this winter.

Soon, we’ll be able to dust off our grills and start enjoying quicker dinners — a welcome respite from slow-roasted dinners of winter. This week’s recipe is a perfect side for any grilled meat. Asparagus with Maple Pecans, Shallot and Orange Zest is delicious, simple to make and packs a lot of zesty orange flavor. And it’s topped with maple pecans.

I wrote this recipe for my cookbook, “Social — Holidays & Happy Hours.” This time of year you can find Cara Cara oranges, which are delightfully sweet. But if you happen to make the recipe another time of year, any orange will do. I paired this recipe with a salmon dish, but honestly it would be fantastic with chicken, steak or any seafood. Asparagus makes a lovely side dish, and this recipe is elegant with its many layers of flavor: sautéed shallot, orange, a dash of cayenne and the sweet maple pecans. It’s hard to stay out of the maple pecans while making the rest of the side dish. Sometimes the answer to that is doubling the recipe for the maple pecans so you can have some for snacking.

I hope your taste buds are ready for a seasonal change. I know mine sure were. This week’s recipe is the perfect way to start transitioning into spring.

“Social — Holidays & Happy Hours”

This story was originally published March 31, 2023 at 4:00 AM with the headline "Celebrate spring with this special asparagus recipe with maple pecans."