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Asparagus Sauce

From Mrs. Beeton's household management (1907).

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A historical recipe

Mrs. Beeton's household management, by Mrs. (Isabella Mary) Beeton (1907).

United Kingdom

Known as a British recipe, with similar versions prepared across other nations.

From an old book: a historical recipe, not current advice. Its methods, additives and storage may be unsafe by today's standards. Printed in United Kingdom: that says where the book was made, not where the dish comes from.

Ingredients 2 ingredients

  1. an oz. of butter
  2. a teaspoonful of lemon-juice

Possible health benefits

General information, not medical advice.

  1. Lemon juice High in vitamin C

    High in vitamin C · 39 mg per 100 g, 48% of the reference intake per 100 g

    • Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of blood vessels.
    • Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of bones.
    • Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of cartilage.
    11 more authorised claims
    • Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of gums.
    • Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin.
    • Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of teeth.
    • Vitamin C contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism.
    • Vitamin C contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system.
    • Vitamin C contributes to normal psychological function.
    • Vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system.
    • Vitamin C contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.
    • Vitamin C contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
    • Vitamin C contributes to the regeneration of the reduced form of vitamin E.
    • Vitamin C increases iron absorption.

    Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble nutrient found in some foods. In the body, it acts as an antioxidant, helping to protect cells from the damage caused by free radicals. NIH fact sheet

    Nutrients per 100 g of “Lemon juice, raw”, USDA FoodData Central.

Claims: EU Register of health claims (Regulation (EU) No 432/2012, © European Union, CC BY 4.0), shown only where the ingredient meets the claim's conditions (Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006). Nutrients: USDA FoodData Central (CC0). Facts: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (public domain).

Cook safely

Keep children and pets away from the hob and the oven, and keep oven gloves and a lid within reach.

  • Hot oil. Never put water on an oil fire: turn off the heat and cover the pan with a lid or a damp tea towel. Pat food dry before it goes into hot oil, and lower it in gently, away from you.
  • Boiling water and steam. Turn pan handles inward, away from the edge of the hob. Lift lids away from you, and pour hot water away from your body: steam burns too.
  • Sharp knives. Cut on a board that doesn't slip (a damp cloth under it helps), and curl the fingers of the hand that holds the food.

Method

  1. Ingredients.
  2. — 25 green asparagus, £ a pint of white sauce (see page 221), £ of an oz.
  3. of butter, | a teaspoonful of lemon-juice, spinach or a little spinach -greening, salt and pepper.
  4. Method.
  5. — Cut off the green ends of the asparagus, boil them in salt and water for 10 minutes, and drain well.
  6. Melt the butter in a sauce- pan, fry the asparagus for 8 minutes, add the sauce, and a seasoning of salt and pepper and a little spinach greening if a deep tint is desired.
  7. Simmer gently for 15 minutes, then pass through a fine strainer or tammy cloth;
  8. re-heat, add the lemon-juice, and use as required.
  9. Time.
  10. — From 40 to 45 minutes.
  11. Average Cost, is.
  12. 3d.
  13. to is.
  14. 6d.
  15. Quantity, $ a pint.

Plating

Cookware for this recipe

  • Frying pan
  • Saucepan
  • Chef's knife
  • Sieve
  • Colander
Source public domain per archive.org metadata; unverified
Credit

From Mrs. Beeton's household management (1907), printed page 219, digitised by the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/mrsbeetonshouse00beetuoft

What was changed: Read by machine from the book's scanned text into ingredients and method. The title's capitals were tidied; spelling and scanning errors are left as they are.