Steamed Asparagus with Star Anise infused Pomegranate Molasses
If you are a food blogger keeping track of the ongoing blog events, I am sure you looked at this title and thought, Star Anise and Pomegranate – oh she is killing two birds with one stone… But you are wrong, my friend! I am actually trying to kill four birds with one stone! Confused? Did you forget that Asparagus is an aphrodisiac?
Given it’s phallic shape, asparagus is frequently enjoyed as an aphrodisiac food. Feed your lover boiled or steamed spears for a sensuous experience. The Vegetarian Society suggests “eating asparagus for three days for the most powerful affect”.
With Valentine’s day just around the corner, I can send this dish to at least two more events around the theme of love… Am I not clever? I knew all these brain cells were given to me for a reason!
This dish is inspired by a recipe in the most recent addition to my cookbook collection – The Vegetable Dishes I can’t live without by Mollie Katzen. As I mentioned here before, we have been trying to eat healthy, and that means a simple roasted chicken or seafood dish with a side of salad or sauteed vegetables for weekday dinners. I try to make different marinades for the meat and seafood, but the sides get boring after a while. This book has a bunch of easy but delicious sounding vegetable recipes, which hopefully will make an otherwise boring weekday dinner more interesting.
This particular recipe is loosely based on the Roasted Asparagus with Pomegranate-lime glaze from this book. I steamed the asparagus instead of roasting, and also made my own pomegranate molasses from scratch where she used the store bought Pomegranate Molasses to make a glaze.
Pomegranate molasses is a thick reduction of pomegranate juice available in middle eastern food stores. I didn’t have any in hand, but I did have a large bottle of Pomegranate juice. So I went online searching for a pomegranate molasses recipe, and came across this easy one at Simply Recipes. Whenever I make any kind of reduction, I try to infuse it with some spices, and since I really needed to come up with a Star Anise recipe, I decided to infuse my molasses with star anise. It added a really nice spicy aroma to the molasses, I would use more next time for a more intense star anise flavour.
Ingredients
- 1 lb asparagus
- 1/4 cup pomegranate molasses (recipe below)
- 1/2 tsp olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup toasted walnuts
Method
Clean the asparagus and snap off the tough ends from the spears. Steam the asparagus till just about tender. Remove from the steam and plunge in ice cold water immediately to stop the cooking process. Remove immediately and dry thoroughly with paper towels.
Heat a large non-stick pan and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the asparagus and roll those around to coat all sides with the oil, and immediately switch off the stove. Season with salt and pepper and remove. We just want to warm it up, not cook it more.
To serve, arrange the asparagus on a platter and drizzle generously with the pomegranate molasses. Sprinkle the toasted walnuts.
Pomegranate Molasses
(based on http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/004170pomegranate_molasses.php)
Ingredients
- 4 cups pomegranate juice
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 8 star anise
Method
In a medium saucepan, heat pomegranate juice, sugar, star anise and lime juice on medium high until the sugar has dissolved and the juice starts to simmer. Reduce heat just enough to maintain a simmer. Simmer for about an hour, or until the juice has a syrupy consistency, and has reduced to about a cup. Remove the star anise from the liquid, and pour out into a jar. This can be stored for a few days in the refrigerator.
Allthe flavors came together well in this dish. We had this on the side of a simple pan roasted halibut, it made a wonderful dinner. I still have about a cup of the molasses remaining, which might go into a nice cocktail.
This is my entry for these events
- AFAM – Pomegranate hosted by Sra of When My Soup Came Alive
- Think Spice – Think Star Anise hosted by Sunita of Sunita’s World
- Kitchen of Love hosted by Mele Cotte – the theme is to cook with any food item considered an aphrodisiac
- Theme of the Week – Valentine’s Day hosted by Pooja of My Creative Ideas
Wishing everyone a happy Valentine’s Day in advance. Check out this site for a list of other aphrodisiac foods. And stay away from dill, lentil, lettuce, watercress, rue, and water lily – the anaphrodisiacs!
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covered only 4 event huh
..and the dish is plated beautifully… :nerd:
You are very clever Sig… 4 birds with one stone
?
Thats such a nice dish. I have not tried asparagus yet. Would love to do it soon.
Btw..I am cooking your salmon on vegetable bed second time today(this time I even bought leeks and fennel for this). So already you inspired me to eat two new veggies..I will surely add asparagus to the list soon…
This is a wonderful way to serve asparagus! I have never tried Star Anise, but the whole dish looks beautiful and is a welcome addition to Kitchen of Love. Thanks so much!
You clever, creative girl!
It looks outstanding and so beautifully presented. I’ve only roasted them in the oven before.. cooking in the pan sounds like a great alternative.
looks lovely, Sig! And 4 events, wow!!! you are a role model I tell you!! i am still stuck with what to make with star anise
The pom juice is infused with star anise? Prove it!
. Just me being silly now. 
I’ve never eaten asparagus.Got to try it out. Will wait for V-day to be over first!
Have to hand it to you! Innovation, a great recipe and four events taken care of.
This looks like a burst of flavors..very nice.
Whoa! Way to go, Sig! This is only the second time I’m hearing of pomegranate molasses. I like asparagus too, just don’t get it where I live. Except for pulav, I can’t think of anything with star anise in it, except my masala!
i’ve been reading the archives cos i missed so many posts of my fave blogs the past few weeks….. 4 events!! man you are quite the epitome of task management!! super…..!!
what only 4?…can’t you make this for breakfast and send it over to suganya for WBB??..that will be record breaking event post!..
Hee hee – not bad, there are enough people like me out there that I don’t have to think I’m the nutty one
Seriously though, some great thinking and a very good recipe!
hey hey Sig, 1 dish four events eh!! thats really good!!Love the dish!!
WHOA!! 4 at one! That is a record!! Glad they didn’t restrict you not to tag other events too!
Pom molasses sounds great, I only could find Pom juice, will post this week. Looks great, I love stir fried Asparagus!:)
Happy Monday.
4 in 1!!!!!!!!!!..lol
Yes):
now only if u had baked the asparagus, there is a baking event too…..
loved ur pom molasses, that is highly creative of you
I love Asperagus. This looks delicious. I always make the white one. Then i make with chopped harboiled eggs and butter or with hollandaise sauce.
Will post in May when it is season.
Lovely shot to kill 4 birdies!
Yes):
Very innovative pick!..Your creative bone is coming up to its peak level,when events pressurise you.Am i right??
Lovely entry!
I do a version where I roast the asparagus, and drip olive oil and lemon juice..with a dash of salt and pepper..
Sig, what an excellent way to participate in all those foodie events. I have never worked with star anise….so I quite excited to try your recipe out. Will be adding you to my blog roll
)
Mmm … am a big fan of Mollie Katzen.
This rocks, you went one up on her and made everything from scratch! So awesome
Not to mention the coolness factor of a star anise-focused drizzle!
Girl, you are so clever, it’s crazy! Awesome, creative, inspired, beautiful recipe! I am totally impressed.
Killing four birds with one stone
and some asparagus and star anise 
And the toasted walnuts make the whole dish even more appetizing!
thats a lovely entry Sig. Would you mind adding some notes to make it more suitable to Vday theme ?
.
I am glad to have this entry from you and thanks for all the info you wrote here abt aphrodisiac foods, thats indeed worth knowing
Halibut & asparagus with pomegranate molasses !!! Can it get any healthier ? sounds tasty too.. :drool:
Simply Superb! Nice Combination.
Yes):
Hey.. did you look the blog events properly – may be you can cover a couple of more events
That was way too cool – you rock!
Well plated Sig, looks inviting! 4 events…now that’s smart use of your brain cells
Akka!!!!!!!!!!
You rock woman… I’d have added the left over Pomegranate molasses to a glass of milk and made it a healthy breakfast as well!!!
OK Sugs, don’t kill me. 
wow!!!! I can’t stop admiring the pics!!!! Proud of your gray matter up there, huh?
That really looks wonderful! I love star anise–that was brilliant to infuse it into your pomegranate molasses. I can’t wait to try this.
Sig,I have Nice matters Award waiting for you in my blog!Kindly collect, when free
Wow, is that an amazing picture. your asparagus looks Fantastic!!
What great pictures and what great dish! Please turn around so that I can pick up a couple of these asparagus! Lovely!
Yes):
Should I have not called you Akka… ok… Thangachi…
wowee Sig 4 in 1 great going, asparagus with pomegranate molasses lovely.
Oh, I missed this and just caught it –thank goodness–in Chris’s round-up. I have all of the ingredients –woo-hoo! I’m so making this, Sig.
Thank you all for the wonderful words… Glad you all think I am a genius too
Sorry, I’ve been a little busy this week to reply to individual comments…
@Raaga… I will take care of you by e-mail, ok??
:party: ..great going Raaga!..
[...] going to send this entry (it has star anise) to Sunita for Think Spice – Think Star Anise. Yes, Sig has that kind of influence on [...]
4 events with one post!! what a shot!!!!
[...] masala************Sig…Steamed asparagus with star anise infused pomegranate molasses************ [...]
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