Spirited and Then Some

A food blog with hundreds of delicious gluten-free and dairy-free recipes.

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
  • Resources
    • Blogging Resources
    • Photography Resources
    • Teacher Resources
  • Blog
  • RSS
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Recipes Side Dishes

Asian Cashew Asparagus

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

Asian Cashew Asparagus is a delicious blend of asparagus, red bell pepper, red onion, coconut aminos, garlic, and cashews! You’ll basically have a mouthwatering side dish in just a handful of minutes. Like, who knew vegetable side dishes could be so interesting? Well, this one is, and it’s fabulous! {Paleo + Vegan}

Healthy paleo Asian Cashew Asparagus is made with a variety of vegetables and seasoned with black pepper, coconut oil, and coconut aminos. Add a little more sauce if your palate desires! This is a tasty grain-free veggie recipe that is vegan and paleo, too! | spiritedandthensome.com

I take back every negative thing I have ever said about vegetable side dishes. They’ve all be done before, they are super-boring, they taste like responsibility and fiber. #ISaidWhatISaid Honestly, I really do love vegetables. But sometimes the usual vegetable side dishes lack inspiration, pizzazz. Asian Cashew Asparagus basically turns the concept of steamed-vegetables-as-a-side-dish on its ear. Because although steamed vegetables are an excellent recipe base, steamed vegetables doused in coconut aminos and fresh pressed garlic are where the money is. 

Healthy Asian Cashew Asparagus is made with a variety of vegetables and seasoned with black pepper, coconut oil, and coconut aminos, for a succulent side dish recipe! | spiritedandthensome.com

And I haven’t even gotten to the cashews yet! Like, whatever boring concepts we’ve ever held onto about veggies can just go right out the window now. Because cashews are here to guide us to tasty responsible choices and new flavor combos we hadn’t yet dreamed of. Also, any excuse to pair coconut aminos with vegetables and cashews is an excuse I will get behind. 

If you feel the same way, then keep reading. Because when you match asparagus with red bell pepper, red onion, coconut aminos, garlic, coconut oil, and a smidgen of tapioca flour to hold everything together, you know your side dish is going to be tantalizing. 

Asparagus, red bell peppers, and red onions add a lot of flavor to soy-free Asian Cashew Asparagus! | spiritedandthensome.com

ASIAN CASHEW ASPARAGUS INGREDIENTS:

Below are the ingredients to make your own scrumptious veggie side dish! And if you haven’t tried coconut aminos before, which is basically a soy-free soy sauce, then try it here! So so so good!

  • Asparagus. Fresh all the way for this recipe. Trim off the woody ends.
  • Red bell pepper and red onion. I slice each. You can also cut the onion into wedges, if you’d like.
  • Water chestnuts. Pre-sliced is perfect here.
  • Cashews. I buy raw and unsalted. However, feel free to play around with roasted and salted or some other combo that suits your palate!
  • For the sauce: Coconut oil, coconut aminos, fresh garlic, tapioca flour, water, black pepper, and sea salt.
Steamed vegetables with water chestnuts make a wonderful paleo side dish recipe! | spiritedandthensome.com

HOW TO MAKE ASIAN CASHEW ASPARAGUS:

This recipe works best if you have a steam pot. But, if you don’t then a regular steamer insert in a standard saucepan will also work. If necessary, work in batches or transfer the steamed veggies to a larger saucepan when you’re ready to add the sauce. Also, to promote even steaming, stir or toss the vegetables each time you add more to the pot.

  1. Fill a steam pot with water to just below the steamer insert. Bring water to a boil and add the asparagus. Steam for 2 minutes, covered, on a MEDIUM to HIGH heat. Add the red bell pepper and red onion. Steam covered for another 2-5 minutes. Add the water chestnuts and steam for another minute.
  2. Remove the steamer from the saucepan, cover, and set aside. Discard the liquid in the saucepan and, using the same saucepan, add the coconut oil, coconut aminos, garlic, water, tapioca flour, sea salt, and black pepper. Stir on a MEDIUM to HIGH heat until the ingredients begin to get hot and thicken.
  3. Pour the vegetables back into the saucepan. Stir them until they are evenly coated in the sauce.
  4. Serve immediately. For best results, consume the same day. 
Paleo Asian Cashew Asparagus is a flavorful blend of asparagus, red onion, garlic, and red bell pepper, stirred with coconut aminos! | spiritedandthensome.com

HOW MUCH SAUCE TO ADD?:

If you are big on sauce, or goop, as my mother used to call it, then you can definitely add more coconut oil, coconut aminos, and a little more tapioca flour to your veggies. I have been known to double this part of the recipe.

Note, though, the veggies may start to soften under all that liquid-y deliciousness. But, they will taste wonderful! 🙂

Asian Cashew Asparagus is flavored with water chestnuts, red bell peppers, red onion, and fresh garlic! | spiritedandthensome.com

If you are in the mood for other creative vegetable recipes, then take a look at:

  • Easy Paleo Quick-Steamed Vegetables
  • Sautéed Oregano Asparagus
  • K-Hubs Sauté

This recipe was adapted from the New Better Homes and Garden Cookbook (12th edition). 2002.

Asian Cashew Asparagus is a delicious soy-free side dish recipe, made with red bell peppers, red onion, garlic, and coconut aminos! | spiritedandthensome.com
Print

Asian Cashew Asparagus

Print Recipe

Asian Cashew Asparagus takes steamed vegetables to new heights with red bell pepper, red onion, garlic, coconut aminos, and cashews! Ready in under 20 minutes, this is a side dish with flavor and flair! {Vegan + Paleo}

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 8 minutes
  • Total Time: 18 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Side Dishes
  • Method: Steaming

Ingredients

Scale

For the vegetables:

  • 16 ounces fresh asparagus, woody ends removed
  • 1 red bell pepper, sliced
  • 1 red onion, sliced or cut into wedges
  • 3 cloves fresh garlic, pressed
  • 1 can water chestnuts, sliced

For the sauce:

  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon tapioca flour
  • 2 tablespoons coconut aminos
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt

For the topping:

  • 1/2 cup cashews

Instructions

  1. Fill a steam pot with water to just below the steamer insert. Bring water to a boil and add the asparagus. Steam for 2 minutes, covered, on a MEDIUM to HIGH heat. Add the red bell pepper and red onion. Steam covered for another 2-5 minutes. Add the water chestnuts and steam for another minute.
  2. Remove the steamer from the saucepan, cover, and set aside. Discard the liquid in the saucepan and, using the same saucepan, add the coconut oil, coconut aminos, garlic, water, tapioca flour, sea salt, and black pepper. Stir on a MEDIUM to HIGH heat until the ingredients begin to get hot and thicken.
  3. Pour the vegetables back into the saucepan. Stir them until they are evenly coated in the sauce.
  4. Serve immediately. For best results, consume the same day.

Notes

  • If you want more sauce, feel free to add a little more coconut oil, coconut aminos, and tapioca flour. Keep in mind, extra sauce will soften the vegetables (but they will taste wonderful!).

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @SpiritedMorgan on Instagram and hashtag it #SpiritedRecipes

You May Also Enjoy These Posts...

Paleo Spaghetti Sauce
Salmon Avocado Bowl
No-Bake Vegan Key Lime Mini Cheesecakes
Gluten-Free Lemon Garlic Pasta

Recipes Side Dishes


Leave a Comment

About Spirited and then Some

I'm Morgan. A spirited, social chatterbox, small biz owner, and teacher. Lover of all things food. Think dip. Lover of all things family. Think K-Hubs, Toodlebug, and Twinkleberry. I'm so glad you found our spirited community.... Click Here to Read More

« Paleo Pan-Seared Salmon Pasta
Lemon Vanilla Cheesecake Bars {VG + GF} »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

Greetings!

I'm Morgan. A spirited, social chatterbox, small biz owner, and teacher. Lover of all things food. Think dip. Lover of all things family. Think K-Hubs, Toodlebug, and Twinkleberry. I'm so glad you found our spirited community. Learn more…

Take a Stroll

my foodgawker gallery  my finding vegan gallery  
View my Tasty Kitchen Profile

Recent Posts

  • Cucumber Mint Cooler
  • Rustic Farmhouse Classroom Decor
  • Apple Slice Charcuterie Board
  • Chocolate-Drizzled Matcha Energy Bites
  • How to Make Cauliflower Rice
  • Creamy Avocado Garlic Quinoa Bowls

Categories

As Seen On

Pure Wow logo
Red Tricycle Logo
Yahoo! Lifestyle logo
Mom and daughters in front of Magnolia Market in Waco, Texas! | spiritedandthensome.com

Family

How to make 3-ingredient Fluffy Slime without borax! | spiritedandthensome.com

Kids’ Activities

Spirited Learning

  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Recipes
  • Family
  • Kids’ Activities
  • Resources
  • Photography Tips
  • Blogging Tips
  • Free Course
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Divine Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, 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 have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT