Stockton Fried Asparagus Recipe

Close up shot of asparagus with breaded parts and herbs. There are all fried with a little bowl of sauce in the background.

LauriPatterson / Getty Images

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 5 mins
Total: 15 mins
Servings: 2 servings

Festivals, carnivals, and state fairs have their share of strange fried foods, but you won’t see too many fried asparagus around. Unless you’re in Stockton, California. Fried asparagus may sound like an unfamiliar recipe, but it is, in fact, absolutely irresistible. And, as a once-a-year treat, it's really not all that unhealthy. At the annual springtime Stockton Asparagus festival (now known as the San Joaquin Asparagus Festival) they sell it by the ton: literally. They use huge, thick spears—reputedly the best tasting—but we find they don't cook through, so we use smaller spears, ideally 1/2-inch in diameter. 

After a bit of greasy indulgence, you might be interested in low-fat asparagus cooking and eating tips.

Ingredients

  • Oil, as needed for frying
  • 1/3 cup beer, cold and flat
  • 1 large egg white
  • 6 tablespoons flour
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 1/2 pounds asparagus, cleaned and trimmed

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Heat 1 inch of oil (peanut oil is best, but canola or vegetable oil will work) in a skillet over medium-high heat.

  3. In the meantime, whisk together beer, egg white, flour, cornstarch, baking powder, black pepper, salt, and baking soda in an 8x8-inch or 9x9-inch (or a pan that will accommodate the asparagus spears nicely) baking dish until thoroughly mixed.​

  4. Dip asparagus spears individually into the batter and fry for about 2 minutes or until golden brown.

  5. Dust generously with grated Parmesan cheese or dip in mayonnaise. This roasted garlic and paprika mayonnaise are particularly good.

  6. Enjoy!

Tip

  • A pound and a half of asparagus may seem like a lot for two, but this asparagus is so good, you'll want to gorge on it. Do it for lunch and have a cold beer with it. You won't need anything else.

Source: Adapted from the Stockton Festival Fried Asparagus recipe. Edited by Barbara Rolek

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
416 Calories
7g Fat
63g Carbs
25g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories 416
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g 9%
Saturated Fat 2g 8%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1196mg 52%
Total Carbohydrate 63g 23%
Dietary Fiber 11g 39%
Protein 25g
Calcium 257mg 20%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)