Sautéed Asparagus with Morels

Celebrate spring with wild morel mushrooms.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
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Updated April 07, 2025
Elise Bauer
asparagus and morrel mushroom in a bowl
Elise Bauer

A Spring Trifecta—Morels, Asparagus, and Green Garlic

This week I picked up some morels at the market and decided to sauté them with some asparagus and green garlic in a little olive oil and butter.

So good! Like seriously good. My sweetheart took one tentative bite and then devoured the rest. I've made it 3 times already this week.

Morel Mushrooms

Have you ever cooked with or foraged for morel mushrooms?

Morels are exquisite spring mushrooms with an unusual and distinctive honeycomb appearance.

In the mushroom foraging world, morels are considered a good "beginner" mushroom because they are so easy to identify.

Morels pop up in old orchards and sometimes in freshly laid garden mulch (I often find morels in our former-orchard yard).

But usually the ones available in the stores here are foraged by professional mushroom hunters who find them in the mountains and foothills in the spring, after an autumn fire.

morel mushrooms
Morel Mushrooms. Elise Bauer

Because of all those nooks and crannies, morels can tend to hold onto some grit. So to cook with them, you'll want to soak them in water first, and drain and re-soak them several times.

Then you just slice them and cook them like any mushroom; they're delicious!

If fresh morels aren't available, you can also use dry morels, you'll just need to soak them in water for several hours to rehydrate.

Green Garlic

Regarding the green garlic, I've seen versions with shallots, but since green garlic is available in the market, I went with that for this recipe.

You could use shallots, spring onions, green onions, or leeks if green garlic isn't available where you are. But if you are finding fresh morels at your market, you can likely find green garlic too!

green garlic
Green Garlic. Elise Bauer

Green garlic tastes like garlic-scented green onions, very mild, not at all as strong or overpowering as mature garlic.

We like this dish just served on its own for a simple lunch, but it would make a great side dish for chicken or beef. Enjoy!

Sauteed Asparagus with Morels in a bowl
Elise Bauer

Fresh Asparagus Season? Use it all Up!

Sautéed Asparagus with Morels

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 25 mins
Servings 4 servings

This recipe uses fresh morels, but you could easily use dried morels. Use about 1 ounce. Let them soak in water 6 hours or overnight.

Green garlic or spring garlic is immature garlic that is available in the spring. There is no papery cover. You use and slice the green garlic the same way you would a green onion.

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Ingredients

  • 1/4 pound fresh morel mushrooms

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons butter

  • 1 to 2 green garlics, sliced (white and purple bulb, and light green stalk), can sub shallots

  • 1 teaspoon herbs de Provence (can use dry thyme or a combination of thyme and dry tarragon)

  • 1 pound of asparagus, trimmed (choose asparagus on the thin side)

  • Kosher salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Method

  1. Prepare the morels:

    Slice the morel mushrooms in half lengthwise. Place in a bowl and cover with water. Agitate the water to release grit or dirt from the mushrooms. Drain. Repeat. Then fill with water and let sit while you prep the other ingredients.

    soak morels in water
    Elise Bauer
  2. Boil the asparagus:

    Fill the bottom of a large skillet with about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch of water. Add a quarter teaspoon of salt. Add one slice of the prepped green garlic. Bring to a boil.

    Add the asparagus in an even layer. Cook until barely cooked (still firm, but can easily poke with a fork), about 3 minutes. (See How to Boil Asparagus.)

    Remove to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.

    boil asparagus
    Elise Bauer
  3. Drain and slice the morels:

    Drain and rinse the morels one more time. Then slice them crosswise into 1/4-inch slices.

  4. Sauté green garlic and morels:

    Heat olive oil and melt butter in a large skillet (I use a 10-inch cast iron pan) on medium high heat. Add the sliced green garlic and the sliced morels.

    Saute the morels with green garlic in butter and olive oil
    Elise Bauer

    Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon Herbes de Provence.

    Cook on medium high heat until the mushrooms start releasing their water, about 3 to 5 minutes.

  5. Add the asparagus:

    While the mushrooms are cooking, cut the asparagus in 1-inch diagonal segments.

    Add the asparagus to the mushroom green garlic mixture. Sprinkle with black pepper, toss to combine.

    saute morels with asparagus and green garlic
    Elise Bauer

    Add more salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
148 Calories
13g Fat
7g Carbs
4g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 148
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 17%
Saturated Fat 5g 23%
Cholesterol 15mg 5%
Sodium 147mg 6%
Total Carbohydrate 7g 3%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 9mg 47%
Calcium 50mg 4%
Iron 5mg 26%
Potassium 385mg 8%
*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. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.