Although you can get imported asparagus almost year-round, there's nothing like fresh, locally grown spears. Best eaten the day you buy it, tender asparagus will give you a healthy dose of folate (120 mcg for half a cup, 30 per cent of the RDI for women of child-bearing age). That's as much as spinach! The spears are also packed with vitamin A, plus a little iron and vitamin C.

Chefs go the extra mile and peel the bottom third of the stem. But snapping the stalk achieves the same effect, breaking it right where it is too tough to enjoy.

Asparagus Ribbon Salad
You'll get rave reviews for this light seasonal salad.

Asparagus Flan with Tofu
This light egg flan made with soft, silken tofu is inspired by similar Japanese dishes. If your stock is already salted, reduce the salt to taste. Serve with rice.

Asparagus and Lemon Ricotta Pizza
Light and fresh, ricotta cheese and lemon make a wonderful base for seasonal asparagus.

Spiced Asparagus
You can serve this Indian-style asparagus with a curry or to spice up any other meal.

Beef Roulades with Asparagus in Curry Sauce
This is a contemporary fusion dish. Hong Kong cooks tend to use Madras-style curry powder, usually imported from Malaysia, which you can buy in Chinatown or Indian grocery stores. Or, use a mild Indian curry paste or hot Thai red curry paste.

Grilled Asparagus with Fines Herbes Sauce
The egg yolk in this sauce is heated to kill any harmful bacteria that might exist in a classical mayonnaise made with raw egg yolks.

Roasted Asparagus and Tomatoes
Roasting intensifies the flavour of tiny tomatoes and complements the balsamic vinegar and thyme used to flavour this side dish.

Chicken and Asparagus Royale
Velvety chicken, seasonal asparagus and oyster mushrooms in a soupy Chinese sauce enriched with tiny specks of egg makes a luxurious -- and nutritious -- dish. Serve on a bed of rice.

Asparagus Risotto
Local asparagus is well worth celebrating with this wonderful risotto. Nothing is wasted, as even the tough asparagus stem ends are used for stock.

Asparagus, Ham and Goat Cheese Sandwiches
Add some zing to the traditional array of tea sandwiches with these up-to-date fillings.

Stir-Fried Pencil Asparagus
Pencil asparagus are the very thin, long stalks that are tender enough to stir-fry without blanching. For a vegetarian version, replace pork with firm seasoned tofu; you can also use chicken breast or veal.

White Asparagus with Pimiento Vinaigrette
White asparagus are more popular in Europe than in North America. These milder spears are mulched to avoid exposure to sunlight and remain a beautiful ivory hue. You can serve the asparagus hot or chilled in this simple, attractive Spanish-style salad.

Photography, iStockphoto.com.