Asparagus is one of the first local vegetables to turn up at farmers' markets, and it couldn't be more welcome after a long winter. It works well for breakfast, lunch or supper, so make the most of asparagus season and try it in every meal!

Here are 20 fresh asparagus recipes to help you celebrate spring:

Asparagus recipes for breakfast and brunch

Asparagus and Ricotta Pie
This Italian-style pie made with pizza dough is surprisingly easy to put together and has quite a grand presence on the brunch table.

Asparagus Omelettes for Two
This is a traditional French rolled omelette, which is not browned but perfectly soft and yellow, as opposed to the folded omelette you may be used to eating. Use any firm cheese, such as Gruyère, Jarlsberg, Edam, Gouda or Cheddar. Serve with a green salad and fresh or toasted bread.

Asparagus soup recipes

Asparagus and Crab Soup
Local asparagus is just beginning to show up in our markets and crab from both coasts is being harvested and the price is right, so it's time to make a delicious Asparagus and Crab Soup. If you choose to steam live crab to obtain the meat for this soup, you can substitute the clam juice with 1 cup/250 mL of strained crab cooking liquid.

Asparagus Soup with Frizzled Prosciutto
Let asparagus season begin: there are many ways to enjoy this delectable vegetable besides steamed or boiled. Molly Hewitt of London, Ont., sent us this excellent recipe for a simple yet elegant soup. We added the frizzled prosciutto for a bit of pizzazz.

Roasted and grilled asparagus recipes

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

Grilled Asparagus in 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.

Asparagus pasta recipes

Spaghetti Carbonara with Asparagus
The classic combo of thinly sliced asparagus and eggs shines in this simple home-style pasta.

Lemon Asparagus Fettuccine with Shrimp
Halving the shrimp lengthwise makes them curl attractively when they are cooked.

More asparagus recipes for lunch or supper

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.

Pork Tenderloin Stir-Fry with Asparagus and Green Onions
Asparagus and green onions are harbingers of spring and pair deliciously with pork tenderloin in this simple homestyle stir-fry. 

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.

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.

Green Asparagus with Ginger Butter
If you are using thick asparagus, peel stalks about two-thirds up the stalk toward the tip.

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

Vietnamese-Style Asparagus and Shrimp Salad
For a change of pace, serve seasonal local asparagus with an Asian twist. You can buy crispy prefried shallots at Chinese and Southeast Asian grocery stores; or simply fry thinly sliced shallots in peanut or vegetable oil until golden, drain and let cool (reserve the oil for flavouring sauces and vegetables). Altlantic cold-water shrimp are the small sweet shrimp caught off our northeastern shores.

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

Spiced Asparagus
You can serve this Indian-style asparagus with Egg Curry or another spring main.

Beef Roulades with Asparagus in Curry Sauce
This is a contemporary fusion dish from the culinary competition. 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.

White asparagus recipe

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.