We’ve got a scrumptious sheet pan chicken you’ll want to make more than once, an asparagus-crowned pizza, and a quick steak and asparagus stir fry that’s perfect for weeknight dinner. Before you start your shopping list, here are a few things to know when it comes to asparagus:

Asparagus can be fibrous and woody at the bottom, so it requires a bit of trimming. Here is the perfect guide to prepping asparagus before cooking.  The thickness of the stalks isn’t an indicator of how sweet and tender the vegetable is. Thick or thin, asparagus can be tough or tender. If you’re eating it in spring, though, it’s likely to be pleasingly sweet and crisp. You can eat it raw. Shave or cut it very thin and asparagus is quite appealing straight from the garden with just a splash of olive oil and something acidic, like lemon juice or vinegar. It’s good for you, a source of fiber, protein, and potassium. It’s also considered good for the gut thanks to its prebiotic fiber.  

Below, we have some delicious and interesting ways to try asparagus—everything from pizza to stir fry to soup.