broccoli vs. Asparagus - What's the difference?

We’ve heard it since we were kids: “Eat your vegetables if you want to grow big and strong!” It is an adage as old as time.

But it is so because our body needs the nutrients and health benefits that the consumption of fruits and vegetables brings. Luckily, we have many different options when deciding which vegetables to consume.

Two popular and very healthy vegetables are broccoli and asparagus. Although they are similar in many ways, they do have some differences that may lead you to choose one over the other when planning your meals for the week.

So what is the difference between broccoli and asparagus? Broccoli belongs to the Brassicaceae family and has a thick stem with a cloud-shaped top, while asparagus is thin and long with a lance-shaped head and is part of the Asparagaceae family. Broccoli is known for its high vitamin C, vitamin K, and potassium content, and asparagus is high in thiamine and iron.

Read on to find out more about broccoli and asparagus, their taste, texture and uses, as well as the big differences between the two vegetables.

What is broccoli?

Broccoli is part of the Brassicaceae, or cabbage family, and is related to other vegetables such as cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, and collard greens.

Broccoli has a short but thick, light green stem with a dark green top that looks like a cloud or flower; the top of the broccoli is called the floret.

Broccoli grows in the ground and is available year-round, but is at its coolest and most in-season between the months of October and April.

What does broccoli taste like?

Broccoli has a clear earthy flavor. It also has grassy notes and can be slightly bitter at times.

What texture is the broccoli?

When raw, broccoli has multiple textures depending on which part of the vegetable you bite into.

The stem of the vegetable is hard and crunchy, and makes a “crunch” sound when bitten into it . However, sometimes the bottom of the vegetable becomes tough and stringy, making it difficult to pierce through.

The tops of the broccoli, also known as the florets, are soft to bite into and can create an almost grainy texture in the mouth when the florets begin to break into pieces.

However, cooked broccoli has a very different texture than raw. When broccoli is cooked, both the stem and florets tend to soften, turning that crunchy bite into a soft, mushy texture. 

What does broccoli smell like?

Like its flavor, raw broccoli tends to have an earthy, grassy odor . When cooked, broccoli tends to smell a bit like an egg.

However, the smell of broccoli does not mean that it has gone bad. It’s still safe to eat, even if it’s a bit stinky.

Broccoli Nutrition Facts

It might be smart to add broccoli to your diet, as it has many types of nutrients.

When looking at a 100-gram serving of this vegetable, you will realize that it has a high content of vitamin C, vitamin K, and specifically potassium.

In a 100 gram serving, broccoli contains 81 milligrams of vitamin C, 108% of a daily serving! Although many people think that vitamin C is only found in citrus fruits, such as oranges or grapefruit, broccoli proves otherwise.

Similarly, in the same serving size, broccoli contains 92 micrograms of vitamin K, which is 103% of the daily ration.

Broccoli is also high in calcium for a vegetable, with 47 milligrams in a 100-gram serving.

Other important nutritional facts to keep in mind are the 316 milligrams of potassium in broccoli and its high content of flavonoids, such as kaempferol, quercetin, and luteolin.

How do you use broccoli?

Broccoli is an extremely versatile dish that can be used raw or cooked.

As a raw vegetable, broccoli makes a great chunk for a crudité board or vegetable spread, or even as an addition to a salad or coleslaw.

For cooking, broccoli can be baked, steamed, pan-fried, grilled (in a skillet), or even air-fried – it’s a truly versatile vegetable.

When cooked in any of these ways, broccoli makes a great side dish.

Just add an oil of your choice (olive or avocado works well in this case) with some seasoning (lemon pepper, salt and pepper, garlic powder, etc.) to give the vegetable the flavor you want. you like.

Broccoli is also versatile, making a great addition to soups (broccoli cheese soup is a favorite), stir-fries, or even pasta dishes.

What are asparagus?

Asparagus is part of the Asparagaceae family and is related to other vegetables such as onion and garlic.

Asparagus are usually a lighter, bright green (and can sometimes even have slight shades of purple) and are long and slender, with a lance-shaped tip.

Asparagus, like broccoli, grows from the ground, and while you can buy it year-round, it tastes best when it’s in season, between the months of February and June (with a peak in April).

What do asparagus taste like?

In reality, it can be difficult to determine the exact taste of asparagus. Some maintain that it tastes like broccoli, others say that it tastes strictly like green beans.

The best way to describe the taste of asparagus is a mix of broccoli and green beans, with earthy notes.

The vegetable it most resembles is green beans, but the earthy character makes it stand out and taste very different.

What is the texture of the asparagus?

The texture of asparagus tends to be tough, crunchy, and extremely fibrous when raw.

In fact, the bottom few inches of the vegetable are so tough they’re almost inedible, which is why people cut them off before cooking.

Depending on the cooking time, cooked asparagus may still be crisp (requiring less cooking) or it may be quite soft (which occurs when overcooked).

Both ways are fine and delicious; it all depends on your personal preference.

What do asparagus smell like?

Raw asparagus smells quite earthy and almost dirty, but the smell is very mild.

When asparagus is cooked, it may have a sulfurous or eggy odor, like broccoli. However, also like broccoli, this does not mean that the vegetable has gone bad.

Asparagus Nutrition Facts

Although asparagus is high in certain nutrients, something that makes it attractive to people is its low calorie content. For a 100-gram serving, asparagus only has 34 calories, while also containing a decent amount of vitamin K, iron, and protein .

Asparagus has 56 micrograms of vitamin K, which is 62% of the daily ration.

It also contains 2.9 milligrams of iron (16% of the daily ration) and 2.9 grams of protein (6% of the daily ration).

Other nutrients to look out for in asparagus are folate, 202 milligrams of potassium, and a high level of flavonoids, such as isorhamnetin and quercetin.

How are asparagus used?

Asparagus is a versatile vegetable, but one that should be eaten cooked, not raw.

It is not inedible raw, but its flavor is poor and it is extremely hard on the digestive tract, so it is best used cooked.

Asparagus can be baked, steamed, pan-fried or thrown directly on the grill , and it pairs well with your favorite seasoning, or a little lemon juice, and works well as a garnish as well.

Asparagus is also a great addition to soups (hello asparagus cream!), pasta, potato dishes, or stir-fries.

broccoli vs. Asparagus

Now that you know all the ins and outs of broccoli and asparagus, let’s compare the two to see their differences:

(Based on a 1 cup serving)

If you look at the nutrition facts for broccoli and asparagus, you can see that they are pretty close to each other.

Both vegetables are a great source of fiber and potassium. 

Broccoli beats asparagus by quite a bit in the vitamin K and calcium category, while asparagus is lower in calories and a bit more nutrient-dense.

Asparagus is a great source of iron , especially for a vegetable.

Broccoli is an excellent source of vitamin C , coming in at 108% of your daily intake in just a 1-cup serving.

What is better? Broccoli or asparagus?

When it comes to broccoli or asparagus, there is no “better” vegetable. Both are nutritious and would make great additions to your diet.

Of course, if you want to supplement certain nutrients, it may be better to choose one over another. For example, if you are lacking in vitamin C, broccoli may be a better choice.

However, both vegetables are delicious and taste great on their own or as a side to a meal.