We're going to blanch the asparagus. This is a great technique that quick cooks your vegetables and then halts the process using an ice cold bowl of water. It's a delicious way to prepare asparagus, whether you're eating them plain or with a dressing!
Fill a large bowl halfway with water and ice cubes.
Add salt to boiling water until it very salty
Add the asparagus and cook until bright green, but still crunchy. About 1 minute for thin spears, and 1 1/2 to 2 minutes for thicker ones.
Using a spoon, remove the asparagus from boiling water and add them to the ice bath. Move them around to accelerate the cooling process. Leave for a few minutes to fully cool.
Taste them to make sure crunchy and cool. Drain from the water. Pat them dry.