Creamy Mustard Sauce for Asparagus

This creamy sauce for asparagus comes together in a flash and requires no cooking. All you’ll do is mix mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, olive oil, and white-wine vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve it alongside the bright-green spears. Together, they make a delicious accompaniment for salmon, roasted proteins, or even eggs (brunch, anyone?) and are an excellent way to usher in spring.

We're partial to serving this sauce with steamed and chilled asparagus (and have a few methods for that below), but you can certainly boil, roast, or even grill the spears and serve them warm, cold, or at room temperature. No matter which direction you go, this easy condiment is a tangy, creamy way to take simply cooked vegetables to the next level.

The 4 Ingredients Needed for This Easy Mustard Sauce

Making this creamy sauce for asparagus couldn't be simpler. You'll only need to mix the following four ingredients, which you likely already have in your kitchen:

Mayonnaise: One-quarter cup of mayonnaise forms the base of this creamy sauce. Use your favorite store-bought mayonnaise here, or try making your own using our easy recipe. You can swap in an eggless mayonnaise to make this recipe vegan.

Olive oil: A couple of tablespoons of olive oil help thin the sauce, making it easy to drizzle, while also adding additional richness. We prefer the flavor of extra-virgin olive oil here, but you can use light olive oil for a less pronounced taste.

Vinegar: White-wine vinegar brings a welcome dose of tanginess to the sauce. If you don't have white-wine vinegar on hand, use champagne vinegar or rice vinegar. In a pinch, you can use distilled white vinegar but know that it is the punchiest of the three; we recommend starting with half the amount called for and tasting before adding more.

Dijon mustard: Two teaspoons of Dijon mustard add delicious flavor to this sauce along with a subtle bite. You can use a grainy Dijon mustard or a stone-ground variety in place of the creamy Dijon, if desired.

3 Ways to Steam Asparagus (and How to Chill It)

There are several ways you can steam asparagus so it's ready to serve with this sauce.

In a steamer basket: Fill a saucepan with 1 to 2 inches of water, then place a steamer basket on top. Bring water to a boil, then set asparagus in basket, cover, and cook until spears are bright green and just tender, 5 to 8 minutes.

In a skillet: If you don't have a steamer basket, you add a small amount of water to the bottom of a skillet or Dutch oven (just enough the cover the surface), then add the asparagus and cover with a lid. Cook over medium-high heat until the spears are bright green and just tender, about 5 minutes.

In the microwave: You can also steam asparagus in the microwave by placing the spears on a large plate, adding 2 tablespoons of water, and covering with either another plate or microwave-safe plastic wrap. Cook on high power for 3 minutes or until asparagus are just tender.