Put water in the lower part of your steamer and bring to a boil. Combine the first 7 ingredients in a small bowl.
Set the asparagus in your steamer, cover and cook until just tender, about 1 to 2 minutes depending on the thickness of the asparagus. Set the asparagus on a platter, drizzle with the butter mixture, season with pepper and serve.
Recipe Options: For added taste and texture, sprinkle the asparagus, once topped with the butter, with two to three tablespoons of lightly toasted pecan pieces. To toast the pecans, place them in a nonstick skillet set over medium heat. Cook them, swirling the pan from time to time, until the pecans are lightly toasted and fragrant, about 3 to 4 minutes. Instead of asparagus, steam 16 medium-sized broccoli florets and top them with the citrus butter.