**Asparagus Salad with Sweet Balsamic Vinegar: A Symphony of Flavors**
Spring's bounty comes alive in this delightful asparagus salad, a vibrant medley of flavors and textures that will tantalize your taste buds. Crisp, tender asparagus spears serve as the canvas for a symphony of sweet, tangy, and savory elements. A drizzle of sweet balsamic vinegar lends a glossy sheen and a burst of tangy sweetness, while crumbled feta cheese adds a salty, creamy contrast. Toasted walnuts provide a nutty crunch, and fresh herbs, such as parsley and chives, add a pop of color and a burst of aromatic freshness. This salad is not only a feast for the senses but also a nutritional powerhouse, packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Whether served as a light lunch, a refreshing side dish, or an elegant starter, this asparagus salad is sure to impress and delight. Discover the detailed recipe along with variations and additional salad dressing ideas within this comprehensive guide to creating the perfect asparagus salad.
BALSAMIC ASPARAGUS SALAD
For this asparagus salad, allow enough time to let the flavors blend for at least an hour. That's one of the secrets to why it tastes so delicious! If you're short on time, use 1/2 cup prepared balsamic vinaigrette instead of making it from scratch. -Dolores Brigham, Inglewood, California
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 20m
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a large saucepan, bring 1 in. of water to a boil. Add asparagus; cover and boil for 3-4 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain and immediately place asparagus in ice water. Drain and pat dry. Transfer to a large bowl; add the onion, red pepper and cranberries., In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the oil, vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, salt and pepper; shake well. Pour over asparagus mixture; toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Just before serving, stir in almonds and bacon.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 139 calories, Fat 9g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 3mg cholesterol, Sodium 208mg sodium, Carbohydrate 12g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 4g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH BALSAMIC VINEGAR
A quick and robust way to enjoy asparagus. Roasting highlights the natural sweetness of the asparagus while the balsamic vinegar offers a tangy compliment to this great side dish.
Provided by Gemini26
Categories Side Dish Vegetables Asparagus Baked
Time 20m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).
- Place asparagus in a shallow 9x13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with oil, salt, and pepper; toss to coat.
- Bake in preheated oven until lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes. Drizzle with vinegar just before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 75 calories, Carbohydrate 7.1 g, Fat 4.7 g, Fiber 3.1 g, Protein 3.4 g, SaturatedFat 0.7 g, Sodium 31.7 mg, Sugar 3.9 g
ASPARAGUS SALAD WITH SWEET BALSAMIC VINEGAR
Asparagus Salad with Sweet Balsamic Vinegar - Boiling the vinegar concentrates and sweetens it, so the dressing doesn't require as much oil to balance the acid. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.
Categories Salad Nut Pepper Vegetable Side Picnic Quick & Easy Low Cal Mother's Day Backyard BBQ Vinegar Pecan Asparagus Bell Pepper Spring Healthy Bon Appétit Vegan Vegetarian Pescatarian Paleo Dairy Free Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added Kosher
Yield Serves 4
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Boil vinegar in heavy small saucepan over medium heat until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Pour vinegar into large bowl. Whisk in oil, mustard, marjoram and garlic. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper.
- Cook asparagus in large pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Drain; rinse with cold water and drain again. Add asparagus and bell pepper to dressing; toss to blend well. Sprinkle with pecans and serve.
ASPARAGUS, TOMATO AND FETA SALAD WITH BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE
A super delicious asparagus, tomato and feta salad drizzled with an easy balsamic vinaigrette. It's healthy, colorful, and flavorful and has such a great blend of textures.
Provided by Jaclyn
Categories Salad
Time 20m
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile prepare vinaigrette - add vinegar to a small saucepan, bring to a boil over medium heat and allow to boil until reduced by half, about 3 minutes.
- Pour into a jar or bowl, add olive oil, dijon mustard, honey, garlic and whisk to blend while seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
- Add asparagus to boiling water and allow to boil until tender crisp, about 4 - 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile fill a medium mixing bowl with ice and cold water. Drain and immediately transfer asparagus to ice water, let rest about 10 seconds then drain asparagus well.
- Transfer to a bowl with tomatoes and walnuts. Drizzle vinaigrette over top and toss lightly.
- Sprinkle over half of the feta then plate and top with remaining feta (just so the feta doesn't brown from tossing with all the dressing).
Nutrition Facts : Calories 237 kcal, Carbohydrate 13 g, Protein 7 g, Fat 18 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Cholesterol 14 mg, Sodium 205 mg, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 8 g, ServingSize 1 serving
CHILLED ASPARAGUS SALAD
I like to use a kitchen scissor to cut only the very bottom from the stalk; breaking it off causes more of the bottom to go to waste, which is otherwise perfectly edible. With the smaller, thinner "pencil" asparagus, the stalks are too thin to peel and you need that protective layer so the asparagus keep their shape during cooking. For larger asparagus, where the skin is tougher, I do peel the stalk but leave the tip and an inch or so below the tip, unpeeled. The top is tender enough that it can be cooked as is.
Provided by Alex Guarnaschelli
Categories side-dish
Time 1h15m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- I like asparagus al dente, slightly crunchy. Bring the water to a boil in a large pot over medium heat. Add salt until it tastes like mild seawater. How will you know? Take a little water with a spoon and taste it, then add the sugar.
- Prepare an ice bath by filling a bowl, large enough to hold the asparagus, with cold water. Add some ice cubes. Plunge the asparagus into the ice bath before cooking. This will help to bring any limp stalks back to life. Remove from the ice bath, plunge them into the boiling water and allow them to cook, 2 to 3 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove them from the water, transferring them immediately to the same ice bath. Allow them to sit in the ice bath for a few minutes, swirling them gently in the water to assure they are all cooling quickly in the cold water.
- The most important step for this dish? Drying the stalks once they are removed from the ice bath. Taking care that no water gets into the final salad is the best way to assure that the maximum flavor will be enjoyed! Transfer the asparagus to a large plate or platter lined with a kitchen towel and refrigerate.
- In a medium bowl, combine the lemon juice, white wine vinegar, honey and mustard. Stir to blend. Whisk in the olive oil in an even, steady stream. When all of the oil has been integrated, taste and adjust the seasoning, if needed.
- When ready to serve, remove the kitchen towel from the asparagus and simply toss the asparagus in the dressing to coat them completely. Arrange the stalks on plates and serve.
ASPARAGUS SALAD WITH BALSAMIC VINEGAR
Make and share this Asparagus Salad with Balsamic Vinegar recipe from Food.com.
Provided by CountryLady
Categories Fruit
Time 10m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Cook asparagus in large pot of boiling, salted water until crisp-tender, about 3-4 minutes.
- Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Place in a decorative bowl and put in the refrigerator until thoroughly chilled.
- Boil vinegar in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat until reduced by half, about 3 minutes.
- This will sweeten and concentrate the vinegar; pour into a large bowl.
- Whisk in oil, mustard, marjoram and garlic.
- Season dressing to taste with sea salt and fresh cracked pepper.
- When ready to serve, add the red peppers and toss with dressing.
- Sprinkle with nuts and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 227.6, Fat 17.2, SaturatedFat 2.1, Sodium 37.7, Carbohydrate 15.6, Fiber 5.8, Sugar 7.3, Protein 6.6
ASPARAGUS AND RED PEPPER WITH BALSAMIC VINEGAR
A bright and flavorful vegetable dish that even vegetable haters will enjoy. It goes great with roasted meats. For milder flavors, substitute mozzarella cheese and use less vinegar.
Provided by Patrick
Categories Side Dish Vegetables Asparagus
Time 20m
Yield 2
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Melt the butter with the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; add the asparagus and red onion in the mixture, season with salt, and cook until the onion begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir the red bell pepper into the mixture and continue cooking until the onions begin to caramelize, another 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add the vinegar, Parmesan cheese, sesame seeds, and pine nuts; toss to combine.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 271.8 calories, Carbohydrate 16.4 g, Cholesterol 24.1 mg, Fat 20.2 g, Fiber 5.2 g, Protein 9.5 g, SaturatedFat 7 g, Sodium 203.4 mg, Sugar 8.2 g
Tips:
- Select the right asparagus: Choose fresh, tender asparagus spears with tightly closed tips and vibrant green color. Avoid spears that are thick or woody.
- Trim the asparagus properly: Cut off the tough ends of the asparagus stalks, usually about 1-2 inches from the bottom. You can also peel the lower part of the spears if desired.
- Cook the asparagus to perfection: There are several ways to cook asparagus, including boiling, steaming, roasting, and grilling. Cook the asparagus until it is tender-crisp, but not mushy. The cooking time will vary depending on the cooking method and the thickness of the spears.
- Use high-quality balsamic vinegar: The balsamic vinegar used in the salad dressing is crucial for the flavor of the dish. Opt for a good quality, aged balsamic vinegar that has a rich, sweet, and slightly tangy taste.
- Make the dressing in advance: You can prepare the balsamic vinegar dressing ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to a week. This will save you time when assembling the salad.
- Choose flavorful add-ins: In addition to asparagus, you can add other ingredients to the salad such as cherry tomatoes, roasted nuts, crumbled cheese, or grilled chicken. These additions will enhance the flavor and texture of the salad.
Conclusion:
Asparagus salad with sweet balsamic vinegar is a refreshing, flavorful, and nutritious dish that is perfect for spring and summer meals. With its vibrant colors and delightful combination of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors, this salad is sure to impress your taste buds. Experiment with different toppings and dressings to create your own unique variations of this versatile salad. Enjoy it as a light lunch, a side dish, or even as a main course with grilled fish or chicken.
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