**Cold Asparagus with Pecans: A Refreshing and Savory Springtime Treat**
As the weather warms and spring produce comes into season, it's time to celebrate the arrival of fresh, crisp asparagus. This versatile vegetable can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, but one of our favorites is Cold Asparagus with Pecans. This simple yet elegant dish is perfect for a light lunch or as a side dish at your next dinner party. The combination of tender asparagus, crunchy pecans, and a tangy dressing is sure to please everyone at the table. In addition to the classic Cold Asparagus with Pecans recipe, we've also included two variations: one with a creamy avocado dressing and one with a spicy chili-lime dressing. So whether you prefer your asparagus classic, creamy, or spicy, we've got you covered.
ASPARAGUS WITH PECANS AND PARM
This is a very elegant and easy side dish to serve for a special occasion.
Provided by Carrie Causey
Categories Side Dish Vegetables Asparagus
Time 20m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Steam the asparagus spears in a basket-style steamer over boiling water until tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Drain and remove to a serving dish; keep warm.
- Meanwhile, melt half of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once melted (it's ok if it begins to brown), stir in the sliced mushrooms, and cook until they brown, soften, and begin to release their liquid; pour into a serving dish, and set aside. Melt the remaining butter in the skillet, and stir in the onions. Cook until the onions soften and turn translucent, about 3 minutes. Season with garlic powder, basil, salt and pepper. Stir in the chopped pecans, and cook for a minute more.
- Sprinkle the onion mixture with half of the Parmesan cheese, and stir in the reserved mushrooms. Pour over the asparagus in the serving dish and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 170.3 calories, Carbohydrate 7.8 g, Cholesterol 17.5 mg, Fat 13.6 g, Fiber 3.3 g, Protein 7.2 g, SaturatedFat 4.5 g, Sodium 255.8 mg, Sugar 3.3 g
FRESH ASPARAGUS WITH PECANS
This is one of my family's favorite special occasion dishes. We all love the fresh taste of asparagus and we know it's healthy, too! -Jennifer Clark, Blacksburg, Virginia
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 15m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- In a large skillet, bring 3 cups water to a boil. Add asparagus; cover and boil for 3 minutes. Drain and immediately place asparagus in ice water. Drain and pat dry., In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the vinegar, soy sauce, sugar and oil. Add the asparagus; seal bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate for up to 3 hours. , Drain and discard marinade. Sprinkle asparagus with pecans.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 77 calories, Fat 6g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 164mg sodium, Carbohydrate 5g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
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.
ASIAN ASPARAGUS SALAD WITH PECANS
I served this for our Thanksgiving dinner and it was a BIG hit! It tastes better if marinated for at least 24 hours.
Provided by RUBY-MAMA
Categories Salad Vegetable Salad Recipes Asparagus Salad Recipes
Time P1DT25m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil, and cook the asparagus until tender but crisp. Drain, and briefly immerse in cold water.
- In a large, resealable plastic bag, mix the rice vinegar, soy sauce, vegetable oil, sugar, salt, and pepper. Seal the asparagus in the bag. Marinate 24 hours in the refrigerator. Sprinkle the marinated asparagus with pecans and green onion to serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 108.7 calories, Carbohydrate 6.1 g, Fat 8.9 g, Fiber 3.1 g, Protein 3.7 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Sodium 526 mg, Sugar 2.5 g
CHILLED MARINATED ASPARAGUS
"My mother had surgery a few years back in spring, so my two sisters and I were challenged to prepare dishes like this that would keep well and still taste great as leftovers," recalls Nicole LeCroy of Nashville, Tennessee. "Mom got her appetite back when she tried this cool and crunch asparagus that gets a flavor boost from soy sauce. It's a nice accompaniment to chicken, roast beef or ham."
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 20m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In a saucepan, combine the brown sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, oil, lemon juice and garlic powder. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Refrigerate until cool. , Meanwhile, in a large skillet, bring 1/2 in. of water to a boil. Add asparagus. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 3-5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain and rinse in cold water., Place asparagus in a large resealable plastic bag; add marinade. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight, turning occasionally. Drain and discard marinade. Place asparagus on a serving plate; sprinkle with pecans.
Nutrition Facts :
GRILLED ASPARAGUS AND ROASTED MUSHROOM SALAD WITH TOASTED PECANS, BLUE CHEESE AND RED CHILE MUSTARD VINAIGRETTE
Steps:
- Heat olive oil in a large saute pan over high heat. Add mushrooms and cook until golden brown. Add thyme and season with salt and pepper. Toss asparagus with a few tablespoons of the vinaigrette and season with salt and pepper. Arrange 1/4 of the mushrooms in the center of each plate. Arrange asparagus around the mushrooms. Sprinkle pecans and blue cheese around the edge of the plate. Drizzle with more of the dressing.
- Whisk together mustard, ancho powder, salt and vinegar, slowly whisk in oil until emulsified. Season with more salt, to taste.
COLD ASPARAGUS WITH PECANS
Easy, delicious and can be made a day and a half ahead of serving time so this is terrific for entertaining. From the Junior League Centennial Cookbook.
Provided by Hey Jude
Categories Fruit
Time 22m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Trim the asparagus and cook in boiling water for 6-7 minutes, or until barely tender and still bright green; drain and rinse under cold water then drain again.
- Arrange in 1 or 2 layers in an oblong serving dish.
- Mix the pecans with the oil, vinegar, soy sauce, and sugar; pour over the asparagus, lifting the stalks so that the mixture penetrates to the bottom.
- Sprinkle with pepper.
- Serve chilled.
- This dish can be made up to 36 hours ahead of serving time.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 169, Fat 14.5, SaturatedFat 1.5, Sodium 673.1, Carbohydrate 7.8, Fiber 3.8, Sugar 3.6, Protein 5
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.
Tips:
- For the best flavor, use fresh asparagus that is in season.
- To blanch the asparagus, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the asparagus and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the asparagus is bright green and tender. Immediately transfer the asparagus to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process.
- To make the dressing, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- To assemble the salad, place the asparagus, pecans, and red onion in a large bowl. Drizzle with the dressing and toss to coat.
- Serve the salad immediately, or chill it for later.
Conclusion:
Cold asparagus with pecans is a refreshing and flavorful salad that is perfect for a summer meal. The asparagus is blanched until tender, then tossed with a tangy lemon-honey dressing. The pecans add a crunchy texture and nutty flavor to the salad. This salad is also a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin K, and fiber.
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
#30-minutes-or-less #time-to-make #course #main-ingredient #preparation #occasion #healthy #side-dishes #fruit #vegetables #easy #refrigerator #diabetic #dinner-party #holiday-event #vegetarian #nuts #stove-top #dietary #low-cholesterol #low-saturated-fat #low-calorie #low-carb #independence-day #healthy-2 #low-in-something #asparagus #brunch #equipment #presentation #served-cold
You'll also love