Gorgeous Raw Asparagus Salad ♥ A Simple Asparagus Recipe

Gorgeous Raw Asparagus Salad, another simple seasonal salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com.
An easy salad, made with thin spears of raw (yes raw!) asparagus tossed in a simple vinaigrette.

Fresh & Seasonal, A Spring Classic. Just Four Ingredients! Low Carb. Low Fat. Weeknight Easy, Weekend Special. Weight Watchers Friendly. Not just vegan, Vegan Done Real. Naturally Gluten Free.


Can You Eat Raw Asparagus? Yes! Should You? Absolutely!

Regular readers know that a certain veggie evangelist is prone to rhapsodizing about vegetables. But oh my. How did I ever miss raw asparagus?

The inspiration for an uncooked asparagus salad started here: a salad with mixed greens topped with thin spears of asparagus cut in short lengths and tossed with lemon, balsamic and a little olive oil, salt and pepper too. How great does that sound?! But I didn't follow that recipe nor any other but instead tossed together my own raw asparagus salad and then slipped it into arugula and mixed greens from a local farmers market.

Turning Kids Onto Fresh Vegetables

Snapping asparagus for Gorgeous Raw Asparagus Salad, another simple seasonal salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com.
Raw asparagus is kid friendly! Here's my seven-year old neighbor friend learning how to "snap" asparagus like a pro. (And now there's a video! Asparagus & Woody Ends (Step-by-Step Photos & Video).) She then whisked the vinaigrette, tasting each ingredient we added. When we sat down to taste, she declared our asparagus salad "good"!

A personal note. My little neighbor friend visited often and later that year she brought along her BFF and they oo'd and ah'd over "Wonderful" Glazed Turnips & Carrots. Seven months later, the BFF's grandfather and I met at a party and well, now we're married! That's small-town St. Louis for you ... ♥





GORGEOUS RAW ASPARAGUS SALAD

Hands-on time: 10 minutes
Time to table: 10 minutes
Serves 4

Salad greens for four

1 pound thin spears of fresh asparagus
2 tablespoons good olive oil (1 tablespoon if you're not dressing greens, too)
1 tablespoon good balsamic vinegar
Zest of a lemon, preferably in strips (vs fluffy stuff from a Microplane), reserving a few strips for garnish, if desired
Salt & pepper to taste

Wash and tear the greens. Spin dry or tamp gently with paper towels. (Why do we want dry greens? So the dressing will adhere evenly. Do you use a salad spinner? I love mine!)

Wash the asparagus well, especially the tips where grit can accumulate. After washing, place on a double layer of paper towels to siphon off the water. (Again, this is so the oil/vinegar dressing can adhere.) Snap off the woody ends and discard. Line up the tips of as many asparagus as you can manage, cut off the tips. Use the tips in the salad itself or save for something else where the tips are so coveted. Cut the asparagus in tiny bits, maybe 1/8 or 1/4 inch lengths.

Whisk the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt & pepper, lemon zest (don't forget to reserve a few for garnish). Stir in the asparagus. Toss the asparagus with the greens. Serve immediately.

ALANNA's TIPS & KITCHEN NOTES
It's possible that an over-the-top-good raw asparagus salad is dependent on the right collection of ingredients: very fresh tiny-thin spears of asparagus, great olive oil, great balsamic vinegar. To my taste, as well, the lemon zest is essential.
The asparagus bits do tend to drop to the bottom of the salad bowl so if presentation is important, think about dressing the greens separately, arranging on plates and then topping each plate with the raw asparagus and a few strips of lemon zest, for extra prettiness!
Try adding some sliced strawberries and going heavy on the pepper: double gorgeous!




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Looking for healthy new ways to cook vegetables? A Veggie Venture is home to hundreds of super-organized quick, easy and healthful vegetable recipes and the famous asparagus-to-zucchini Alphabet of Vegetables. Join "veggie evangelist" Alanna Kellogg to explore the exciting world of common and not-so-common vegetables, seasonal to staples, savory to sweet, salads to sides, soups to supper, simple to special.

© Copyright Kitchen Parade
2007, 2011 & 2020


Alanna Kellogg
Alanna Kellogg

A Veggie Venture is home of "veggie evangelist" Alanna Kellogg and the famous asparagus-to-zucchini Alphabet of Vegetables.

Comments

  1. Yes, yes, I do love this idea. I've noticed that when I'm cutting the asparagus I always eat some raw, so it makes perfect sense.

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  2. There's nothing more satisfying than eating fresh, raw asparagus. This sounds like a perfect way to enjoy them!

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  3. Really like your short hand recipe!
    I'm with Kalyn here, I enjoy a bite or two of the raw as I prepare it so why wouldn't it be just great like this.

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  4. AnonymousMay 14, 2007

    Thanks for the mention. Your salad looks elegant and your kitchen assistant is cute as a button.

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  5. Oh Alanna, that looks delicious! I have some asparagus in the fridge and I just may try this for lunch.

    And good for you for finding such a great assistant!

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  6. Kalyn ~ Me too! What we've been missing!

    Homesick ~ Aha. Who knew? YOU knew!

    Tanna ~ Thanks! The shorthand recipes actually are kept in a (growing) Word document that goes with me into the grocery store, also when I travel and know there'll be kitchen duty.

    Julie ~ You're so welcome. And truly, thank you for the introduction to raw asparagus!

    Susan ~ Don't you just love recipes that send you to the kitchen?

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  7. How odd, I don't think that I've ever tried asparagus raw! After seeing this recipe, I'll rectify that little over-sight.

    btw, thanks for the reminder about Clotilde's book, I've got it on my wish list!

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  8. I saw Julie's recipe and loved it. Now, I love yours too! What am I waiting for to make my own?

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  9. Funny, when I'm cutting the asparagus I always eat some raw, but never thought of making a salad from raw asparagus! Great idea!

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  10. Just clicked on the recipe after viewing the tofu salad on one slice of bread recipe.
    Before the county decided to widen our roads, we had asparagus growing in our ditches. Each spring we foraged for the wild asparagus (sounds like a name for a book, doesn't it?) When hubby was with, it got to the kitchen....when he wasn't, well it was 'iffy' if it got to the kitchen, lol. Most ended up in the tummy before the feet entered the house door. I have been doing that for years, and when I tell people to eat it raw, they look at me as if I had recommended them to commot cannabalism! Seriously!
    Nothing better than raw asparagus.
    Sadly, my wild patch in the ditch is no longer there. I miss it. Maybe I should plant more here and there and in three years forage again. Trouble is that the county comes along and sprays herbicide, and even though I have a standing order for them to skip our ditch, some times the "I will live for ever" young man ignores the edict and sprays anyway. So my asaparagus patch had better be in the farm yard where I can control that lousy spraying rule and young man-person.
    Mega huggs, Cait

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  11. WOW, my hubby REALLY loved this salad. I THINK I will love it too once I get to make some for myself (doing a juice fast ;) it smells SO GOOD! thanks for the quick easy recipe, its in my "book" now for go-to meals :)

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Thank you for taking a moment to write! I read each and every comment, for each and every recipe, whether a current recipe or a long-ago favorite. If you have a specific question, it's nearly always answered quick-quick. ~ Alanna