Add a bit of green to your meal with this seasonal spring asparagus salad filled with artichokes, peas, arugula and a chive vinaigrette.
The thought of spring always brings to mind the color green; a color that so perfectly captures the essence of a season filled with freshness and new life.
After a monochromatic winter, the bright green colors of spring produce are certainly a sight for sore eyes. I eagerly await the first bunches of asparagus, artichokes and sweet peas popping up at the market and relish every moment of their too-short season.
There’s rarely a meal during this time of year that doesn't contain some kind of green and this spring asparagus salad is a prime example. Filled with multiple shades of green it’s a mix of everything I love most about spring.
What's in the salad?
For starters it features some of my favorite spring vegetables like asparagus, peas and artichokes along with arugula all dressed in a chive vinaigrette.
Shards of manchego cheese are also scattered throughout for a nice salty contrast to the peppery greens and grassy vegetables.
It’s quick and easy, not to mention fresh and clean tasting. It makes a great make-ahead salad for picnics since you can blanch the vegetables ahead of time and just toss them with the greens and dressing before serving. It also makes for an excellent lunch any day of the week.
More Spring Recipes:
- Spring Lettuce Cups with Cucumber Noodles
- Grain-Free Spring Fattoush Salad
- Braised Springtime Vegetables
Spring Asparagus Salad
Add a bit of green to your meal with this seasonal spring asparagus salad filled with artichokes, peas, arugula and a chive vinaigrette.
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 1 small bunch of asparagus spears, woody ends trimmed, cut into pieces on the diagonal
- 1 cup/170g frozen artichoke hearts, quartered
- ½ cup/65g frozen or fresh petite peas
- 5 oz/142g wild arugula
- 1-2 oz Manchego cheese, shaved into shards for serving
For the Fresh Chive Vinaigrette:
- ¼ cup minced chives
- The zest of half a lemon
- 2 Tablespoons/30ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- 2 Tablespoons/30ml extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
Make the Chive Vinaigrette:
- Combine all the ingredients in a small blender or food processor jar and blend until smooth and creamy.
Make the Salad:
- Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil.
- Add the frozen artichoke hearts and cook for 2 minutes. Add the asparagus and peas, and cook for another 2-3 minutes or until tender crisp.
- Strain and place in an ice bath to stop the cooking and set the color. Drain when completely cool.
- Place the arugula leaves in a large serving bowl. Drizzle over half the dressing and toss until well combined.
- Add the blanched vegetable and the rest of the dressing and gently toss to combine.
- Top with shaved manchego, taste and add salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
Notes
For Vegan omit Manchego cheese
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 241Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 176mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 5gSugar: 3gProtein: 8g
Nutritional information for recipes contained on this website, such as calories, fat, carbs, etc. are only estimates and are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.
Rachel says
The season on a plate, so fresh and simple!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
What a pretty spring salad and I love that chive vinaigrette!
Audrey @ Unconventional Baker says
What a gorgeous salad! ♥ I've got an abundance of wild asparagus growing around the house and I love new and simple inspiration for using it up. Will definitely try it with this chive dressing sometime. Sounds delicious.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
O you have completely captured Spring beauty and freshness in this dish! So light and lovely! All that wonderful green and I adore the chive vinaigrette! <3
EA-The Spicy RD says
So fresh and pretty! Love all the shades of green in this simple spring salad, and I can imagine it's absolutely delicious too!
Kelly @ The Nourishing Home says
This looks amazing. I love that chive dressing - can't wait to try it! Hope you're having a beautiful spring, sweet friend! 🙂
Steph @ Steph in Thyme says
I adore all the green in this salad! And that chive vinaigrette! Fiddleheads, scapes, and ramps are all spring veggies in my region I have heard so much about, but have never worked with. Need to hit up my farmer's market and play around with the flavors.
angela@spinachtiger says
These green make me feel healthy just looking at them. The chives are in my garden right now coming back which surprised me. Happy Spring!