Asparagus Salad with Arugula

Looking for a new kind of vegetable salad?  Here is one we think you’ll love!  Asparagus Salad with Arugula is a feel-good recipe and nutritious salad!  Loaded with fresh asparagus, fresh arugula, thinly sliced radishes, and green onions and topped with a zesty tarragon lemon dressing.  It’s flavorful, crunchy, low in calories, high in nutrients, and vegan!

When entertaining we LOVE serving vegetable salads!  They’re easy, delicious, and can be made ahead of time. 

Some of our favorites are green beans and carrot salad -Italian style, healthy apple bok choy salad, and Maria’s best carrot salad just to mention a few.

So when I came across this asparagus salad on a menu at a local restaurant, I knew I had to try it.  Because it was SO good, inspired me to create my version.

 

How to Make this Asparagus Salad with Arugula?

For this recipe, you will need to make the dressing, grill some asparagus and slice the vegetables.

1.  First, make the fresh tarragon lemon dressing by zesting one lemon and combining it with all the rest of the ingredients, and transfer to a small mason jar or an airtight container.  Then chill in the refrigerator for a few minutes before using it.

2.  Then slice the radishes and green onions and set them aside.

3.  Next, rinse and slice asparagus stalks on a diagonal into thirds or even into fourths.  Drain in a colander.

4.  Finally, quickly, heat some olive oil in a skillet and grill asparagus on the stove-top for about 2 to 3 minutes, until they are tender and crunchy.

Now you’re ready to Make this Asparagus Salad!

• FIRST: Grab a large serving platter, arrange a layer of fresh arugula, then sprinkle on top with green onions and sliced radishes. The radishes not only add a pop of color but they too, add a lot of nutrients to this salad.
• NEXT: Top with the grilled asparagus. 
• LASTLY: Take the dressing from the fridge, shake it well, and drizzle some of the dressing (about 1/4 cup) over the entire salad. And serve!

What Makes this Asparagus Salad So Flavorful?

It’s in the dressing.

Tarragon lemon dressing is fresh tasting and gives a zesty and aromatic flavor to the greens. 

Lemon zest, vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, fresh tarragon, sugar, and Dijon mustard is all you need to make this savory dressing. 

And, you don’t need a lot of it to flavor this salad.

Fresh tarragon is an herb that gives off a sweet and pungent flavor similar to anise, while lemon zest gives enough zesty flavors for these vegetables.

So a little amount goes a long way.

Notes and Tips for Success!

• You will need to keep an eye on the asparagus while cooking, they cook up quickly and you don’t want to end up with mushy stalks.  Even when you turn off the heat, they continue to cook, so it’s best to remove them from heat and transfer them to a plate.
• You can marinate the asparagus separately and ahead of time.  Then assemble the salad when you are ready to serve.
• It’s best to serve this asparagus salad on a large serving platter.  If you plan to serve it in a large salad bowl, toss in the dressing only minutes before serving.
• Tarragon Lemon Dressing recipe yields about 1/2 cup.  I only used 1/4 cup of the dressing for this salad.  You won’t need to use a lot of dressing since it has very powerful flavors.   A small amount goes a long way!
• If you plan to double this recipe, then you can use the entire 1/2 cup of tarragon lemon dressing.
• Store dressing in a small mason jar in the refrigerator, it will keep fresh for 3 days.

What are the Health Benefits of this Asparagus Salad:

• Radishes:  Low in calories, high in potassium, vitamin C, folate (folic acid), and fiber.
• Arugula: Cancer-fighting power food, that helps reduce inflammation in the body, cleanses and detoxifies, and promotes bone health.
• Asparagus:  High in vitamin A, C, E, and K, folate, and fiber, also helps lower blood pressure, improves digestion, and it’s low in calories.
• Green Onions:  High in vitamin A, K, and C, regulate blood sugar, are anti-inflammatory, and support immune health.
• Lemon Zest:  Contains vitamins, minerals, and fiber, like calcium, potassium, and vitamin C and helps fight cancer.
• Fresh Tarragon:  Helps improve digestion, also improves sleep and fights bacteria.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil:  Antioxidants and healthy fats, helps reduce heart disease and lower your risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Healthy, crunchy, fresh-tasting, and loaded with so much better lots of flavors and lots of textures give all the more reasons to try this asparagus salad!

Served at room temperature or chilled, this healthy asparagus salad can be made ahead of time and assembled just before serving.

Perfect vegetable salad to serve for lunch, brunch, or as a side dish at dinner.  A great way to get your family to eat more healthy vegetables and this asparagus salad is one dish your whole family will love!

ENJOY!!

…Thanks for Pinning!

For more delicious recipes for Asparagus, try these:

• Asparagus Gruyere Swiss Tart
• Roasted Asparagus with Prosciutto and Cheese
• Spinach Ravioli with White Cream Asparagus Sauce
• Creamy Asparagus Soup
• Perfectly Grilled Asparagus
• Creamy Asparagus Risotto

Are you cooking with us?  If you try our recipe for Asparagus Salad with Arugula, let us know and leave a comment with a 5-star rating!

For more delicious ideas, follow us on  Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter!

It makes us happy to hear from you!

Don’t forget to enter your email address in our ‘Subscribe Newsletter Box’ and get our recipes FREE every time we post!  

Happy and Healthy Cooking! 🙂

and thanks for stopping by… 

 xo Anna and Liz