Asparagus Finger Salad Recipes

CHILLED ASPARAGUS SALAD

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 AND MUSHROOM SALAD

Steps:

• Steam the asparagus for three to five minutes, depending on how thick the stalks are. It should be tender but still have some bite. Rinse with cold water, and drain for a minute on a kitchen towel. Cut into 1-inch lengths. Place in a salad bowl, and toss with the mushrooms, herbs and arugula.
• Whisk together the lemon juice, salt and pepper, garlic and olive oil. Toss with the asparagus mixture and the slivered Parmesan, and serve.

SHAVED ASPARAGUS SALAD WITH GINGER AND SESAME

Steps:

• Make the dressing: In a small bowl, stir together rice vinegar, ginger, garlic and brown sugar. Add jalapeño and sesame oil, then season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Snap or cut off the tough bottoms of each asparagus spear. With a vegetable peeler, peel each tough-skinned spear, starting halfway down from tip and peeling toward bottom end.
• Cut the asparagus at a long diagonal into very thin slices (not paper thin - about the width of a thinly sliced onion). Place asparagus slices in a wide salad bowl. Season with salt and pepper and toss lightly. Add the ginger dressing and toss to coat well. Taste and adjust. Add scallions and lime juice and toss again.
• Garnish with mint leaves and cilantro sprigs. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve.

ASPARAGUS APPETIZERS

Steps:

• Trim crusts from bread, and flatten slightly with a rolling pin.
• In a bowl, stir blue and cream cheeses together with the egg until well blended and creamy. Spread a thin layer of cheese mixture over each slice of bread. Roll one asparagus spear inside each, and fasten with a toothpick.
• Melt butter in a small saucepan. Roll each asparagus wrap in butter to coat. Place on a baking sheet small enough to fit into the freezer, and freeze for one hour, or until butter hardens and wraps are somewhat firm. Remove pan from freezer, discard toothpicks, and cut each wrap in half crosswise. Store in a resealable plastic bag in the freezer until ready to use.
• To serve, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).
• Arrange frozen asparagus wraps on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until lightly browned. Check occasionally, and turn if necessary, for even browning and to prevent burning. Enjoy!

ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Place asparagus in a steamer basket set over a pot of boiling water. Cover and steam until just tender. Remove and transfer to ice-water bath until cool. Remove and pat dry. Place asparagus on a platter (or divide between 6 individual plates); set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together shallot, garlic, mustard, salt, pepper, and vinegar. While whisking constantly, add the oil in a slow, steady stream until completely incorporated. Whisk in the herbs. Drizzle vinaigrette over asparagus. Serve immediately.

GINGER ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Combine the vinegar and gingerroot in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Boil 7 minutes or until the liquid is reduced by half. Remove from the heat, and stir in the sugar. Set aside.
• Snap off tough ends of the asparagus. If you want to, remove the scales from the sides of the asparagus stalk -- I don't.
• Place the asparagus in a large skillet and add cold water to cover. Bring to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Plunge the asparagus into cold water (with ice) to stop the cooking process. Drain the water off the asparagus.
• Arrange the asparagus on a serving platter.
• Combine the vegetable oil and next 4 ingredients, stirring well; drizzle over the asparagus. Cover and chill at least 30 minutes before adding the vinegar mixture. One hour before serving, drizzle the vinegar mixture over the asparagus. Chill for one more hour.

FRESH BALSAMIC ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Trim the asparagus (keeping the darker green and less fibrous parts) and cut into 1-inch pieces.
• Thinly slice the mushrooms.
• Simmer the asparagus in 1/2 cup of water with a pinch of salt until it is tender (about 10-13 minutes).
• While the asparagus is simmering, whisk the lemon juice, vinegar, Dijon mustard, and garlic together.
• Gradually add the olive oil and then the black pepper.
• Once you have drained the asparagus and let it cool, gently toss it with half of the dressing to coat it well.
• Toss the remaining dressing with the basil and the mushrooms, and sprinkle the mixture over the asparagus.
• Season to taste with salt, garnish with freshly grated Parmesan or Mizithra cheese, and serve.

ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil in the bottom of a steamer.
• Fit the basket in the steamer.
• Steam the asparagus over medium-high heat for about 6 minutes, until bright green and tender.
• Remove from heat and let asparagus cool in the steamer.
• Combine yogurt and blue cheese in a small saucepan.
• Warm over low heat for 1 to 2 minutes, whisking constantly, just until the blue cheese has melted.
• Remove pan from the heat and whisk in the lemon juice, chives, and garlic.
• Arrange the asparagus in the center of a serving plate and ring with the tomato wedges.
• Drizzle the yogurt dressing over the asparagus.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper and garnish with fennel leaves.

GRILLED ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat a grill for low heat. Combine the lemon juice and olive oil on a plate. Place asparagus on the plate, and roll around to coat.
• Grill asparagus for about 5 minutes, turning at least once, and brushing with the olive oil mixture. Remove from the grill, and place back onto the plate with the oil.
• In a large bowl, combine the spinach, Parmesan cheese, and slivered almonds. Cut asparagus into bite-size pieces, and add to the salad along with the lemon juice and oil from the plate. Toss to blend, then serve.

PEA AND ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Trim asparagus. Thinly slice on a strong bias. Toss with peas, mint, almonds, oil, and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper, and serve, topped with more mint and almonds.

ASPARAGUS BERRY SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, toss the asparagus with 1 tablespoon oil. Spread in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake at 400° for 15-20 minutes or until tender. , In a large salad bowl, toss the greens, strawberries, onion, walnuts and asparagus. In a small bowl, whisk the vinegar, sugar and remaining oil. Pour over salad; toss to coat.