Spring is just around the corner! The daffodils and forsythia on the acreage are blooming and popping up to joyfully announce the change in seasons! It’s always so much fun for me to plan for spring garden planting when the seed catalogs arrive in the mailbox in February. There are so many choices to include in this year’s garden!
Everyone has their standard vegetables that they religiously plant year after year. Each of us has our own individual favorite tomatoes in many varieties, peppers galore, plus an array of lettuce, peas, and cucumbers. I also have perennial rhubarb and asparagus plants that return every spring. Such a welcome sight!
The first vegetables that I enjoy from all of my planning and planting are delicate and tender leaf lettuce, peas and asparagus. All of which are perfect to use in creating a colorful and healthy salad, that’s also delicious and satisfying. With a light and fresh basil vinaigrette that you’ve preserved from last summer or that you plan on growing this summer, you’ll love this on a spring (or summer) salad!
For this salad, remember to use a rainbow of colors in your lettuce and vegetable choices.
Not only is this salad a visual sensory feast for food eye candy, but according to nutrition and health experts, a wide hue of colors in a meal is a guarantee for getting vital key nutrients for our health!
Radishes are another brightly colored spring vegetable that I include in my spring garden planning. Even on their own, with a simple dip of olive oil, salt and pepper, radishes burst with flavor. It was one of my family favorites growing up in the farming Midwest.
Plus radishes are just so beautiful, don’t you think?
For this salad, I also added crisp snap peas, buttery avocados and creamy Italian Gorgonzola cheese (you can also substitute Blue Cheese or goat cheese). For a nice extra crunch beyond the radishes, I added whole almonds. For a tangy addition of protein, I added sautéed pancetta. And don’t forget the all importance of an enticing presentation: place each type of vegetable in specific places on a bed of mini arugula and mixed spring greens.
Ta dah! Beauty and healthy nutrition on a plate!
A beautiful palate of vibrant colors, textures, and shapes — almost too beautiful to eat!
Spring Pea and Asparagus Salad
Ingredients
For the salad
Instructions
Prepare vinaigrette of choice
Prepare the salad
I am so jealous that you already have asparagus at this time of year… This is definitely my kind of salad..so beautifully green, delicious and good for you too, Roz.
Saw the first asparagus today. Little tiny spears, so I had to buy a bunch. What a wonderful way to enjoy them in this wonderful salad. So many flavors and textures!
So envious 🙂 This is a gorgeous salad, Roz!
Wow. what did you do – clean out the entire vegetable aisle at the market? Seriously, what a wonderful salad – so full of flavors and color. I am envious that you already have daffodils and forsythia budding out, Roz. We’re buried in snow.
What a beautiful salad! I Love the way you display on your beautiful platter and the fresh basil vinaigrette is perfect! We are having such spring weather here in Charleston, this salad is here in perfect time Roz! Wishing you and your family a wonderful Valentine’s Day this week!
healthy fresh and beautifully plated. Pinned xo
Oh, Roz this salad is so beautiful, so healthy and delicious:)
Your salad looks like a still-life painting…lovely.
There’s a whole lot of delicious in this healthy salad my friend.Beautifully plated as always xo