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Home » Spring Pea and Asparagus Salad

Spring Pea and Asparagus Salad

February 8, 2017 9 Comments


Spring Asparagus and Pea Salad

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!

Fresh Basil Vinaigrette

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!  

Spring Asparagus and Pea Salad

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?

Spring Pea and Asparagus Salad

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!

Spring Pea and Asparagus Salad

A beautiful palate of vibrant colors, textures, and shapes — almost too beautiful to eat!

 

Spring Pea and Asparagus Salad

 

Spring Pea and Asparagus Salad

Spring Pea and Asparagus Salad

Ingredients

For the salad

  • Your choice of 'loose leaf' lettuce for the 'bed' of the salad (I used mini-arugula as well as a blend of spring greens)
  • 1 - 2 cups of fresh asparagus, blanched or pre-blanched, cut about 4 inches long, preferably the thinnest you can find
  • 2 cups frozen or fresh small green peas
  • 4 - 6 radishes, sliced, with 2 or 3 whole radishes for garnish
  • 1 - 2 cucumbers, sliced thin
  • 1 - 2 avocados, cut into ½" chunks
  • 1 cup snap peas, kept whole and uncut
  • ½ cup chunks of Italian gorgonzola cheese
  • 1 cup whole almonds
  • 1 cup diced, and sautéed Italian pancetta (Italian bacon found in your grocer's deli department)
  • Fresh Basil Vinaigrette (see recipe link on the blog)

Instructions

Prepare vinaigrette of choice

  1. See Fresh Basil Vinaigrette recipe through the link on the blog post OR search for other vinaigrettes (balsamic, or blood orange, etc.) in the search box on the blog.

Prepare the salad

  1. Begin with a layer or 'bed' of fresh, mini-arugula or fresh spring greens INCLUDING red-tipped leaf lettuce as the base of the salad.
  2. In each of three corners of the salad, layer or pile any of the vegetables mentioned in the ingredients above.
  3. Also include any ingredient that satisfies your own taste preference level.
  4. Serve with the featured Fresh Basil Vinaigrette or that of your own choosing.
© Roz

 

Enjoy this Spring Pea and Asparagus Salad!


Previous Post: « Fresh Basil Vinaigrette
Next Post: Strawberry Bellini for The Love of Cocktails Event in Las Vegas »

Reader Interactions

 

I read each and every comment and respond to questions asap, so ask away!  As I always say, “If you’ve made a recipe, please take a photo and I’ll be happy to share your experience and photo of the recipe with all of us in this blog community!”

The kindness of giving a thumbs up 5-star rating is greatly appreciated!

~ Roz

Comments

  1. [email protected]'s Recipes says

    February 8, 2017 at 5:31 AM

    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.

    Reply
  2. mjskitchen says

    February 8, 2017 at 11:03 PM

    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!

    Reply
  3. Susan says

    February 9, 2017 at 3:45 PM

    So envious 🙂 This is a gorgeous salad, Roz!

    Reply
  4. Ciao Chow Linda says

    February 9, 2017 at 8:53 PM

    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.

    Reply
  5. 2 Sisters Recipes says

    February 12, 2017 at 10:40 PM

    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!

    Reply
  6. Katherines Corner says

    February 13, 2017 at 7:23 AM

    healthy fresh and beautifully plated. Pinned xo

    Reply
  7. ZazaCook says

    February 23, 2017 at 7:13 AM

    Oh, Roz this salad is so beautiful, so healthy and delicious:)

    Reply
  8. Karen (Back Road Journal) says

    March 3, 2017 at 10:46 AM

    Your salad looks like a still-life painting…lovely.

    Reply
  9. Katherines Corner says

    March 14, 2017 at 3:08 PM

    There’s a whole lot of delicious in this healthy salad my friend.Beautifully plated as always xo

    Reply

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Welcome!

Welcome!

Ciao, I'm Roz!
From my family's kitchens and restaurants in the U.S. and Italy, I share classic, delicious recipes . . . and always served with 'amore'! I'll help you master the art of cooking with easy to follow instructions and cooking tips. Get ready for the compliments! Buon Appetito!

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