Asparagus Artichoke Salad! A light springtime salad of grilled or roasted asparagus with marinated artichoke hearts and cherry tomatoes.
Although for the most part we can get asparagus all year long, I usually only get them in the spring, when they are in season.
How can you resist, when you see hundreds of them in the produce section, saluting you like bundled, upright green soldiers?
“Hello m’am. Please cook me.”
So, we buy asparagus, and more asparagus. Here is a recipe for what to do with our long green friends, when you’re tired of everything else. (Thank you Whole Foods deli section for the idea.)
Grill them or roast them (grilling will taste better if you can do it), and toss them in a simple salad with marinated artichoke hearts, shallots, and grape tomatoes. Carry on…
Asparagus Artichoke Salad Recipe
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 12 minutes
- Yield: Serve 6-8 as a side dish
Thick asparagus spears are easier than thin to roast or grill without becoming too dry or over-cooked.
Ingredients
- 1 large shallot, sliced thin (can sub a few thin slices of red onion or some sliced spring onion)
- 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 pounds thick asparagus, rinsed, tough ends broken off and discarded (or saved for stock)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- Salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
- 1 15-ounce jar of good quality marinated artichoke hearts, quartered or cut in half (depending on the size of the artichokes)
Method
1 Soak the sliced shallots in the lemon juice as you get ready to make the rest of the salad.
2 Roast or Grill the asparagus:
To roast the asparagus, preheat the oven to 400°F. Coat the asparagus spears with 1 Tbsp of olive oil, and salt them well. Lay in a single layer in a foil-lined roasting pan, and cook for 8-10 minutes until lightly browned and fork tender.
To grill the asparagus, prepare your charcoal or gas grill for high direct heat. Coat the asparagus with 1 Tbsp of olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Grill them until nicely charred and fork tender, between 5 to 10 minutes.
Remove the asparagus from the oven or grill and cut into bite-sized pieces.
3 Put the asparagus and all the remaining ingredients into a large bowl and mix to combine. Add as much of the marinating liquid from the jarred artichokes as you like. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Links:
Asparagus, Radish and Broccolini Salad – from 101 Cookbooks
White Asparagus Salad with Romano Cheese and Watercress – from Herbivoracious
Asparagus Ribbons with Lemon – from Smitten Kitchen
