Asparagus Salad Recipe

👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients

Sesame seeds, maple syrup, white beans, rice vinegar, sesame oil, cilantro, almonds, green onion, ginger, miso, tamari, orange, and asparagus spears on a gray table.

Miso is made by inoculating soybeans with a mold called koji. It is known for its pronounced umami flavor –a deep savory flavor, with a toasty, salty-sweet richness. It is a fermented food.

Asparagus is a nutritious vegetable that is low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals. Plus, it's high in fiber, which helps promote healthy digestion and can also help reduce the risk of certain digestive problems. It tastes even better raw when paired with the miso orange dressing, and adds a welcomed crunch to this no-cook Asparagus Salad.

Almonds are relatively low in calories but high in protein and fiber, making them a filling and satisfying ingredient that may help with weight management. They are especially high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are considered "good" fats that may help reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels. In addition, almonds have a low glycemic index, which means they do not cause a rapid spike in blood sugar levels. This makes them a good choice for people with diabetes or those at risk of developing the disease. They add a delicious crunch to this Asparagus Salad.

See the recipe card for quantities.

🫛 Substitutions

White beans - use cannellini, navy, Great Northern, or butter beans

Asparagus - substitute with snap peas or green beans

Almonds - the almonds can be replaced with peanuts or a different nut of your choice

Orange - use lemon juice and zest instead

Sesame oil- use a combination of a neutral flavored and toasted sesame oil for a stronger sesame flavor

Tamari - Both soy sauce and tamari work in this asparagus salad recipe. Use gluten-free tamari for a gluten-free dressing.

Cilantro - omit as desired

Try this Couscous Salad for a quick and easy, meal-prep recipe. For more easy and versatile salad recipes, visit my Vegan Salad Recipes page.

📖 How to Make Asparagus Salad

Chopped asparagus, white beans, almonds, sesame seeds, cilantro, and green onion in a white bowl.

Step 1. Chop the asparagus into about ¼-inch pieces, discarding the tough ends of the spears. Transfer the asparagus, almonds, white beans, green onion, cilantro, and sesame seeds to a large bowl.

Maple syrup, tamari, miso, orange juice and zest in a pouring bowl with a small silver whisk.

Step 2. Make the dressing: Mix the miso, rice vinegar, soy sauce, orange zest, orange juice, ginger, maple syrup, and sesame oil in a medium bowl.

Chopped asparagus, white beans, almonds, miso dressing, and sesame seeds in a white bowl with salad servers.

Step 3: Toss the salad with the desired amount of dressing.

Miso dressing in a small turquoise meal prep container next to a white bowl with chopped veggies.

Storage: Refrigerate any remaining Asparagus Salad for up to 4 days. Store leftover miso orange dressing in a separate container for up to 5 days.

💡 Expert Tips

For greener asparagus: Place the asparagus in boiling water for one to two minutes. Then transfer the spears to a large bowl of ice water for one minute more. Blanching them makes the spears significantly greener.

Make this salad ahead of time. It tastes even better the next day.

Make extra dressing to use throughout the week The miso orange dressing is good for up to 5 days.

Storage: Refrigerate any remaining Asparagus Salad in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

🙋🏽‍♀️ Recipe FAQs

Can you eat raw asparagus in salad?

Asparagus, a vegetable with a high nutritional value, can be eaten cooked or raw. Because of its crisp texture, cooking is the most common preparation method. However, thinly sliced or seasoned raw asparagus can give the dish just as much flavor.

What part of the asparagus do you cut off?

You may have been told to bend a spear of asparagus until it snaps, but that is not the best method for cutting asparagus stalks. The spear snaps at its weakest point, but the stalk is edible and tender far below that point. Instead, slice off the bottom tough parts of the stalks just where the color turns from white to green.

What is a substitute for miso in a recipe?

Consistency and color-wise, tahini is the best substitute for white miso. You can use tahini in a 1:1 ratio to miso paste. Keep in mind that you will need to add more soy sauce, tamari, or salt to the tahini to mimic the saltiness of white mellow miso paste.

📖 Recipe