Spring is here, and the fresh, beautiful stalks of asparagus are in season. Asparagus is a great source of vitamin C and folate. This shaved asparagus salad is fresh and super easy to prepare. I briefly steamed the asparagus prior to shaving it into thin slices with a vegetable peeler. You are welcome to shave it raw, but a little heat increases the nutrient benefits.
Trim the spears by snapping one and cutting the rest to match the broken spear. This way they’ll all be the same length. The easiest way to steam the asparagus is a quick trip in the microwave. You can also blanch it by plunging the asparagus briefly into a pot of boiling water, then quickly transferring into an ice bath to stop the cooking. Whether you blanch or steam, the spears should still be firm and green. Toss the asparagus shavings with your favorite greens, a zesty vinaigrette and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
- Snap one of the asparagus spears and cut the rest to match. Place the asparagus in a microwave safe bowl or dish and fill it with cold water, about a quarter of the way up the sides. Steam in the microwave for about 3 minutes. Remove the bowl and drain the water. The spears should still be slightly firm. Using a vegetable peeler, slice each asparagus spear lengthwise into very thin ribbon-like slices.
- In a small bowl whisk together the olive oil and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Add the honey if using and whisk again. Toss the asparagus slices with the greens and any veggies you have on hand and dress the salad to your liking. Use the vegetable peeler or a microplane to shave fresh Parmesan cheese over the salad.