Thinking spring
By esther on Saturday, April 7 2007, 20:34 - Eat your greens - Permalink
With the warming weather comes a desire for all things fresh and green. On one hand, I know that the very early delicious produce that I'm finding at the market, as well as the afternoons spent sitting in the sun at sidewalk café with a Perrier citron are both part of the negative effects of the ever increasing global warming. I keep reminding myself that these are bad things but yet I am enjoying them oh so much.
And along with my need to eat fresh and green comes a desire for the most simplistic dishes. When it's been months since your last stalk of asparagus, you really want to enjoy it in its purest form. Also, my time allotted to make something interesting for dinner has decreased since my visits to outdoor cafés has increased exponentially.
The only thing that needs real preparation is the asparagus and the positive point is that you can make it in the morning or even the night before and let it sit in the fridge all day long while you are off doing more important spring things. We devoured this fresh vitamin filled salad served with crusty Poilâne bread and big pieces of Tomme after our weekend without vegetables spent in the mountains.
Spring asparagus salad
12 stalks of asparagus
12 cherry tomatoes
1/2 Dutch cucumber
1/2 avocado
5-6 young fresh carrots
4 handfuls oak leaf lettuce
3 cloves garlic
juice from one lemon
4 Tbsp. olive oil
Parboil the asparagus in a large pot of boiling water. While the asparagus is cooking, fill a bowl with cold water and a tray of ice cubes. Quickly transfer the asparagus to the water to stop the cooking process. Remove from the water and dress with lemon juice, olive oil, and pressed garlic.
Let this marinate in the fridge for at least a few hours.
Slice, dice or shred the remaining vegetables as desired. Arrange all the vegatables and use the asparagus marinade for the dressing.
Makes 2 dinner salads
Comments
what a stunning photograph and presentation. you must be a food stylist! so colorful - thank goodness for spring!
Thank you Linda! Flattery will get you everwhere :) No, I wish I was but alas ...it is just me freaking out in my kitchen and having a blast!