Shaved Asparagus Salad {Fresh & Simple}

Shaved Asparagus Salad- This shaved asparagus salad with arugula, pistachios, Parmesan cheese, avocado, and a homemade lemon salad dressing is a springtime favorite! Serve along side any meal!

Shaved Asparagus Arugula Salad

Every spring when asparagus comes into season I get SO excited. I love the bold, earthy flavor that asparagus brings into any meal! It is one of my favorite vegetables.

This Shaved Asparagus Arugula Salad combines some of my favorite springtime foods. It’s a bright and delicious side dish or makes a tasty lunch. I seriously could eat this salad every single day. It is so fresh and delicious! I guarantee it will be a springtime favorite!

Salad Ingredients

I love the flavor combinations in this simple salad. The salad is a gorgeous green color with the perfect mix of textures and flavors. To make this salad, you will need the following ingredients:

• Asparagus– The star of the salad!
• Arugula– I love adding arugula to bulk up the salad and the peppery kick is nice! If you don’t like arugula, you could use spinach.
• Avocado – Peel, pit, and chop it right before assembling the salad.
• Parmesan – Go for the good stuff. I promise you’ll taste a difference! Feta would also be good!
• Pistachios – I love that nutty crunch! You could also use almonds, pecans, pine nuts, or walnuts.
• Simple Lemon Dressing– The salad dressing only takes a few minutes to whisk up!

How to Shave Asparagus

Shaving asparagus is easy and it makes the salad extra special and elegant. Plus, it makes raw asparagus silky and soft, making it perfect for eating in a salad.

When you are picking out your asparagus for the salad, look for bigger, thicker spears because they will be easier to peel. If you can only find skinny asparagus spears, you can still use them, they will just be a little harder to shave and the ribbons won’t be as pretty, but still good:)

First, trim off the woody ends of the asparagus (that’s the lighter end). You can use a knife or snap them off.

To shave the asparagus, you need a vegetable peeler. I like to use this peeler. Hold an asparagus spear with one hand and use a vegetable peeler to slice away from your hand, starting at the bottom end. Shave into ribbons. If you need to place the asparagus spear on a cutting board for stability, you can.

Continue shaving all of the asparagus spears. Don’t worry if some of the tips fall off. Save them and add them with the ribbons. You don’t want to waste any of the asparagus.

Simple Lemon Dressing

Salad dressing is SO EASY to make at home and SO much better than store bought. This light and refreshing lemon dressing is the perfect finish to the shaved asparagus salad.

In a bowl, whisk together the following ingredients.

• Olive oil
• Lemon juice
• Champagne vinegar
• Honey 
• Garlic
• Salt and pepper

Set it aside until you’re ready to drizzle it over the prepared salad. Any unused dressing can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week!

Assembling the Salad

Place the shaved asparagus in a large bowl. Add the arugula and toss together. Add the avocado, shaved Parmesan cheese, and pistachios. Drizzle desired amount of dressing over the salad and gently toss. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve the salad immediately.

This salad is best the day it is made. If you want to prep the salad in advance, you can shave the asparagus and keep it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. You can also make the dressing in advance. Don’t cut the avocado until you are ready to assemble and serve the salad.

More Asparagus Recipes:

Photos by Dishing Out Health

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