White Asparagus Strawberry Salad

This White Asparagus Strawberry Salad is (mostly) simple to thow together.  I say mostly because you have to peel and parboil the white asparagus as well as caramelizing the nuts. Simply arrange white parboiled asparagus, fresh strawberries, healthy sprouts, and savory Emmental cheese on a platter. Then drizzle with a homemade strawberry-raspberry flavored vinaigrette. Finish this lovely salad by sprinkling caramelized cashews over the top. This is definitely not your grandma’s green salad. Let’s pause a moment to learn a little about white asparagus.

White Asparagus = White Gold:

Unlike its green cousin, which spends time sunbathing, white asparagus is grown under soil or blackout tarps to prevent photosynthesis. That’s right—it’s basically the vampire of the vegetable world. But instead of blood, it thrives on mystery and a subtle, nutty flavor. Popular in Europe, especially Germany and the Netherlands, white asparagus is springtime royalty. Festivals are held in its honor. People wear hats. It’s that serious.

For substitutions in this White Asparagus Strawberry Salad, switch out Swiss cheese for the Emmenthal. Also, if you prefer other types of nuts like almonds, sunflower seeds, or walnuts, those would work just as well. For less sweetness, skip the caramelizing and scatter the raw nuts over the salad. Use baby green asparagus if white asparagus is too difficult to find.

Beware, unlike its green relative, you must peel white asparagus before boiling. Do not forgo this step. I learned the hard way.

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White Asparagus Strawberry Salad

Course Salad

Cuisine German

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Servings 4 People

Author Lora Wiley-Lennartz

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/3 cup raw cashew nuts
• 1 bunch white asparagus
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter salt to taste
• pinch of white granulated sugar
• 5 ounces Emmental cheese
• 1 pound fresh strawberries
• 2 +1/2 cups fresh mixed sprouts loosely packed
• 5 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons strawberry jelly
• 4 tablespoons raspberry balsamic vinegar dressing
• salt and freshly ground pepper

Instructions

1. Place a layer of baking paper beside the stove.
2. Melt the brown sugar in a pan. Add the raw cashews and sauté until they caramelize. Transfer the cashews to the baking paper to cool.
3. Trim and peel the white asparagus. Cut into thirds.
4. Bring 5 cups of water to boil in a saucepan. Add butter, salt and white granulated sugar.
5. Add the white asparagus pieces, cover the pot and boil for 5-8 minutes or until the asparagus is tender, but not too soft.
6. Drain the cooked asparagus and set aside to cool.
7. Cut the Emmental cheese into cubes.
8. Wash and de-stem the fresh strawberries. Pat dry and cut each one into quarters.

Make the Strawberry Raspberry Vinaigrette:

1. In a small bowl whisk together the olive oil, strawberry preserves and raspberry balsamic vinegar.
2. Add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.

Assemble the Salad:

1. On a large platter, arrange the white asparagus pieces, cubed Emmental cheese, fresh strawberry quarters and sprouts.
2. Drizzle the strawberry, raspberry vinaigrette over the top of the salad.
3. Scatter the caramelized cashews over the top and serve.

So, do you like this White Asparagus Strawberry Salad? Then also check out some of these other delicious recipes:

WHITE ASPARAGUS MUSHROOM RAMP TART

WHITE ASPARAGUS VEGETABLE CASSEROLE

TOASTED ALMOND CHICKEN ROULADE IN ORANGE CREAM SAUCE