This refreshing asparagus and strawberry salad, topped with feta cheese and orange vinaigrette is packed with healthy ingredients and is perfect for an easy lunch but also a great appetizer for summer parties.
I already told you how I love using strawberries in all our meals, both sweet and sour. This juicy, delicious red fruit gives that extra freshness to all our meals so today I decided to share our favorite summer salad with you. This salad combines asparagus, arugula (or rucola whatever you call it 🙂 ), spring onions, and feta cheese. An orange vinaigrette that goes on top of it makes this salad even tastier, and once you try it, you will be making this salad all summer long! Trust me when I say this as we have it at least once a week!
When it comes to salads, I love experimenting with flavors, colors, and different textures. During summertime especially, we live on salads as they are refreshing and all you need is to chop your ingredients, toss them in a large bowl and mix up a simple dressing for that little extra that makes your salad mind-blowing!
For this salad, in particular, the only ingredient that needs cooking is asparagus, but let’s be honest - preparing asparagus takes 10 minutes max. While they are cooking in your pan, you can chop your arugula and prepare all other ingredients.
Arugula is a perfect base for this salad thanks to its slightly bitter taste, which goes well with the sweetness of strawberries and honey in our vinaigrette. If we look at the ingredients, the recipe also calls for spring onions, which you can omit, but I sincerely suggest adding them as spring onions are sweeter and mellower than regular onions and will give that extra fresh note to your salad.
Making your own salad dressing is not that hard and definitely will improve the taste of all your salads. Not to mention how healthier is to make it at home, instead of buying dressings in the store that often have additional aroma and additives to them. When making your homemade salad dressing it is all about making a nice balance between acid and oil.
For this recipe, we will be adding honey and fresh orange juice for extra flavor and smoothness. In fact, this orange vinaigrette gives a balanced, refreshing tone to our salad thanks to the acid part from oranges and vinegar and the sweetness of the honey. Mixed with good quality extra virgin oil, this dressing will become your favorite! You can even make a large portion of it and store it in your fridge for a couple of days.
This strawberry salad with orange vinaigrette recipe is vegetarian, naturally sweet, and refined sugar-free. For the vegan version, use maple syrup in place of honey and omit the feta cheese.
Refreshing salad with asparagus, strawberries & feta cheese
Marija Gvozdenovic
INGREDIENTS
Serves 4
Prep.time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
For the salad
1kg green asparagus
3 spring onions
A handful of fresh basil
200g fresh arugula salad
500g fresh strawberries
200g Feta cheese
Salt to taste
FOR THE orange VINAIGRETTE
3 tbsp balsamic cream (or good quality balsamic vinegar that is not very strong)
3 tbsp fresh orange juice
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp honey
Pinch of salt
Pinch of black pepper
METHOD
Prepare asparagus by washing them well and removing the end parts (about 2 cm). Chop them in smaller pieces, about 3 cm long. In a large pan place water just enough to cover your asparagus and add a teaspoon of salt. Once the water is boiling place the asparagus and let them cook for 5 minutes. The asparagus should be cooked but also crunchy. Once cooked, remove them from the pan and rinse with cold water. Leave aside and prepare other ingredients.
Wash strawberries, arugula salad, and green onions. Chop green onions in small rings. Dry your arugula salad and cut it in smaller pieces. You can break it also with your hands if you find it easier. Cut strawberries. Cut feta cheese in small cubes.
Prepare your dressing by mixing all ingredients in a smaller bowl. Whisk until combined.
Prepare your salad by placing asparagus and arugula in a large salad bowl. Add spring onions and strawberries. Add in feta and cover with dressing. Mix well and serve.
