roasted asparagus, avocado and arugula salad
3 tbsp olive oil
1.5 lb asparagus
2.5 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
0.5 cup pine nuts
1.5 tsp finely chopped fresh basil
1.5 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
ripe avocado
tsp honey
4 cups arugula
Salt
pepper
_ Instructions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. After you clean your asparagus, make
sure to pat it totally dry before proceeding. Slice the tough stalk ends
from your asparagus (1-2 inches at the bottom of each stalk).
Place the asparagus on a baking sheet; I foil line my sheet for easier cleanup.
Drizzle the stalks with 1 tbsp olive oil, then rub each stalk with your hands to
evenly coat with oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper—freshly ground black pepper
is best. Place prepared asparagus into the oven and let it roast for 12-15 minutes
till the toughest parts of the stalks are tender and the leafy tips are starting to get
crispy.
While the asparagus is cooking, place the pine nuts into a small skillet over
medium heat and toast them for a few minutes till they turn golden brown and
aromatic. Be careful, stir constantly, and keep a close eye once they start to
brown—they can go from brown to burned very quickly. Once they’ve turned
golden, pour them into a small bowl and reserve.
When the asparagus has finished cooking, remove from the oven and allow to
cool to room temperature. Cut each stalk into 4-5 pieces each. Discard any
overly tough ends that did not get tender during roasting.
In a small bowl, whisk together orange juice, 1 tbsp lemon juice, basil, honey
and a pinch of salt. Vegans can sub agave for the honey in the dressing, or leave
it out. As you whisk the mixture rapidly, very slowly drizzle in the remaining 2
tbsp olive oil till emulsified with the juice mixture. Reserve dressing.
juice to keep it from turning brown.
In a large salad bowl, combine the arugula, roasted asparagus, toasted pine nuts,
avocado and dressing. Toss gently till the ingredients are well mixed and the
arugula is evenly moistened by the dressing. Season the salad with additional salt
to taste, if desired. Serve.
This salad is easily doubled for a crowd, and can be partially made ahead for
easier serving. Roast the asparagus and toast the pine nuts in advance, and juice
the citrus for the dressing, then store in airtight containers till ready to serve
(refrigerate the asparagus and juices for up to 24 hours before serving). Just
before serving, slice the avocado, whisk the dressing and toss the salad. It tastes
best at room temperature, so if you’re making some elements ahead, be sure to
take them out of the refrigerator and let them return to room temp before tossing
the salad.
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