Shaved Asparagus Caesar Salad

So you know you should eat more salads, but you’re just tired of lettuce. Well, I’ve got great news for you! My Shaved Asparagus Caesar Salad is your perfect spring salad, where the light, crunchy asparagus is paired with a hearty, umami-rich dressing. Exactly what you’ll want when you’re tired of normal salads and are craving something different. 

Who says salad has to have lettuce in it?

Don’t get me wrong, I like lettuce. I do. But sometimes I like to switch things up in my salads and use other vegetables as a base instead. These vegetables, like the asparagus I used here, offer both flavor and textural variation to the salad base. The shaved asparagus has more of a bite, more chew, than romaine lettuce or spring mix. To me, this means that the asparagus salad will be heartier and can stand up better as a main dish all on its own. 

If you’re in the mood for an asparagus salad, but not so into the Caesar dressing, try my simple Whole30 Shaved Asparagus Salad instead. It uses the same vegetable peeler trick to turn the asparagus into a salad-friendly shape, but the dressing is much simpler to make. 

Farmers Market Ingredients and Substitutions

Asparagus

You’ll find asparagus at your farmers market between March and June, with some variation depending on your location. The most commonly available versions of asparagus in the US are green, but there are also white and purple varieties. Any of them will work in this salad, so use what’s available.

There is a common misconception that the thinner stalks are the more tender stalks, but this is incorrect. The thickness of the stalks is an indicator of the age of the plant itself, not the harvest. Unlike many crops, asparagus does not need to be replanted every year. The part of the asparagus plant that remains underground after the harvest is called the crown, and this is what determines the thickness of the asparagus stalks. Instead of focusing on thin stalks, look for snappy and firm spears for the best asparagus. 

Garlic

Fresh garlic is best in this Caesar salad dressing. Because the garlic is raw, all the flavors really come through to the forefront. Pre-chopped garlic will result in a duller, less lively dressing. The fresh garlic, on the other hand, will have a spiciness and pungency that will really shine with the asparagus. 

If raw garlic is too intense for your liking, this is a great opportunity to use green garlic or garlic scapes. Both green garlic and garlic scapes have a more mellow flavor than a head of fully mature cloves. 

Tips and Tricks

Just like your knives, the blades of your vegetable peelers will get dull with time. As the blades dull, it’ll be more difficult to shave the asparagus (or anything) thinly and evenly. And, it’ll be especially difficult to get past the asparagus heads, which tend to tear if the blade isn’t sharp enough. I recommend changing out your peelers every year or two to ensure your kitchen tools are working optimally.

Of course, everyone has their preferred peeler style. My favorite are these Y-shaped peelers, which are easier to grip and control. My husband, however, prefers a more traditional peeler. Use whatever version you like; they’ll all get the job done. 

Serving Suggestions

I love this Shaved Asparagus Caesar Salad as a light spring dinner. Especially if it’s hot outside and you don’t feel like cooking, this salad is rich enough to be a full meal.

But you could also serve it as a side dish for a heartier meal. This salad would be right at home alongside a roasted chicken or ribeye steak. Or even some crispy salmon, if you’re in the mood for fish. What I’m saying is, you’ve got options! 

But what about the leftovers?

While the shaved asparagus in this salad holds up better than normal leafy salad greens, this salad still doesn’t hold up that well in the refrigerator. You could maybe get away with storing leftovers for a day in the refrigerator, but I wouldn’t really recommend it. 

If you’re looking for meal prep ideas, I would recommend making just the Caesar dressing ahead of time. This will last for about three to five days in the refrigerator when stored properly in an airtight container. On the day of serving, all you’d have to do is shave the asparagus and mix in the dressing that you’ve already made. Easy!

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Shaved Asparagus Caesar Salad

Yield: 2 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

So you know you should eat more salads, but you're just tired of lettuce. Well, I've got great news for you! My Shaved Asparagus Caesar Salad is your perfect spring salad, where the light, crunchy asparagus is paired with a hearty, umami-rich dressing. Exactly what you'll want when you're tired of normal salads and are craving something different. 

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Ingredients

• 1 lb asparagus, woody ends removed
• 1½ tsp anchovy paste
• 1 large garlic clove, finely minced
• 1 egg yolk
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 3 tbsp avocado oil
• ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• Sea salt, to taste
• 2 oz Parmesan cheese, freshly grated

Instructions

1. Use a vegetable peeler to create long ribbons of asparagus. Start from the tip of the spear and move toward the bottom for the best results. Place asparagus ribbons in a large serving bowl.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the anchovy paste, minced garlic, egg yolk, and lemon juice. Slowly whisk in the avocado oil to make a thick, creamy Caesar dressing. Add the crushed red pepper flakes and salt to your taste (it might not need any, as the anchovies are already very salty).
3. Gently toss the dressing and asparagus ribbons together. Top with the freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 398Total Fat: 32gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 22gCholesterol: 118mgSodium: 1068mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 5gSugar: 4gProtein: 15g

Calculated nutrition values are not always accurate, but can provide a general idea for planning purposes. Please do not rely on this information as it may not be complete. Recipes that include unusual ingredients, especially scrap ingredients, will have the least accurate information with this calculator.

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