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Spoon in a bowl of raw asparagus salad with almonds and ginger-sesame vinaigrette.

Asparagus Salad with Almonds & Ginger-Sesame Vinaigrette

By Jennifer Segal
Inspired by The New York Times
This Asian-style raw asparagus salad is crisp, vibrant, and full of bold flavor—an easy way to add something fresh and unexpected to the table.
Servings: 6
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes , plus at least 2 hours to chill

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons light or dark brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, from 1 lime
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger (see note)
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, ribs and seeds removed, finely diced (see note)
  • 1½ lb medium asparagus
  • 4 scallions, finely sliced (about ½ cup)
  • ¼ cup fresh chopped cilantro
  • ¼ cup fresh chopped mint
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
  • Salt, to taste
  • ¾ cup sliced almonds
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In a mixing bowl large enough to fit all of the ingredients, make the dressing: whisk together the rice vinegar, vegetable oil, brown sugar, soy sauce, lime juice, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and jalapeño.
  • Snap or cut off the tough ends of each asparagus spear. Cut the asparagus on the bias into very thin slices (about ⅛-in/3-mm thick), leaving the tips intact. Add the sliced asparagus to the mixing bowl and toss with the dressing. Add the scallions, cilantro, mint, and sesame seeds and toss again. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, if necessary. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. When ready to serve, stir in the almonds and then taste and adjust seasoning (you will likely need to add more lime or rice vinegar, as the flavors mellow).
  • Transfer the salad to a serving bowl and serve cold or room temperature.

Notes

  • Check out some easy guidance on how to peel, grate, and chop fresh ginger.
  • When handling jalapeño peppers, be sure to keep your hands away from your eyes and wash your hands immediately afterwards so the juices don’t irritate your skin.

Nutrition Information

Per serving (6 servings)Calories: 182kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 6gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 153mgFiber: 5gSugar: 6g
Nutritional Data Disclaimer

This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.