Easy Asparagus Salad

Name: Easy Asparagus Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 bunch asparagus (tough ends trimmed); 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved; 5 ounces); 1/4 cup red onions (diced; 1 ounce); 1/4 cup black olives (sliced); 1 tablespoon olive oil (extra-virgin ); 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar; 1 teaspoon fresh garlic (minced); 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard; 1/2 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground )

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This delicious asparagus salad contains lots of goodies, including tomatoes, olives, and onions. A delightfully fresh-tasting summer side dish, this salad is also very easy to make, and it's ready in just 20 minutes.

Asparagus salad is served in a white bowl with a napkin.

I've always served warm asparagus in recipes like roasted asparagus, steamed asparagus, and microwave asparagus. At a recent dinner party, I was served a delicious asparagus salad. It was so good that although I never asked the hostess for the recipe, I created something similar (my humble additions are sliced olives and a different dressing). It's quickly become a summer staple in our home!

Ingredients

The full list of ingredients and exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here are my comments on some of the ingredients.

Fresh asparagus: Try to find medium-thickness spears. Not the really thick ones, but also not the super-thin ones.
Cherry tomatoes: Cut them in half. They're easier to eat this way (they tend to slide right off the fork unless you cut them).
Red onions: Chop them finely - no one wants to bite into a big chunk of raw onion. You can also use white or yellow onions, but use half the amount - they tend to be sharper.
Olives: I like to use black sliced olives, but any type of pitted olives will work.
Olive oil: Extra-virgin olive oil has the best flavor, but if you prefer light and fruity olive oil, that works, too.
Red wine vinegar: White wine vinegar also works, as does fresh lemon juice. I don't recommend using white distilled vinegar, though. It's too acidic.
Mustard: I highly recommend using Dijon mustard. It's creamier, thicker, and less vinegary than yellow mustard.

Variations

Use chopped tomatoes instead of halved cherry tomatoes.
Use pitted kalamata olives.
Add a tablespoon of capers.
Use lemon juice instead of vinegar. Or try balsamic vinegar - just a teaspoon since it's so potent.
Sometimes, I add a dollop of mayonnaise to the dressing for extra creaminess.

Instructions

Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making this salad:

Steam the asparagus until tender-crisp and cut it into bite-size pieces.

Mix the asparagus with tomatoes, onions, and olives. Be gentle when mixing.

Asparagus, tomatoes, onions and olives in a bowl.

Add the dressing and gently toss to coat.

Pouring the dressing on top of the salad.

Expert Tips

It's important to avoid overcooking the asparagus. Steam it until it's tender-crisp, not limp and stringy.
Be gentle when mixing the asparagus with the remaining ingredients. The spears' heads are fragile and can easily disintegrate if you're not careful.
You can make this salad a couple of hours ahead of time and chill it until ready to serve.

Recipe FAQs

Can you eat asparagus raw?

I don't recommend eating it raw. It's a fibrous vegetable best enjoyed when lightly cooked. I recommend cooking it before adding it to a salad.

Can you eat asparagus cold?

Yes, absolutely. Cooked and chilled asparagus is delicious, and it makes the perfect addition to any salad. It's also very good as part of an antipasti plate.

Do you eat the entire asparagus?

Almost. You can eat the stem and tops, but the woody part at the very bottom of the stem is too tough and fibrous and should be cut off and discarded.

Serving Suggestions

Anything goes with this salad! It's a truly versatile side dish. But I think it goes especially well with these main dishes:

Storing Leftovers

While you can make this salad ahead of time, I wouldn't try to store the leftovers for longer than a couple of days. Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge, and gently toss the salad again before serving it.