Mediterranean Shaved Asparagus Salad
Shaved asparagus sets this salad apart from all the other bright, bold Mediterranean medleys out there. The raw ribbons (made with a vegetable peeler) have a crunchy texture and a mild, grassy flavor. Be sure to choose the fattest asparagus you can find, since thinner spears will be harder to peel into ribbons. Arugula provides a peppery salad base here, but you could substitute watercress or a mesclun mix. Olive haters need not abstain—simply swap in chopped almonds or cashews if desired. Add avocado for some extra vitamins! Toss the salad with the dressing just before serving, as the sauce can cause the asparagus to discolor when left too long.
Asparagus and Detoxing:
Arugula and Detoxing:
Arugula is a flavourful, oak-leaf-shaped green with a peppery taste. Known as rocket in some parts of the world, it adds a powerful health boost to any menu choice. Easily grown at home, this leafy green contains only five calories per cup meaning it would take 20 cups of arugula to get the same calories in just a ¼ cup of granola.
The fiber in arugula helps promote digestive regularity, keeps your tummy happy and leaves you feeling full longer so you resist other fatty foods. It also helps to lower cholesterol, balance blood sugar and reduce the risk of heart disease. It has tons of calcium, fiber, chlorophyll, antioxidants, glucosinolates, vitamin K, most B vitamins, folate, indole-3-carbinol, and isothiocyanates. Summary: Arugula is really good for you!
INGREDIENTS
2 pounds thick fresh asparagus spears, trimmed
3–4 oranges
3 cups baby arugula
2 (15-ounce) cans no-salt-added navy or cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
¼ cup pitted Kalamata olives, quartered
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon tahini
1 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Sea salt
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Cut the asparagus lengthwise into paper-thin ribbons using a vegetable peeler. Reserve the remaining thicker portions for another use.
2. Peel and section 2 oranges. Combine the asparagus ribbons, orange sections, arugula, beans, and olives in an extra-large bowl.
3. Grate 1 teaspoon of zest and squeeze ½ cup of juice from the remaining oranges. Whisk the orange zest and juice, vinegar, tahini, mustard, and pepper in a small bowl. Season with salt and drizzle over arugula mixture; toss to coat.
