Asparagus and tomato salad, with feta cheese is the recipe that will impress your guests, maybe because they love asparagus, or just because tomatoes with feta cheese are a match made in heaven.
Asparagus and tomato salad, with feta cheese
All summer long we enjoy eating tomato and feta cheese. Visit any Greek island and you will see that every terrace serves this delicious summer recipe.
Adding asparagus into this recipe is a good idea, especially because this is the season to do this, but also because it will become a nice adition to a delicious barbeque.
What goes well with asparagus
Asparagus is a good companion for every type of cheese or cream. You can serve it as is, or you can create this tasty recipe.
This salad is a nice change from the regular lettuce salad that we eat every day. The asparagus is tasty and it gives the salad an elevated look.
In this recipe, we’ll explore the delightful combination of asparagus and tomatoes, enhanced by the creamy tang of feta cheese. Packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, this vibrant salad is a must serve in the warm summer evenings.
Do you use warm or cold asparagus?
This is definetly a cold asparagus and tomato salad. Wait a couple of minutes for the asparagus to cool before using it in the salad.
How do you prepare the asparagus for this salad?
There is a right way and a wrong way to prepare asparagus. When it comes to salads, you want the asparagus to remain ferm. Cooking it for too long will make it too soft for salad. If you can get a free pass for soft asparagus on the plate, the salad is unforgiven. Make sure you cook it just right; you want it to be firm enough to be mixed in the salad.
There are two cooking methods commonly used for asparagus in salads. One involves sautéing the asparagus in a pan with a bit of olive oil for a few minutes, while the other method involves boiling them for approximately 4-5 minutes, just until tender.
To prepare the asparagus for this salad, follow these simple steps. Begin by heating a pan over medium heat and adding 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Once the pan is hot, carefully place the asparagus stems into the pan and cook them thoroughly.
By using this cooking technique, you’ll achieve the desired level of tenderness in the asparagus while infusing them with a savory flavor. Additionally, the slight charring that occurs during the sautéing process will give an attractive visual appeal to the final dish.
Picking the cheese
Feta is our go-to cheese when it comes to any salad that contains tomato. The two pair beautifully and bring to the surface a lovely umami flavour, that is in both of these ingredients.
You can cut it or just rip it apart with your hands, it depends of the style you want to obtain.
If you like it, you can replace feta cheese with gat cheese. The taste will be intense and it could be too much for asparagus, for ome people. But variation never hurt anyone, right?
What tomatoes to choose
Cherry tomatos are easy to use and they look adorable in any salad. But you can use any type of tomatoes in this salad.
They need to be ripe and tasty. Red would look cute, but when it comes to the taste, go with any tomato you can find.
How to make the sauce for the asparagus and tomato salad
The sauce is very easy to make and requires just a few ingredients. In a small bowl add all ingredients and mix them well. Add them to the salad just before service. Give the salad a toss and it is ready.
Asparagus and tomato salad, with feta cheese
Asparagus and tomato recipe, with feta cheese is the recipe that will impress your guests, maybe because they love asparagus, or just because tomatoes with feta cheese are a match made in heaven.
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 1 bunch of fresh asparagus, woody ends trimmed
- 100g cherry tomatoes, halved (1/2cut)
- 200g feta cheese (1 cup)
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For the dressing:
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon of honey (optional)
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
1.Wash the asparagus spears and trim off the tough woody ends. You can do this by holding the spear near the bottom and bending it until it snaps naturally. Discard the tough ends.
2.Heat a large pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Swirl the oil around to coat the pan evenly.
3.Place the asparagus spears in the pan in a single layer. You may need to cook them in batches if your pan is not large enough.
4.Cook the asparagus for about 5-6 minutes, turning occasionally, until they are tender and slightly charred. The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the asparagus spears.
5.Cut the tomatoes in medium pieces and add them to the salad.
6.Season the asparagus with salt and pepper to taste.
7.Remove the cooked asparagus from the pan and transfer it to a plate. It’s better to add them to the salad when they are cold.
8.Until the asparagus gets cold, prepare the sauce. In a small bowl add olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, honey, crushed garlic, salt and pepper. Mix them well.
9.Add the asparagus to the salat, drizzle the sauce and add the cheese cut in pieces.
10.Mix them just before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving:Calories: 239Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 623mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 8g
More asparagus recipes
Vegetable stir fry recipe: teriyaki, white asparagus and snow peas
White asparagus with red wine reduction
Spinach and Asparagus Cream Soup
With a rich history of more than 2000 years, asparagus and it’s varieties has fascinated civilisations and made it’s way into our plates. Find out more about the asparagus history on Asparagus Lover blog.
Did you try our recipe? Please share your experience with us, comment below, or tag @basilbunch.blog on Instagram and hashtag it #basilbunchblog. We would love to see your creation!