Enjoy a taste of spring in this salad of fresh asparagus and strawberries. It’s married with a light and easy orange vinaigrette dressing and topped with the sweet and salty combination of bacon and sugared pecans. Prepare the components of this salad in advance and assemble right before serving.
Asparagus Strawberry Salad with Orange Vinaigrette is spring on plate!
Colorful and flavorful with fresh spring asparagus and strawberries
in season and pretty enough to serve company!
We enjoyed this salad for Easter. You can prepare the components of the salad in advance and assemble right before serving. Asparagus and strawberries may seem like unlikely salad partners, but their flavors are married with a light and easy orange vinaigrette dressing, and topped with the sweet and salty combination of bacon and sugared pecans!
I had a virtual taste of this salad at Cottage at the Crossroads. Jane also has feta cheese on her salad. I made a slight change to the dressing and pecans, but either way this is a salad I think you’ll enjoy if you’re a fan of asparagus and strawberries! Thanks Jane :)
Asparagus Strawberry Salad with Orange Balsamic Vinaigrette
Salad Ingredients
Bacon (2 to 3 slices, cooked and crumbled)
Asparagus spears, tough ends removed
Sliced fresh strawberries
Salt & pepper, to taste
Orange zest for garnishing if desired
Orange Balsamic Vinaigrette Ingredients
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (about ½ of an orange)
2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons sugar or honey
Salt & pepper to taste
Sugared Pecan Ingredients
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 egg white
1 tablespoon water
2 cups pecans
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spread asparagus in a single layer on a foil lined baking sheet. Drizzle with 1 – 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast asparagus for 10 minutes until tender. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Chill in refrigerator until ready to assemble salad.
To make dressing, add all vinaigrette ingredients to a jar, shake vigorously to incorporate. Store in refrigerator until ready to use.
For Sugared Pecans:
Combine sugar, cinnamon and salt in a bowl; set aside. Whisk egg white and 1 tablespoon water together in a bowl until foamy (no liquid should remain). Add pecans, stirring to coat. Add sugar mixture to pecans, stirring until evenly coated. Line baking sheet with aluminum foil, sprayed with nonstick spray. Place pecans in a single layer on aluminum foil covered baking sheet. Bake at 300° for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Spread immediately in a single layer on wax paper; cool completely. Store in an airtight container.
To assemble salad, arrange the roasted asparagus on serving platter. Place sliced strawberries evenly over the asparagus, top with the crumbled bacon, and pecans. Garnish with orange zest if desired. Drizzle with the dressing when ready to serve.
Asparagus Strawberry Salad with Orange Balsamic Vinaigrette
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 2 - 3 slices Bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1 lb. Asparagus spears tough ends removed
- 1 pint Sliced fresh strawberries
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- Orange zest for garnishing, if desired
Orange Balsamic Vinaigrette Ingredients
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice about ½ of an orange
- 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons sugar or honey
- Salt & pepper to taste
Sugared Pecan Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 large egg white
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 cups pecans
Instructions
To prepare asparagus:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spread trimmed asparagus in a single layer on a foil lined baking sheet. Drizzle with 1 - 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast asparagus for 10 minutes or until tender (depending on thickness of spears). Remove from the oven and transfer to a platter and allow to cool. Chill in refrigerator until ready to assemble salad.
To make dressing:
- Add vinaigrette ingredients to a jar, shake vigorously to incorporate, mixing thoroughly. Store in refrigerator until ready to use.
For Sugared Pecans:
- Combine sugar, cinnamon and salt in a bowl; set aside.
- Beat egg white and 1 tablespoon water in a bowl until foamy (no liquid should remain). Add pecans, stirring to coat.
- Add sugar mixture to pecans, stirring until evenly coated. Line baking sheet with aluminum foil, sprayed with nonstick spray. Place pecans in a single layer on aluminum foil covered baking sheet.
- Bake at 300° for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Spread immediately in a single layer on wax paper; cool completely. Store in an airtight container.
To assemble salad:
- Arrange the roasted asparagus on serving platter. Place sliced strawberries evenly over the asparagus, top with the crumbled bacon, and pecans. Garnish with orange zest if desired. Drizzle with the dressing when ready to serve.
Notes
- If you’re short on time, purchase candied / sugared pecans from the grocery store.
- Adjust quantity of ingredients in the salad to your taste. As written, serves 6 - 8.
Find a round-up of 16+ recipes for Spring or Easter with make-ahead sides, salads and desserts, HERE.
Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:
We love asparagus and strawberries in this household and this salad not only looks great but so healthy…and you had me at the orange balsamic dressing!…another recipe for the ladies lunch recipe box!….have a wonderful day Mary! And thanks to the fabulous Jane too!
Good morning! I make the sugared pecans but never thought of putting them in a salad! This recipe sounds amazing ! Will definitely try it. Have a great day.
( my email was down for almost a week and I was having withdrawals😄😄) 🌴🌞
WOW!! Looks just yummy..love everything in that salad. Thank you for the recipe.
Oh yum! I need to make this. I love all the ingredients and they all sound so good together!
Mary, you are so right! This salad is definitely spring on a plate! We are getting some asparagus spears out of the garden, but not enough to make a salad yet. But when I have enough, I’m definitely making this again with the addition of your sugared pecans!
I am sure craving that salad now, Mary!! I have strawberries on my salad at lunchtime everyday, but have never thought to have asparagus instead of lettuce. The dressing sounds heavenly and I do love the crunch of candied nuts. I am so going to make this sometime soon.
I love your asparagus pitcher, btw! I store my asparagus in a glass of watcher in the fridge, but your pitcher makes it extra elegant!!
looks deish! i am not a nut fan, will it still be fab nutless??? i am still smitten with that strawberry salad we all made for the nbs, so few ingridients and so fabulous!
Mary, I make a spinach and strawberry salad with walnuts which everyone loves, but next time I will definitely make this!! It sounds delicious! I was just reading an article about vintage and antique asparagus serving dishes which made my collecting blood stir, but I think your presentation is just as gorgeous as any of them. Yum, I can’t wait to try it, especially with the dressing! Linda
I love, LOVE asparagus and strawberries, so this is truly a keeper. Our Dinner group is next week so I will bring THIS salad, I know it will be a hiy! You alwats have me drolling: at your food AND your presentation! You even have asparagus in an asparagus pitcher!
You are “Johnny on the Spot!” Company coming this weekend for the week and this salad WILL BE on the menu!! THANKS!! franki
Mary,
What a delightful idea for a salad. My hubby and I have been invited to a party on April 25th with other friends. This will be a good item to bring.
Melodie
this looks so yummy, Mary, I’m pinning this!!
Oh yum, all my favorite things on one delicious looking plate! I would have never thought to pair asparagus and strawberries, but I do love them both and the orange vinaigrette sounds Divine! This is going on my bucket list for May Mary, thank you so much!
Jenna
This is my kind of salad, Mary. thanks for sharing. I’ve never paired asparagus and strawberries, but I will now. Great idea!
Wishing I could see more of the tablecloth. Have you used it in a table scape that is posted?
Hi Mari, It’s not a tablecloth, it’s a dish towel :) You can see more here: http://homeiswheretheboatis.net/2015/03/10/the-novel-bakers-present-bettyville-a-memoir/
Thank you!
How lovely! We love both strawberries and asparagus. This combination just speaks Spring!
This sounds amazing. Thank you so much for sharing.
Yum! Will try this one for sure ~ Thanks!
What a wonderful combo Mary and it looks fantastic! Thank you for sharing at Home Sweet Home!
Sherry
I am so excited to try this recipe. It will be perfect for Easter Brunch