Smoked Salmon Asparagus Salad and Sesame Miso Vinaigrette

Name: Smoked Salmon Asparagus Salad with Sesame Miso Vinaigrette
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 2 min
Total time: 22 min
Ingredients: 12 asparagus spears; 4 large red lettuce leaves, (washed and dried); 1 handful arugula leaves; 1/2 medium zucchini, (sliced into ribbons); 6 medium radishes, (sliced thinly); 2/3 cup chunks of hot-smoked salmon; sea salt or Kosher salt, (to taste); 1 tablespoon sesame seeds; 2 tablespoons white miso; 2 tablespoons sesame oil; 1/2 cup rice vinegar; 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1 tablespoon honey; 1/2 teaspoon sea salt or Kosher salt

❤️ Why you'll love this smoked salmon salad recipe

Fresh! This smoked salmon asparagus salad is just that: light and fresh! Baby asparagus spears and crisp radishes on a bed of greens and zucchini ribbons make an impressive salad to welcome warmer days.

Quick and easy! Simply combine red lettuce leaves, arugula leaves, raw zucchini ribbons, sliced radishes, lightly blanched tender asparagus and small bite-sized pieces of hot-smoked salmon.

Delicious dressing! The best part of this smoked salmon asparagus salad is surprisingly not the smoked salmon. It's the sesame miso vinaigrette!

🛒 Ingredients and Substitutions

fresh asparagus spears

large red lettuce leaves, washed and dried (or another lettuce variety). Red lettuce leaves provide a beautiful contrast in colour to the green asparagus and zucchini. Alternatively, you can use a store-bought mixed greens.

arugula leaves: for their peppery flavour!

zucchini: raw zucchini strips or ribbons have a crisp texture, perfect in this salad.

radishes: for more crunchy texture and flavour.

hot-smoked salmon: sweet, salty, smoky salmon makes this an incredibly special asparagus salad. You can substitute cold-smoked salmon or lox if you'd like.

Ingredients for smoked salmon asparagus salad: smoked salmon, asparagus, arugula, radishes, zucchini and lettuce leaves.

Close up view of a glass of sesame miso vinaigrette. — *Sesame Miso Dressing adds amazing Asian flavour to this easy asparagus salad.*

This Sesame Miso Vinaigrette has become a regular dressing in my kitchen. It's good not only on salads, but drizzled on sweet potatoes, on zucchini or rice noodles, or even brushed on grilled mushrooms. It's the perfect choice for this Asian-inspired asparagus salad.

Try it on this Broccoli Quinoa Salad or Cabbage Coleslaw, too! It's also delicious on roasted asparagus. See this recipe for Sesame Miso Air Fryer Asparagus.

🔪 Instructions: 3 Easy Steps

1. Whisk the vinaigrette.

Whisk together the ingredients and let stand while you prepare the salad so the flavours have time to blend. This dressing is even better the second day.

2. Blanch the asparagus

Trim the asparagus spears by snapping off the woody stem ends where they naturally bend. Save the ends in a container in your refrigerator or freezer for making this Dairy-Free Creamy Asparagus Soup. Blanch the spears *(see detailed instructions below).

3. Assemble the salad.

Start with a bed of greens. I often use red lettuce leaves and fresh arugula from the garden, but a store-bought salad mix is delicious, as well. Add zucchini ribbons (just make long strips with a vegetable peeler), thinly sliced radishes, and chopped asparagus spears. Sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt. Scatter the greens with small chunks of smoked salmon.

Drizzle the Sesame Miso Vinaigrette over the salad ingredients and gently toss to coat everything evenly.

A rectangular platter with smoked salmon salad with asparagus, zucchini ribbons, radishes on a bed of fresh greens.

❓ Readers' Questions

How do I blanch asparagus?

Blanching asparagus spears is a cooking technique that involves briefly boiling the asparagus and then immediately transferring it to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. This method helps to preserve the vibrant green color and crisp texture of the asparagus while partially cooking it.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to blanch asparagus spears:

Prepare the asparagus: Start by trimming the woody ends of the asparagus spears. The woody part is usually the bottom 1-2 inches of the spear, which can be tough and fibrous. You can either snap off the ends by bending the asparagus spear until it naturally breaks, or you can use a knife to cut off the woody portion.

Boil water: Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a rolling boil. You'll need enough water to fully submerge the asparagus spears.
Prepare an ice bath: While the water is boiling, prepare a large bowl or basin filled with ice water. This will be used to rapidly cool down the asparagus and stop the cooking process.
Blanch the asparagus: Once the water is boiling, carefully add the trimmed asparagus spears to the pot. Let them cook for about 2-3 minutes, or until they turn bright green and become slightly tender. The exact cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the asparagus spears, so you can test the doneness by gently piercing the thickest part of a spear with a fork. It should offer some resistance but not be overly soft.
Transfer to an ice bath: Using tongs or a slotted spoon, quickly remove the blanched asparagus from the boiling water and immediately transfer them to the prepared ice bath. Submerge the asparagus completely in the ice water for about 1-2 minutes. This will halt the cooking process and help the asparagus retain its vibrant color and crisp texture.
Drain and dry: Once the asparagus has cooled in the ice bath, remove them from the water and pat them dry gently with a kitchen towel or paper towel. You can also lay them on a clean kitchen towel or a wire rack to air dry for a few minutes.

The blanched asparagus spears are now ready to be used in your salad. You can use this method to prepare asparagus for stir-fries, pasta dishes, or any other recipe that calls for cooked asparagus. Blanched asparagus can also be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a few days.

📖 Recipe