Vegan Asparagus Salad With Cranberry Vinaigrette

Vegan Asparagus salad with cranberry vinaigrette – This is more than just a delicious salad that’s loaded with watercress, grape tomatoes, fruit fusion (mixed berries), and cranberry dressing. 

If you want to have a party in your palate I will certainly suggest you try this salad. You will be excited to know that only a few ingredients are needed to make your appetite sing, and the robust flavor will make you want to keep eating after every bite! 

Vegan Asparagus Salad

Due to the simplicity and yet the robust flavors, this will become one of your favorite salads to make. It can be served as an appetizer or be the main dish. It screams spring, but it can be served all year around. The super tender asparagus are cut diagonally for even cooking. 

The first time I made this salad, I made a large bowl not knowing what the outcome would be and if my family would enjoy it. To my surprise, my husband devoured it and requested more. And the kids, who I typically have issues feeding greens, ate and enjoyed it. 

The description I got from hubby, who by the way is not a salad eater, is the different textures you get when eating it. None of the textures and flavors overpowered one another; therefore, you get this balance of crunch, softness, sweet, sour, and a strong acidic flavor with a hint of saltiness that formed a well-formed union in every bite from beginning to end. 

And of course, it has to be appealing to the eyes in order to satisfy all of your senses. The vibrant colors of the red, blue, green, purple from the mixed berries and dried fruits mixed with well-cut asparagus and watercress certainly is eye catching. It is undoubtedly pleasing to be visual enticed and followed with extreme comfort by a satisfying taste bud. 

Although this salad is technically a vegan asparagus salad, you can easily pair with salmon or roasted chicken.

The flavor secret to this salad – the vinaigrette 

The secret for bringing this vegan salad from plain to WOW is the cranberry vinaigrette. Chances are, you probably have most if not all of the ingredients in your cupboard/pantry. It takes about 5 minutes to prepare, it does not matter the quantity you wish to make. It’s fresh, bright, vibrant, and ready to make you dance. Yes, I said dance, because of the comfort and enjoyment you get from all the flavors. And it brings this salad or any salad to perfection. 

Here’s what’s in the simple dressing;

• Grapeseed or extra virgin olive oil
• Rice Vinegar or sherry vinegar
• Dijon Mustard
• Kosher Salt and black pepper
• Organic Dried Fruit and Seeds or Dried Cranberries

All the ingredients are pantry and refrigerator staple items. It’s so easy to whip up can be served for Easter with this asparagus salad, or with this garden salad, and even add it to this Israeli salad. 

The Salad

This vegan salad can be served as a meal on its own. It can also be served for Thanksgiving alongside this air fryer turkey. 

This is the type of spring salad you’d want to eat or serve. It’s light and healthy, filling, it’s also the perfect salad you want to have after eating your favorite pizza!

This salad recipe is flexible. You can add any topping you want; try it with apples, oranges, kiwi, or any fruits of your choice. It’ fast, and it will make you feel wholesome. 

If you love crunchy textures in your salad, the watercress provide just that. It’s the sort of salad you’d want to order at a restaurant. It’s well dressed with the dressing without making the salad soggy. 

With Easter just around the corner and Mother’s Day not too far away, this would make the perfect side dish to serve at your next gathering! 

Bringing It All Together

1. Cook / blanch the vegetable. This process takes 5 minutes since the asparagus are cut into bitesize.
2. Then transfer the cooked asparagus into an iced bath. Assemble the watercress, chopped radishes and grape tomatoes on a plate. Next, topped with cooked asparagus. Set aside.
3. Meanwhile, add the dried fruits and seeds, mustard, oil, salt & pepper, and rice vinegar into a bowl. Mix well and drizzle over the salad.
4. Serve as a side or as a main dish and enjoy.

Some Benefits of Watercress

• Watercress can be found at most major grocery stores or international stores. Yes, unfortunately they are often overlooked because they are too leafy. 
• When filled with other healthy ingredients, watercress is very good for you!
• They are part of the Brassicaceaefamily of vegetables, which also includes cabbage and Brussels sprouts to name a few. 
• They are packed with Vitamin K just like kale. 
• Watercress is high in antioxidants compounds. 
• The antioxidants in watercress may lower risk of cancer. Read morehere.

Preparation Notes, Additions, & substitutions 

• Be sure to wash the watercress prior to using it. 
• To make the salad even better for you, I recommend adding spinach, kale, or mixed greens and vegetables, such as beets.
• Adding nuts and feta cheese will also work in this salad. Pumpkin seeds and almonds will also work and will provide some crunchiness. 
• Add red sliced onion to further enhance the flavor. 

What Goes Well With Asparagus Salad?

You can serve this salad as a side dish alongside…

• Pasta. Serve this asparagus salad alongside this shrimp scampi pasta.
• Salmon. Salmon burger. 
• Plantains. Serves well with this air fryer plantain. 
• Rice. Dill rice, or this Haitian Red Beans and Rice. 

If you loved this Asparagus salad with cranberry vinaigrette recipe, tag me on Instagram or Facebook so I can see your beautiful dish. Also, please give it a star rating below.

Vegan Asparagus Salad With Cranberry Vinaigrette Recipe

Savory Thoughts

This Vegan Asparagus salad with cranberry vinaigrette is more than just a delicious salad that’s loaded with watercress, grape tomatoes, fruit fusion (mixed berries), and cranberry dressing. It takes 15 minutes from start to finish to make!

5 from 5 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Main Dish, Salad

Cuisine American

Servings 4 Servings

Calories 276 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Asparagus Salad

• 1 Lb. Asparagus Diagonally Cut
• ½ Cup Grape Tomatoes Halved
• 3 Radishes Sliced then chopped
• Watercress Chopped

Cranberry Vinaigrette

• ⅓ Cup Grapeseed or extra virgin olive oil
• 3 Tbps. Rice Vinegar or sherry vinegar
• 1 Tbps. Dijon Mustard
• ¼ Tsp. Kosher Salt
• ¼ Tsp. Black Pepper Peppercorn if possible
• ½ Cup Organic Dried Fruit and Seeds or Dried Cranberries

Instructions

 

• Cook/blanch the asparagus. This process takes 5 minutes since the asparagus are cut into bitesize.
• Then transfer the cooked asparagus into an iced bath. Assemble the watercress, chopped radishes and grape tomatoes on a plate. Next, top with cooked asparagus. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, add all of the ingredients: dried fruits and seeds, mustard, oil, salt & pepper, and rice vinegar into a bowl. Mix well and drizzle over the salad.
• Serve as a side or as a main dish and enjoy.

Notes

Preparation Notes, Additions, & substitutions

• Be sure to wash the watercress prior to using it.
• Adding nuts and feta cheese will also work in this salad. Pumpkin seeds and almonds will also work and will provide some crunchiness.
• Add red sliced onion to further enhance the flavor.

 

***Calories are estimated per serving***

Nutrition

Serving: 4ServingsCalories: 276kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 5gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 13gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 473mgPotassium: 28mgFiber: 5gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 24IUVitamin C: 24mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 15mg

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