Green Asparagus Salad with Couscous, Mint & Lemon Dressing
This vibrant Green Asparagus Salad with Couscous, Mint & Lemon Dressing is a refreshing dish perfect for warm days. The combination of tender asparagus, fluffy couscous, and zesty lemon dressing creates a delightful experience for your taste buds.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Blanching and Mixing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup couscous (about 170g)
- 1 ½ cups vegetable broth or water (360ml)
- 1 lb green asparagus (450g), trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 medium cucumber, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ red onion, finely chopped
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
- ¼ cup feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ cup olive oil (60ml)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (30ml)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring 1 ½ cups of vegetable broth or water to a boil in a medium pot. Add 1 cup of couscous and stir briefly. Cover the pot and remove it from heat. Let the couscous sit for 5 minutes until it absorbs the water.
- While the couscous is resting, prepare the asparagus. In a large pot of boiling salted water, blanch 450g of green asparagus for about 3-4 minutes until bright green and tender but still crisp. Drain and place in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process.
- Once the asparagus is cooled, cut it into 2-inch pieces. In a large bowl, combine the drained couscous, asparagus, 1 diced cucumber, 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, ½ finely chopped red onion, and ½ cup chopped fresh mint.
- For the lemon dressing, whisk together ¼ cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, the zest of 1 lemon, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, and 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup (optional) in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss everything well. Taste the salad and adjust seasoning with more salt or pepper if needed. If desired, sprinkle ¼ cup crumbled feta over the salad.
- Let the salad sit for at least 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Serve it fresh or chilled as a side dish or main course.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg
Keywords: Avoid over-blanching the asparagus to keep it crisp. Use a large pot for blanching and a large bowl for mixing to prevent overflow. For a gluten-free option, substitute couscous with quinoa or bulgur. If making ahead, keep the dressing separate until just before serving to maintain freshness.