Grilled Asparagus Salad: Perfect For Grills And Grill Pans

With grilling season here, it is time to dust off those trusty grills, ignite those flames, and get ready for some seriously tasty eats. To begin with, say goodbye to the boring old pots and pans! Let’s be real, pots and pans are so overrated and the grill is a new one-pot-wonder. We don’t doubt for a bit that our grilled asparagus salad recipe will be your newfound favorite this grilling season and beyond. And fear not, we wouldn’t dare leave you by the grill with this exquisite salad but without the perfect wine pairing. Make sure to check out our wine pairing section for some seriously savvy suggestions – because nothing pairs better with grilled goodness than a perfectly matched glass of vino.

Don’t have a grill but still want to make this grilled asparagus salad?

Not a problem, use a grill pan instead.

Wine Pairing Recommendations

This dish is a wine lover’s dream, offering a myriad of pairing possibilities.

It’s a culinary playground that can be enjoyed with a diverse selection of wines. While the asparagus wine pairing game is filled with contenders, only three wines can claim the top spots, making them the ultimate choices for this dish.

Our champion wine paring for this grilled asparagus salad? Rosé, obviously! There’s just something about its light, crisp, and fruity vibe that goes so well with the vibrant flavors of grilled asparagus. Go for a Provence rosé or splurge on quality Bandol rosé for an extra fancy touch.

Another stellar match for this asparagus salad is Sauvignon Blanc. Its crisp, herbal, and citrusy notes perfectly complement the flavors of the grilled asparagus, capers and olives.

And for you, red wine fans out there, don’t worry; we’ve got you covered! Beaujolais is your go-to pairing for this grilled salad and our homage to the grilled onions in this dish. It is fruity and light and adds a fun twist to the mix.

Trust us, these wines are all winners in their own way.

Bandol Rosé, Beaujolais, Provence Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc

Find these and other great wines at WineBid.

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Recipe at a glance:

All you need to know about asparagus

Did you know that there’s more than one variety of asparagus out there? And we are not talking just green vs. white asparagus. Believe it or not, there’s wild asparagus, and African sisal asparagus! But unless you are planning to make yourself a sisal rug, which is a subject of a totally different blog post, we suggest you don’t worry about those and instead focus on the three of these cultivated asparagus varieties.

• White asparagus: White asparagus is grown by covering the asparagus spears with soil as they grow, preventing them from photosynthesizing and turning green. This results in a milder flavor and a more tender texture compared to green asparagus. White asparagus is popular in European cuisine, particularly in Germany and France.

• Purple asparagus: Purple asparagus is a newer variety that is known for its vibrant purple color. It has a slightly sweeter flavor than green asparagus and tends to be more tender. Purple asparagus contains anthocyanins, which are antioxidants that give it its distinctive color.

• Green asparagus: This is the most common type of asparagus and is widely available in supermarkets. Green asparagus has a slightly sweet and grassy flavor. It is harvested when the spears are young and tender, before they start to turn woody.

Asparagus to use in the grilled asparagus salad

When it comes to grilling asparagus, green asparagus is typically the best choice due to its robust flavor and firm texture. Its thicker spears hold up well to the heat of the grill, allowing them to develop a delicious char while retaining their crunchiness.

While white asparagus can also be grilled, it tends to be more delicate and may not hold up as well to the high heat. Additionally, grilling white asparagus can cause it to lose some of its delicate flavor and turn mushy.

Purple asparagus can also be grilled, but its thinner spears may require shorter cooking times to prevent them from becoming overcooked.

Tips and tricks to make this dish a success

While this grilled asparagus salad really shines when served warm, consider letting it sit in your fridge overnight for the flavors to infuse. Just remember to take it out about an hour before serving to let it reach room temperature. Alternatively, mix grilled onions into the dressing and add hot-off-the-grill asparagus on the day you serve it.

Making ahead

Planning ahead? We got you covered with the ultimate make-ahead strategy. Letting this grilled asparagus salad sit overnight lets the flavors blend beautifully. Additionally, you can prep parts of this asparagus recipe early to save time on the day you cook. To begin with, the dressing is a perfect make-ahead element. But, if you prefer to eat this grilled asparagus salad warm, cook and assemble all ingredients a day before, but grill asparagus just before serving. Unquestionably, with plenty of make-ahead options, this grilled salad is a simple and delicious solution for busy days or big gatherings!

Ingredients:

• 2 bunches asparagus
• 2 medium size red onions
• 4 large cloves of garlic
• 1 ½ cup green olives preferably Castelvetrano
• 1 ½ tbsp. capers
• 1 ½ tbsp. red wine vinegar
• ¼ cup olive oil
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Substitutions

• You can substitute green olives for any olives you have on hand. However, make sure that the substitution olives you pick are acidic and never sundried.

This is how we do it

Recipe Card

Grilled Asparagus Salad Recipe

Fresh, crunchy, and bursting with flavors – our grilled asparagus salad is a must-try dish for salad lovers. Whether served warm or chilled, it's a versatile dish perfect for making ahead and enjoying over the next couple of days.

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 2 bunches asparagus
• 2 medium size red onions
• 4 large cloves of garlic
• 1 ½ cup green olives preferably Castelvetrano
• 1 ½ tbsp. capers
• 1 ½ tbsp. red wine vinegar
• ¼ cup olive oil
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

Preparing vegetables:

• Start by rinsing the asparagus in cold water to remove dirt or debris. Pat asparagus dry with a clean kitchen towel.
• Remove tough woody ends of the asparagus spears. Then cut remaining asparagus spears into segments.
• Choose firm, fresh onions with dry, papery skins. Trim off the root end and peel away the outer layer of skin. Slice the onions into segments. Keeping the onion segments thick helps prevent them from falling apart on the grill.
• Season asparagus and onions with olive oil.
• Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. If you’re using a grill pan indoors, preheat it over medium-high heat on the stove and season the grill pan with a bit of olive oil.
• Place the prepared onion and asparagus segments directly on the grill grates or in a grill basket. Grill for about 3-5 minutes per side, or until the vegetables are tender and have grill marks, flipping them halfway through the cooking time. Once ready, remove the vegetables and set them aside while you prepare the dressing. If using your grill pan, you may have to do this step in batches.

Preparing the dressing:

• Slice olives, dice capers and finely dice garlic
• Mix olive oil and red wine vinegar together
• Add olives, capers and garlic to the oil-red wine vinegar mixture and blend everything together.

Assembling and serving grilled asparagus salad:

• Add dressing to the grilled vegetables, season with salt and pepper to taste, and thoroughly mix everything together.
• Serve in a large bowl, community-style. Alternatively, you can serve it as a side dish on an individual plate together with a meat of your choice.

Course Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch, Side Dish

Cuisine Mediterranean

Keyword asparagus and wine pairing, asparagus recipe, asparagus salad recipe, asparagus wine pairing, grilled asparagus, grilled asparagus recipe, grilled asparagus salad, grilled salad, wine that works with asparagus., wine with asparagus