When I need a brain break, I just think about eating and cooking.
This asparagus bacon walnut salad really follows the zesty motto…. quick and easy yet packed with flavor. This asparagus dish will easily work as either a side dish or a salad depending on both your mood and your dinner plans.
It literally takes no time to make and requires very little preparation. In this particular case I used turkey bacon as it was on sale. Even though I have never tried it before, I enjoyed it immensely. I noticed a number of similar qualities to real bacon minus the grease.
As a little treat to compliment the salad is homemade rosemary focaccia bread that I picked up at the bakery…. yum. This stuff was amazing.
I don’t eat asparagus very often but every time I do I always wonder why I don’t buy it more often. Perhaps it’s because it can be fairly pricey at the local grocery store.
See below for the brief instructions on how to make this dish.
Ingredients
- Asparagus (about 12-15 pieces)
- 4-5 slices cooked turkey bacon (chopped)
- 1/4 Cup walnuts
- 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
- Drizzle of Balsamic Vinegar
Method
- Preheat pan to medium-high heat.
- Add Olive Oil to warm pan then add bacon, asparagus and heat together for 5-7 minutes.
- Once Asparagus is tender toss in the walnuts.
- Cook through for 2 minutes and finish with a drizzle of Balsamic Vinegar.
- ENJOY!
Zesty Tip: When cooking with asparagus do not over cook them. I like to shock them with high heat for only 5-7 minutes to allow them to heat through but also keep the crunch.
I am on the road tonight so stay tuned or a Virginia post on Friday. Have a great day.
Take care
zesty
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
So colorful!!
I am going shopping today at a market in Erie, Pa. called Erie County Farms. They have asparagus for $1.99 a pound. It was great last week. I made an asparagus quiche!!!
What a wonderful flavor combination!
That is something I am putting on the family menu for next week. What a great combination!!
This looks really good! And I like your whtie platter.
Bacon really does make everything better!!! I have asparagus and almonds… i might make this with almonds instead tonight!
I am de-lurking to say that looks incredible! I put a lazy version of that on top of a frittata Friday night (http://www.soapandchocolate.com/2009/03/gamey-winehouse.html) but I should have put walnuts, now that I’m looking at your recipe! Score!
Mmmm, I am a fan of anything with asparagus in it, how lovely!
Really colorful pic! The dish is gorgeous!
I feel the same way about asparagus. At work I used to make this roll up with phyllo dough and in the middle was asparagus, chive flavored goat cheese and pancetta. You just roll the buttered up phyllo dough layers around the asparagus filling and bake for about 15 minutest at 350( or until it gets all golden brown and melty cheesy). Sounds like if you had leftovers you could wrap them up the same way. Thanks for your lovely comments!
Bacon and asparagus is a great combo. Love the idea of adding walnuts to give it some crunch.
Just wrote it down, lets hope i don’t burn the asparagus. I tend to burn anything…my poor boyfriend.
Thank You!
Nice way to enjoy some bacon, I mean asparagus!
I love asparagus as a side dish. It’s nice and crunchy and the flavor goes so well with meats. Yum!
{ 2 trackbacks }