Asparagus and Blue Cheese Salad with Mandarin Oranges
This recipe was inspired by one I found on a blue cheese container. The olive oil was too strong so I reworked the recipe a bit. It is a very refreshing cold salad.
This recipe was inspired by one I found on a blue cheese container. The olive oil was too strong so I reworked the recipe a bit. It is a very refreshing cold salad.
- Carbohydrate 0.324 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Fat 9.0145 g
- Fiber 0.0200000002980232 g
- Protein 0.02 g
- Saturated Fat 1.24462 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (165g)
- Sodium 27.0686666666667 mg
- Sugar 0.303999999701977 g
- Trans Fat 0.25152 g
- Calories 81 calories
Step-by-step
- To trim the asparagus spears, hold in both hands and bend. The ends will break off leaving only the tender spears.
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
- While your waiting prepare an ice bath by filling a bowl or pot with ice and water leaving enough room for the cooked spears.
- When the water comes to a boil, drop in the spears until just tender, about 1.5 minutes. They should be bright green.
- Drain and plunge into the ice bath for another minute.
- Drain well.
- Meanwhile, whisk togeather the olive oil and about 2 tbsp mandarin juice and 1 tbsp lemon juice with fresh ground pepper.
- Time to taste!
- add more madarin and lemon juice if needed.
- ( when i made this i used about 3 tbsp mandarin juice and 1.5 tbsp of lemon juice).
- When dry cut the asparagus spears into three pieces and toss with the oranges, red onions and blue cheese.
- Drizzle the dressing over the tossed salad and sprinkle with kosher salt and fresh ground pepper.
- Enjoy!
Adapting the Cheese and Fats
Replacing blue cheese requires matching both its sharp salinity and its distinct crumbly texture. Feta cheese offers a comparable salt profile, though its moisture content is lower. Salt-cured ricotta or vegan blue alternatives can also replicate the function of the original dairy component without altering the dressing absorption rate. Extra virgin olive oil provides robust flavor, but neutral oils such as grapeseed will soften the dressing profile if the olive variety tastes too assertive.Judging Doneness Visually
Asparagus requires precise thermal control to preserve crunch without retaining a raw, woody bite. Boiling spears for exactly 90 seconds halts starch breakdown while maintaining structural integrity. Immediate immersion in an ice bath halts residual cooking instantly through thermal shock. Brightness serves as the primary visual indicator; properly blanched stalks exhibit a vivid, saturated green hue rather than an olive drab tone.Dressing Balance and Technique
Emulsifying citrus juice with oil requires vigorous whisking to suspend droplets evenly. Mandarin orange juice adds natural sweetness that counteracts the bitterness inherent in raw red onion dice. Reserve the canned citrus liquid before tossing to adjust the acidity level progressively rather than all at once.
