This vegan spring salad is made with asparagus, peas, and greens, served over quinoa and topped with a magically creamy dairy free mustard dressing.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Vegan
Prep Time 10 minutesminutes
Cook Time 15 minutesminutes
Total Time 25 minutesminutes
Servings 4people
Ingredients
3cupswater
1 ½cupsquinoa
½teaspoonsalt
1tablespoonavocado oil
300gramsasparagus1 bunch, washed and with any woody ends removed
1cupfresh or frozen peas*
2cupsfresh spinach*
1clovegarlicsliced
½teaspoonsalt
¼cupunsalted pistachios
Dressing
Zest of a lemon
3tablespoonslemon juice1-2 lemons
1teaspoonDijon mustard
1clovegarlicminced*
½teaspoonhoney or maple syrup
¼teaspoonsalt
¼teaspoonpepper
¼cupolive oil
Instructions
Add the water, quinoa, and salt to a pot. Bring to a boil, and then lower the heat to medium-low. Simmer, covered, for about fifteen minutes, or until all of the water has been absorbed.
Heat a large pan over medium heat with the avocado oil. Slice the asparagus in half lengthwise. Once the pan is hot, add the garlic and asparagus. Cook for two minutes, or until the garlic starts to turn golden, stirring frequently. Add the peas and spinach, lower the heat, and place a lid on the pan. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes or until the peas are cooked and the spinach is wilted.
To prepare the dressing, blend the lemon zest and juice, mustard, garlic, honey, salt and pepper until fully combined. This took a few seconds with my immersion blender. Slowly add the olive oil in a stream while continuing to blend. This emulsifies the oil into the other ingredients and creates a smooth, creamy dressing.
To serve, place the quinoa on a large platter, add the vegetables and pistachios, and top with the dressing. It's best warm but good cold. It will keep in the fridge for a couple of days if you have leftovers.
Notes
1. If you use frozen peas, add them a minute before the spinach so they have some extra time to cook. 2. I don't recommend using frozen spinach for this recipe. 3. I mince the garlic before adding it to make sure there aren't big garlicky surprises floating around in the dressing. Some people don't like that.