This simple Lemon Parmesan Asparagus Salad Recipe is a fresh and easy side dish made with crunchy almonds and a zesty lemon parmesan dressing! It's a healthy way to add a plateful of green veggies on the table that are flavorful and go with just about anything. Plus it's all made in one skillet on the stove.
Read the full post for helpful FAQs, variations, and even grilling instructions! You can also check out our other Vegetable Side Dishes to find the perfect dish for your meal plan.
Jazzing up simple side dishes is a fun way to make eating healthy enjoyable! This quick side dish was inspired by our Green Beans Almondine recipe, but with a little twist.
For more veggie goodness, I highly recommend these Maple Brussels Sprouts, these Baked Sweet Potatoes with Toppings, or these Baked Sweet Potato Halves.
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Why this recipe is great
- You can pan roast or grill it - whatever is easiest for you!
- Practically no chopping needed!
- It will be ready to serve in 15 minutes or less.
- It pairs well with all kinds of main dishes! See further below for some ideas.
Simple asparagus salad ingredients
See our notes below for extra tips on choosing the best products. Full quantities can be found in the recipe card below.
- Slivered almonds: You can substitute these with slices almonds instead. You can also buy them toasted, although I find they are more flavorful when you toast them yourself.
- Butter: You'll use this to toast the almonds and build an extra layer of flavor! If you prefer to make this dairy free, you can dry toast the almonds instead.
- Olive oil: Feel free to substitute with avocado oil if needed.
- Asparagus spears: You'll need 1-2 bundles. Look for thin, sturdy spears like pictured (the super stringy kind get mushy and the thick spears don't cook through evenly, so a thin-medium size is important).
- Kosher salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes: Basic seasonings! Omit the chili flakes if you prefer no spice.
- Lemon juice and zest: Always use a fresh lemon, not bottled juice.
- Garlic: Buy it minced or mince your own.
- Parmesan cheese: For this recipe, I use a block of real parmesan cheese and shred it on the medium side of a box grater. I find that it melts well but still provides some texture this way.
Helpful tools for making...
How to make this asparagus salad recipe
Start by melting the butter in a large 12 inch skillet over medium heat, then add the almonds. Allow them to cook until they are a light golden brown and smell toasty, stirring often so they don't burn. The butter will likely turn golden - that's a good thing! Remove and set aside.
In the now empty pan, add the olive oil, asparagus, salt, and pepper. Increase the heat to medium high heat and allow the the veggie to roast, stirring only very occasionally so that it has a chance to develop a little pretty color. It should only take about 3-5 minutes to become fork-tender, still a bit crisp, and bright green.
During the last 30 seconds, add the garlic. Then remove everything to a serving platter.
While it is cooking, you can quickly stir together the remaining salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, and parmesan cheese.
Toss the sauce on the warm asparagus and stir well, then sprinkle with the toasted almonds. Top with extra cheese to make it pretty, then serve immediately.
Variations
You can make this your own! Try toasted pecans, walnuts, or pine nuts instead, or swap the parm for feta cheese or pecorino romano. You could also try adding some fresh herbs (basil or thyme would be yummy). Sprinkle toasted breadcrumbs on top for extra crunch!
Storage notes
This side dish is truly meant to be served fresh. Leftovers simply don't reheat well because it overcooks very easily. However you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days and reheat gently in the microwave, if desired.
Main dishes to serve with lemon asparagus salad
Feel free to browse our dinner recipes for ideas, or start with these!
Grilling instructions
If you already have the grill going or like that extra flavor, you can grill the asparagus over medium-high heat for 3-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it is tender-crisp. Make sure to use a grill basket since the pieces are small and will fall through the grates.
Boiling instructions
Boiling is not how we recommend cooking this vegetable. However if you have no other option, you can place the asparagus in a large pot boiling water for 2-4 minutes, then immediately plunge it in an ice bath to stop the cooking.
FAQs
Although raw asparagus is safe to eat, it is tough to chew because of its fibrous texture. For that reason, I prefer to cook it before eating, which makes it both easier to enjoy and more flavorful.
No, this recipe will not work with canned asparagus. Fresh is significantly different in texture and flavor.
It is common to store this vegetable standing up in an inch or two of cold water in a tall container in the fridge (a vase or tall-sided Tupperware work well for this). It will soak up the water, keeping it fresh, crisp, and longer lasting. Change the water every 1-2 days if you notice that it runs low or turns murky.
Many cooks advise you to hold a spear horizontally in your hand and bend it gently until it naturally snaps. I personally find that this wastes a lot of the vegetable that is perfectly fine to eat, plus it is easier to simply cut many spears at once. My preferred method is to trim off the bottom 2-3 inches of each spear with a sharp knife, which is usually where the green starts to fade into white.
Tips & tricks
- The most important tip is to not overcook the asparagus. As soon as it is overcooked it becomes limp and soggy. Cook it until it is tender-crisp, meaning it is soft enough to pierce with a fork but still has a crisp bite to it.
- Serve this side immediately. The longer it sits, the more the texture changes.
- Use real, fresh ingredients! Canned, bottled, or processed versions of these ingredients don't taste the same and will not turn out well.
More side dish recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Recipe
Lemon Parmesan Asparagus Salad Recipe (Pan Roasted)
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon butter
- ⅓ cup slivered almonds
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 2 lb asparagus ends removed and cut into 1-1.5 inch pieces (thin-medium size thickness)
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt divided
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoon garlic minced
Sauce
- ⅓ cup (about 0.7 oz) parmesan cheese shredded
- 2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest about 1 small lemon (use a little less if you like lighter lemon flavor)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Start by melting the butter in a large 12 inch skilletAll Clad 12" Skillet over medium heat, then add the almonds. Allow them to cook until they are a light golden brown and smell toasty, stirring often so they don't burn. Remove and set aside.⅓ cup slivered almonds, ½ tablespoon butter
- Increase the heat to medium-high. In the now empty pan, add the olive oil, asparagus, salt, and pepper. Allow the asparagus to roast for 3-5 minutes, stirring only very occasionally, until it is fork-tender and still a bit crisp. During the last 30 seconds, add the garlic and stir well. Remove everything to a serving dish.½ tablespoon olive oil, 2 lb asparagus, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, ⅛ teaspoon black pepper, 1 ½ teaspoon garlic
- While the asparagus is cooking, stir together the sauce ingredients. Toss the sauce on the warm asparagus and stir well, then sprinkle with the toasted almonds. Top with extra cheese for garnish, then serve immediately.2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, ⅓ cup (about 0.7 oz) parmesan cheese
Notes
- The most important tip is to not overcook the asparagus. As soon as it is overcooked it becomes limp and soggy. Cook it until it is tender-crisp, meaning it is soft enough to pierce with a fork but still has a crisp bite to it.
- Serve this side immediately. The longer it sits, the more the texture changes.
- Use real, fresh ingredients! Canned, bottled, or processed versions of these ingredients don't taste the same and will not turn out well.
Add Your Own Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information is provided by a third party and is an estimate only. Use your own nutritional calculator for more specific measurements.
Misty says
This is the perfect side for almost any dinner!