• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Work With Me
  • Contact
  • Subscribe

Grateful Grazer

menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Work With Me
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Recipe Index
    • Work With Me
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Grateful Grazer

    Published: Mar 25, 2016 · Modified: Mar 14, 2022 by Stephanie McKercher, RDN · 12 Comments

    Springtime Asparagus Salad with Lemon Hemp Dressing

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Celebrate spring with light and refreshing asparagus salad with lemon hemp dressing!

    I usually don't eat too many salads during the winter months, but around thus time of year, my raw veggie cravings begin to come back in full force.  This springtime salad is my current favorite way to satisfy my need for all things green.

    Seasonal Springtime Asparagus Salad with Lemon Hemp Vinaigrette (vegan) from The Grateful Grazer.

    This salad is light, refreshing, and incredibly simple to put together.  It works great as a side salad - try it alongside baked tofu or grilled fish.  With peas and hemp seeds, its also a perfectly balanced light vegan entree containing plant-based protein and beneficial fats.

    Seasonal Springtime Asparagus Salad with Lemon Hemp Vinaigrette (vegan) from The Grateful Grazer.

    My favorite thing about this salad is definitely the dressing.  I'm telling you, you're going to want to throw this on everything.  It's about as simple as a dressing can get - just olive oil, lemon, hemp seeds, salt and pepper - but the flavor is amazing.

    Simplicity has to be the best thing about spring cooking.  (Or maybe I should say lack of cooking?)

    To make things even easier on yourself, whisk together a double/triple/quadruple batch of this dressing and store it in the fridge for up to a week.  Toss it with roasted vegetables, use it in a quinoa salad, or drizzle over avocado toast.  You won't regret it.

    Seasonal Springtime Asparagus Salad with Lemon Hemp Vinaigrette (vegan) from The Grateful Grazer.

    Seasonal Springtime Asparagus Salad with Lemon Hemp Vinaigrette (vegan) from The Grateful Grazer.

    Beyond delicious springtime flavor, this salad also acts as an excellent source of antioxidants like vitamin A and vitamin C, which work to help clear up cellular damage that when left unchecked, can increase risk for chronic diseases like cancer.  This salad is also a rich source of iron, an essential mineral of concern for many vegetarians and vegans.

    You'll also get plenty of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, which provide long-lasting energy and assist with nutrient absorption, and gut-healthy fiber, which improves digestion and aids in detoxification.

    Seasonal Springtime Asparagus Salad with Lemon Hemp Vinaigrette (vegan) from The Grateful Grazer.

    With fresh flavors from lemon and mint, this salad could be the perfect addition to your Easter and/or springtime entertaining menu.

    The fact that you threw together this incredibly nourishing and colorful seasonal salad in under 10 minutes can be our little secret.

    Springtime Asparagus Salad with Lemon Hemp Dressing

    This springtime asparagus salad is the freshest way to bring in the new spring season. Fresh, seasonal veggies are tossed in a simple lemon dressing with hemp seeds.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Save Saved! Rate
    Course: entree, Salad, side
    Cuisine: easter, gluten-free, Holiday, Spring, vegan
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Author: Stephanie McKercher, RDN

    Ingredients

    Salad:

    • 2 cups arugula, roughly chopped
    • 1 pound asparagus, quartered (1 bunch)
    • 1 ¼ cups cooked peas
    • 6 radishes, thinly sliced
    • 2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves

    Dressing:

    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon lemon peel
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 2 tablespoons hemp seeds
    • Salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • Add salad ingredients to a large bowl. Whisk together dressing in separate bowl and then toss with salad. Top with additional lemon zest and hemp seeds if desired.

    Prepare the salad:

    • Combine arugula, asparagus, peas, radish, and mint. 

    Prepare the dressing:

    • In a separate bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon peel, lemon juice, hemp seeds, and salt and pepper. 
    • Pour dressing over salad and toss until evenly coated. 

    Notes

    Ingredient substitutions:
    Substitute baby spinach for arugula for a milder-tasting salad. 
    Storage:
    Cover and refrigerate salad and dressing in separate airtight containers for up to 2-3 days. Combine salad and dressing immediately before serving. 
    Tried this recipe? Tag me on Instagram!Mention @GratefulGrazer or tag #gratefulgrazer.

    [clickToTweet tweet="Celebrate spring with a light and refreshing springtime asparagus salad with lemon dressing!" quote="Celebrate spring with a light and refreshing springtime asparagus salad with lemon dressing!"]

    « Favorite Sweet Potato Hummus Sandwich
    Spiralized Sweet Potato Spring Rolls with Sesame Soy Sauce »
    1.2K shares
    • Share
    • Tweet

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Bernadette M Morrissey says

      June 14, 2021 at 9:54 am

      I especially liked the dressing!

      Reply
      • Stephanie McKercher, RDN says

        June 18, 2021 at 10:43 am

        Thanks, Bernadette! So glad you enjoyed it.

        Reply
    2. Lizzie Streit | It's a Veg World After All says

      March 17, 2018 at 12:16 pm

      Mmmmm I love mint in salads! Looks so delicious and perfect for Spring.

      Reply
      • Stephanie McKercher, RDN says

        March 20, 2018 at 9:15 am

        Thanks, Lizzie! Mint is probably my favorite herb for spring. Love those fresh flavors!

        Reply
    3. Brittany Poulson says

      March 16, 2018 at 11:34 am

      This is such a pretty salad! It looks so refreshing! I haven't tried raw asparagus in a salad like this before!

      Reply
      • Stephanie McKercher, RDN says

        March 20, 2018 at 9:13 am

        Thanks so much, Brittany! I love raw veggies in spring. They're SO refreshing!

        Reply
    4. Piper says

      May 20, 2017 at 1:51 am

      Hi Steph,
      This looks great! I'm going to make it for a family gathering tomorrow.
      Question: you mentioned avocado in the beginning, however I don't see it listed in ingredients. Should I include avocado?
      Also, do I cook the asparagus first?
      Thanks so much!

      Reply
      • Stephanie McKercher, RDN says

        May 21, 2017 at 2:05 pm

        Thanks for letting me know, Piper! I just kept the asparagus raw, and I was thinking about avocado, but changed my mind last minute—thanks for catching! Feel free to add the avocado if you want, I think it'd be delicious! Enjoy!

        Reply
    5. Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      March 25, 2016 at 2:01 pm

      Peas, arugula, the mint, the hemp! Sounds perfect to me! So fresh!

      Reply
      • Steph | The Grateful Grazer says

        March 29, 2016 at 10:40 am

        Thanks, Rebecca! I definitely rounded up all of my favorite spring veggies for this one! 🙂

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    I accept the Privacy Policy

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hello! My name is Stephanie. I'm a registered dietitian, recipe developer, and cookbook author. Here on Grateful Grazer, you'll find easy, plant-forward recipes, vegetarian nutrition information, and approachable guides to meal planning and prep.

    Learn more →

    Popular Right Now:

    • Pickled Watermelon Rind
    • Vanilla Matcha Latte
    • Easy Edamame Crunch Salad
    • Berry Coconut Water Smoothie
    • One-Pot Yellow Split Pea Soup
    • 31 Best Healthy and Easy Vegetarian Lunches for Work
    • Berry Dragon Fruit Smoothie
    • Vegan Pasta Primavera
    • Easy Quick Pickled Radishes with Vinegar and Garlic
    • Vegetarian Freezer Meals

    Fourth of July Recipes:

    • Summer Strawberry Salad with Chickpeas and Mozzarella
    • Tomato Mozzarella Sandwiches with Blueberry Balsamic Reduction
    • Caprese Pizza with Garlic Herb Crust
    • Vegan Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice Cream Bars

    Footer

    Grateful Grazer

    • About
    • Blog
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe

    Work with Me

    • Media Partnerships
    • Media Highlights
    • Contact

    Resources

    • FREE: 100+ Meal Prep Ideas
    • FREE: Grocery List
    • Meal Prep Ebook
    • Cookbook

    Health information is for educational purposes only. Nutrition facts are estimates only.

    Privacy Policy | Disclosure Policy | Terms and Conditions

    Copyright © 2022 The Grateful Grazer, LLC