Grilled Asparagus, Peppers ‘n Tomato Salad
While those of you who endure frigid winters are craving garden-fresh produce such as asparagus, peppers and tomatoes, “we Floridians” are in our glory as these veggie gems are plentiful. So although I created this recipe smack in the middle of January, I waited until Summer to share it with you. Grilling just about any vegetable produces a rich caramelized taste unmatched by any other cooking method. Once you see how easy the process is, you’ll be forever hooked.
Ingredients
Salad
- Olive oil for grilling not extra-virgin
- 1 pound asparagus tough ends trimmed off
- 4 large bell peppers Red, yellow and orange are really pretty!
- 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes I used a mixture of both in red and yellow.
- 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese
- 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh herbs such as dill, parsley, mint, cilantro, thyme, marjoram, etc.
Dressing
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Grilling Asparagus: lightly brush asparagus with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Prepare grill for medium heat. Place asparagus in a grill pan. (Or place over direct heat if asparagus are thick enough to not fall through the grates.) Grill asparagus for 5 minutes or until nicely charred. Turn asparagus over and continue grilling for 5 minutes or until they reach desired doneness.
- On a large serving platter, arrange grilled asparagus, peppers and tomatoes. Sprinkle with goat cheese, pine nuts and herbs. Drizzle salad lightly with extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Notes
Make Ahead and Storage Tips: asparagus, peppers and tomatoes may be grilled up to 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Salad may be assembled (undressed) up to 4 hours before serving. Cover and refrigerate. Before serving, drizzle with oil and vinegar. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Grilled peppers and tomatoes are wonderful in salads and sauces and are a great addition to pasta dishes. Consider grilling additional peppers for use in future dishes as they freeze well. Grilled asparagus also would be a super-easy and healthy side dish.
Have fun experimenting with different varieties and sizes of tomatoes. Large yellow tomatoes add a pleasing “pop” of color while heirlooms make an absolutely beautiful presentation.
Another lovely dish using grilled peppers and tomatoes is Grilled Pepper Caprese Salad.