Raise your hand if your New Year’s Resolution was to
EAT HEALTHY
Raise your hand if you had the fortitude to actually
EAT HEALTHY
You see, I check my Stats every now and then and I’ve noticed a trend…
Whenever there are photographs of, say.. a decadent brownie, scrumptious cookie or a luscious cake
than when I post…
A HEALTHY SALAD
I had to wonder…
- What is it that makes us drool longingly at photos of desserts worth a few billion calories?
- What perverse and twisted part of our brain wants to torture ourselves?
- Would this be considered “virtual” cheating?
- Does it entice us to break down and indulge or does it satisfy our craving… without the calories?
Enough said.. today I’m going to nudge you us back in the right direction…
with a recipe for a salad that is loaded with some of the stuff that your our mom told you us was good for us…
♥
Good stuff.. like those found in this Spring Asparagus Ribbons Salad:
dark lettuce greens, grapefruit, avocado, asparagus, radishes
♥
It almost looks like a dessert
…without the billion calories
(if you use the dressing sparingly)
♥
Don’t panic… I still have more dessert recipes up my sleeve;)
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt or low fat sour cream
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 3-4 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 head butter lettuce
- 1 grapefruit
- 1 avocado, cut into chunks
- 1/2 cucumber, sliced thinly
- 4 radishes, sliced thinly
- 1 bunch asparagus
- Prepare the dressing. Finely mince or press garlic cloves. Sprinkle with salt. Using the flat edge of your knife at a slight angle, drag and scrap the salt and garlic together to blend and create a paste.
- In a small bowl, whisk together this garlic paste, the yogurt or sour cream, olive oil and lemon juice until well blended.
- Rinse butter lettuce leaves, pat dry and arrange on a serving platter. Cut of the top and bottom of the grapefruit then cut away the remaining rind. Using a sharp paring knife, slice between one grapefruit section and its membrane. Repeat on the other side of the section and remove. Continue to cut and remove the remaining sections of grapefruit. Retain the remaining grapefruit pulp.
- Top the bed of lettuce with grapefruit sections. Add the avocado pieces, cucumber and radish slices. Squeeze the remaining pulp of the grapefruit to drizzle juice all over your salad.
- Holding each asparagus stalk lightly, snap in two to remove the tougher portion. Then, using a sharp paring knife, pull away most of the “thorns” on the edge of the asparagus stalks. Lay the stalk on a cutting board, using a vegetable peeler, cut from stem to top to make strips of asparagus. Repeat until each stalk has been made into ribbons.
- Arrange the ribbons atop the salad. Put the dressing on the side or drizzle over and serve immediately.
- Adapted from Better Homes and Gardens
I have this on my list of salads to make while asparagus is in season (just love asparagus). Your photos are lovely. And, I think if we eat a beautiful salad like this with just a splash of dressing then hopefully we can indulge in a small dessert. Well, thay’s my plan anyways. 🙂
I like that plan!!
beats me… I often wonder the same, I get more hits and pins if the post is about ultra caloric stuff…:-)
I can only speak for myself, I love to look at those posts, and drool over the pictures, but I am more inclined to actually download and make a recipe like this one you posted today. It is. exactly the type of food I like to eat. “for real”, so…. keep them coming!
Now that’s so true.. it’s interesting to see which recipes are downloaded as well!
Oh my goodness. As good as the brownies look, I have to say I would SO eat this instead. Hubby has a horrible sweet tooth, and he’s been indulging a lot lately, so I think I’m just tired of those things for now. I’ll be posting a lot less of those in the near future -which will no doubt bring my views down too. Funny how that works…
This looks incredibly refreshing….I can’t wait for asparagus season to start!
What a beautiful salad Smidge. But the brownies look so good too. Which one would I click on more??? I don’t think I want to know the answer! That is a beautiful colourful refreshing looking salad though. I’m sure it was delicious but probably you should serve the brownies after for dessert. xx
I’ve witnessed the same numbers Smidge…I always figured people like looking at what they can’t have…not as a form of self-torture but rather as an occasion to savor with their eyes, take a deep sighing breath, then turn away. A practice in self-discipline. Maybe in publishing these gorgeous multi-million calorie posts you’ve been performing a much-needed public service. For this, our indebtedness to you is boundless! Thank you Smidge!
(And, by the way, this salad is better-than-brownies gorgeous! I Love it!)
I don’t know, Smidge. It is possible that people have their own ways of making salads and search more often for special desserts or treats. I know I most often do searches when I’m looking for how to handle unusual ingredients like the fresh chicory leaves I got last week. I read your blog every week to look at the photos and read the recipes, sometimes to marvel at what you have done with frosting…
You must be a professional photographer. Your photos are amazing! That is so funny that you noticed the rise in views with chocolate!
It looks wonderful and healthy and I had my hand raised the whole time 😉 I try to eat healthy but at the same time I love to bake which drives my husband crazy 🙂 I usually give away most of my sweets and keep the healthy ones …I try….haha. Jen
What a great salad, Smidge! Asparagus is just starting to hit our store shelves, so, your timing couldn’t be better. More that anything, I want to try your salad dressing. That sounds wonderful!
[…] Spring Ribbon Salad […]
Avo. Ca. Do. YUM!
This salad is simple, healthy and beautifully presented – lovely recipe 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Wonderful recipe Barb! I actually just bought a bunch of asparagus from the CFM and … well… didn’t really know what to do, they just looked really pretty. 🙂
I might drool over the brownies, but I love the look of the salad, and it is more inspirational 🙂
Beautiful salad
Beautiful salad
Oh, I really like how those asparagus ribbons look! And in my book, avocados are a dessert. And eye candy, too. Especially when they’re photographed this nicely.
When I’m in a masochistic mood I hit ‘thisiswhyyourehuge.com’.
Beautiful recipes… beautiful photographs and poetical touches I loved as always your post, dear Barbara, Thank you, have a nice day, with my love, nia
This salad looks great. I love using asparagus or zucchini ribbons in my salads. They taste delicious and also add a very sophisticated look. Great recipe.
Guess what’s for lunch! I have some marinated artichokes I can throw in there, too! 🙂
That salad is drool worthy too. I love red grapefruit and avocado. Together? Even better. Oh and throw in asparagus, awesome.
Ha! Great way to monitor stats. I just check them to see who’s subscribed. And, I’ll definitely be checking in more on non-brownie posts if the salads have avocado like the one you posted today!
The Chocolate got my attention. However, I am pleasantly surprised that the thought of a light salad with avocado and citrus was just as satisfying. Now I don’t even have guilt that I have been bad or overindulged. Your avocado is perfectly ripe. In Hong Kong their avocados are way over ripe and brown or hard as rocks and never ripen. I have heard it your put the avocado still whole in the microwave for just a few seconds it helps them ripen. Have you tried or heard of this trick?
I had my hand raised the whole time too, haha! I try my best to eat healthy but I just have the best recipe for a warm brownie that’s perfect with vanilla ice cream. I posted it so others can share its goodness, mwahahaha!
Great post!
I have all the ingredients necessary to make this salad but was going to use them in another dish. I think I’ll divide and concur (both).
I love shaved asparagus!
I raised my hand – once only – it was one of my resolutions to eat a healthier diet this year. Generally speaking my diet is good but I am prone to temptation, chocolate brownies being a prime example. This post inspires me to start eating more salads as your Spring asparagus salad looks delicious and sounds easy to prepare. 😉
Lovely salad! I sure need a nudge in the right direction! 😀
What a great looking salad, Barbara; our temperatures are going to soar toward 20°C by the weekend, I am so excited. I have to admit, I am one of the few who adore salads…I even order them when I eat out, I just wish they wouldn’t dress them so heavily in restaurants.
I was tricked into reading this post! But it’s ok, because I love avocados!
I guess I’m in the minority because a great salad catches my attention every time!! I do love desserts, but I’m always looking for creative, delicious salad recipes….and this one as beautiful as it sounds soo good!!
Hah! Love your deep thought there at the beginning – I was wondering why my reader was showing me a preview picture of brownies for the salad. 🙂 I think the salad looks lovely, and will check out any of your recipes whether healthy or not.
THat’s so true about views spiking up whenever naughty sweet recipes are posted but you’ll hopefully be pleased to know that it was your salad title that drew me in because I love them. Plus you’ve got a generous amount of avocados in yours, which gets my vote!
This is so gorgeous!!!! I just love avocado. Do you think I could substitute watermelon for the grapefruit? 🙂 I tell you I like coming her for desserts and healthy meals – they’re all so beautifully done.
It would be worth trying, but I think the citrus in the grapefruit helped keep my avocado from turning brown.. not a big deal if you’re eating the salad right away? xo
Sparg (asparagus), as I call it is one of the most wonderful veggies! It is so good for you, and is so underutilized! Thank you for this lovely recipe. I have never seen an asparagus ribbon salad.
Hi Barbara!
This salad is a work of art!!
That is the most gorgeous salad I have ever seen. The photography is really artistic as well. I would swoon for and drool over this salad any day.
Just look at that avocado and the asparagus in this salad. I LOVE IT. Perfect for lunch as well. And you know how I love a nice brownie 🙂
Two of my favourites in one salad — how could I not love it? Your salad and your photographs are beautiful. I’m so glad I found your site!
Beautiful salad! Wonderful photos.
Fabulous – exactly my kind of salad, and when it looks this beautiful you know it has to be so good for you too!
Ok, this looks FANTASTIC!!!! Must try. Besides, I love fixing avacado…it’s so fun!
Sounds like a perfect use for my newly bearing asparagus plants… Your photos are gorgeous as always…
Wow! This is a very refreshing salad and I just love the avocado in it. Slicing the cucumber thinly is a great idea. Can’t wait to try this salad! 😉
Uh-oh! If you’re going to hold me responsible for my *virtual* lust I’m doomed. But I don’t limit it to only sweet foods, if that’s any consolation . . . 🙂
Asparagus and avocado – YUM!
wow, that salad looks wonderful! Thanks for sharing 🙂
You make me want to voluntarily eat salad !!!
[…] Spring Asparagus Ribbons Salad from Just a Smidgen […]
[…] Spring Asparagus Ribbons Salad from Just a Smidgen […]
[…] Note: I made my Asparagus Ribbons Salad last night and the Green Goddess Dressing was a match made in […]