Name: Spring Strawberry Asparagus Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons olive oil; 1½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice; ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard; ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste; ¼ teaspoon black pepper, or to taste; 10 stems fresh asparagus, cut into 1-inch (2-3 cm) chunks; ½ small to medium bulb fennel, thinly sliced; 4 handfuls fresh arugula (rocket); 6 fresh strawberries, sliced; 6 slices baguette; 4 ounces goat cheese (approximately one small round with rind)

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Key Takeaways
Why Everyone Loves This Spring Salad
Seasonal Treasures: Understanding the Ingredients
Spring Nutrition Benefits You’ll Love
Styling and Serving Your Spring Salad Creation
Make-Ahead Tips and Storage Solutions
Creative Variations on This Spring Salad
Final Thoughts from Betty Cooks

Key Takeaways

This stunning spring salad with fresh asparagus and strawberries delivers restaurant-quality results in just 15 minutes of total preparation time. The combination of crisp greens, tender asparagus, juicy strawberries, and a bright lemon vinaigrette creates a perfectly balanced dish that works as both a light lunch and an elegant side. Whether you’re looking for an easy salad recipe for busy weeknights or an impressive dish for entertaining, this spring salad checks every box. Betty Cooks brings you this timeless recipe that celebrates the best of seasonal produce while remaining incredibly simple to prepare.

Why Everyone Loves This Spring Salad

When spring arrives, there’s nothing quite like the excitement of discovering fresh, vibrant produce at your local farmers market. This spring salad recipe captures that seasonal magic in a single, beautiful bowl. The moment you taste the combination of sweet strawberries against the delicate earthiness of fresh asparagus, you’ll understand why this has become a beloved favorite for many home cooks. The contrast of textures—from the crunch of fennel to the tender quality of lightly steamed asparagus—creates an eating experience that feels both sophisticated and wonderfully approachable.

Betty Cooks created this recipe to showcase what makes spring produce so special. Unlike heavy, warm-weather salads, this spring salad offers refreshing flavors that pair beautifully with the transitional weather of the season. You can enjoy it as a quick lunch on a busy day, serve it at a garden party, or present it as a stunning side dish alongside grilled proteins. The versatility of this easy salad recipe means it works for any occasion, from casual family dinners to more formal gatherings.

Seasonal Treasures: Understanding the Ingredients

Each ingredient in this spring salad serves a specific purpose, creating a harmonious blend of flavors and textures. Fresh asparagus, available primarily in spring, brings a subtle earthiness and satisfying crunch that forms the backbone of this dish. When you steam asparagus just until tender, you preserve its delicate flavor while making it easier to eat alongside the other ingredients.

The strawberries provide unexpected sweetness that elevates the entire eating experience. Many people think of strawberries as purely dessert ingredients, but their gentle sweetness actually complements salad components beautifully. The lemon vinaigrette brings brightness and acidity that balances the sweetness of the fruit while highlighting the natural flavors of fresh asparagus. Arugula contributes a peppery bite, while thinly sliced fennel adds a crisp crunch and subtle anise flavor. Together, these ingredients create an easy salad recipe that tastes far more complex than its preparation suggests.

The goat cheese toasts deserve special mention as the crowning glory of this spring salad. Creamy, tangy goat cheese becomes warm and melty when briefly broiled, adding richness that transforms the salad from simple to something truly memorable. While optional, these toasts take your spring salad from weekday lunch to special-occasion worthy.

Spring Nutrition Benefits You’ll Love

Beyond its delicious taste, this spring salad offers impressive nutritional benefits that make it an excellent choice for health-conscious diners. Fresh asparagus contains folate, vitamins A, C, and K, along with beneficial fiber. Strawberries provide vitamin C, antioxidants, and natural sweetness without excess calories. The leafy greens contribute minerals and phytonutrients while keeping the overall calorie count low.

When you choose to make this easy salad recipe, you’re selecting a meal that nourishes your body while satisfying your taste buds. The combination of vegetables, fruits, and healthy fats from olive oil creates a complete, balanced dish. Unlike many salads that leave you hungry, the protein from goat cheese and the fiber from vegetables ensure lasting satisfaction. This spring salad proves that healthy eating doesn’t require sacrifice—it simply requires choosing quality, seasonal ingredients prepared with care.

Styling and Serving Your Spring Salad Creation

Presentation matters when serving this spring salad, and fortunately, the natural colors make beautiful plating almost effortless. The vibrant green arugula and asparagus provide a stunning backdrop for the bright red strawberries. Arrange your salad on individual plates rather than serving family-style to create a more elegant presentation. The golden-brown goat cheese toasts arranged around the salad add visual interest and promise delicious flavor.

When serving this spring salad at a gathering, consider keeping the components slightly separate so guests can appreciate each element. This easy salad recipe works beautifully as part of a larger spring menu. Pair it with grilled chicken or salmon for a complete meal, or serve it as a light starter before a main course. The bright, fresh flavors prepare the palate beautifully for heavier dishes that might follow.

Make-Ahead Tips and Storage Solutions

One of the best features of this easy salad recipe is that it adapts well to make-ahead preparation. You can wash and dry your greens the day before, slice your fennel and asparagus hours in advance, and even prepare the lemon vinaigrette a day ahead. Keeping these components separate allows you to assemble your spring salad quickly when you’re ready to eat.

The one component you should prepare last is the strawberries. While they can be sliced a few hours in advance, they’re best used relatively soon after cutting to prevent softening. The goat cheese toasts require just a few minutes of preparation immediately before serving, ensuring they remain warm and perfectly melted. This spring salad travels remarkably well if you keep the dressing and toasts separate—perfect for packed lunches or picnics.

Creative Variations on This Spring Salad

While this spring salad recipe is perfect as written, the beauty of simple recipes lies in their adaptability. Consider these variations to keep things interesting: substitute the arugula with spinach, watercress, or spring greens if you prefer milder flavors. Replace fennel with thinly shaved radishes for a peppery crunch, or add toasted nuts for additional texture. During late spring and early summer, fresh peas make an excellent addition that enhances the seasonal theme.

For those who prefer dairy-free options, this spring salad works beautifully without the goat cheese toasts—simply increase the quantity of greens or add grilled chicken. You might also experiment with different vinaigrettes: a balsamic reduction offers earthiness, while a honey mustard dressing provides different sweetness. The base of fresh asparagus and strawberries anchors all variations, making this an easy salad recipe that grows more interesting with each interpretation. Visit Betty Cooks at https://www.bettycooks.com for additional spring recipe ideas and variations that celebrate seasonal eating.

Final Thoughts from Betty Cooks

This spring salad represents everything we love about seasonal cooking: simplicity, freshness, and unforgettable flavor. In just 15 minutes, you can create a dish that looks like it came from an upscale restaurant and tastes like springtime in a bowl. Whether you’re planning a special dinner, packing lunch for the week, or simply craving something fresh and delicious, this easy salad recipe delivers every single time.

Betty Cooks encourages home cooks of all levels to embrace the pleasure of seasonal eating. When you choose produce at its peak and prepare it simply, with quality ingredients and a bit of care, you create meals that nourish both body and soul. This spring salad is more than just food—it’s a celebration of the season, a gift to yourself and those you serve, and proof that the best recipes often come from the simplest ideas. Try this recipe today and discover why fresh asparagus, strawberries, and a bright lemon dressing have captivated cooks for generations.

More Spring Recipes from Betty Cooks

Once you’ve mastered this spring salad, explore other seasonal dishes that celebrate spring produce. Betty Cooks offers a complete collection of recipes featuring fresh asparagus in soups, pastas, and side dishes. Discover new ways to incorporate strawberries beyond desserts, and learn techniques for preparing vegetables that highlight their natural flavors. Visit https://www.bettycooks.com to access the full collection of spring recipes and seasonal cooking inspiration.

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