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British Asparagus, spinach, beetroot and halloumi salad

Hooray – foodies up and down the land are celebrating the start of British Asparagus season. It’s here for just a short window of time, officially from 23rd April to 21st June 2014 and I, for one, have been spotting lots of it when out and about. Fortunately, the asparagus season this year coincides with the last six weeks of my pregnancy, which is lucky, since my craving have shifted from sweet to savoury. Possibly something to do with a chocolate overload at Easter…At 34 weeks my body also needs more Vitamin K and iron – which I’ve been able to pack into this asparagus and spinach salad in abundance. For anyone after a quick superfood boost, asparagus contains a whole host of good stuff; soluble fibre, potassium and folic acid (it’s the leading vegetable for this!) along with rutin, which when combined with vitamin C, can protect the body from infection. Other pregnancy superfoods that could be added to this simple salad include strawberries, blueberries, apricots, tofu (replace the halloumi), lightly steamed broccoli and sunflower seeds.

Asparagus Salad

Asparagus Salad

British Asparagus, Spinach, Beetroot and Halloumi Salad

Ren Behan
A superfood salad bringing together British asparagus with baby spinach, beetroot, grilled halloumi and pomegranate seeds.
4 from 4 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 250 g fresh asparagus
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
  • 250 g halloumi cheese
  • 100 g baby spinach
  • 200 g salad beetroot
  • 100 g pomegranate seeds
  • 2 tsp pomegranate molasses
  • 3 tsp cold pressed rapeseed oil

Instructions
 

  • Add one teaspoon cold pressed rapeseed oil or olive oil to a frying pan. Cook the asparagus for two-three minutes until it starts to take on a little colour and soften. Sprinkle with the lemon zest towards the end. Remove from the pan and set aside.
  • Add the sliced halloumi to the pan - you may want to cook it in batches so as not to overcrowd the pan. Cook for two minutes on one side and then flip the slices over.
  • Scatter the baby spinach over a large plate, roughly chop the beetroot and add, then scatter over the pomegranate seeds, the warm asparagus and warm halloumi cheese.
  • For the dressing, mix a little pomegranate molasses with some rapeseed or olive oil and pour over the top of the salad.

Asparagus Salad

More Asparagus Recipes

British asparagus and mozzarella salad by Ren

Fresh pasta with goat’s cheese, lemon and asparagus – by Ren

Lemony new potato wedges with asparagus – by Helen at Fuss Free Flavours

Roasted asparagus with a carrot-miso dressing – by Kellie at Food to Glow

Another amazing superfood salad, which I adore, is this Smoked mackerel, beetroot and potato salad (use in season Jersey Royals if you are in the UK) by Jeanne at Cook Sister.

I’m also extremely grateful to Michelle at Utterly Scrummy for hosting April’s Simple and in Season – providing me with a little respite. There have been lots of simple, seasonal entries from all over the globe including plenty of wild garlic, nettle and asparagus recipes, too!

Simple and in Season

What are you looking forward to making with your British asparagus?!

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19 Comments

  1. 3 stars
    Gorgeous, simple and easy to put together, fabulous photograph – as usual if I may add!Lovely and light for pregnancy savoury cravings too I guess!
    I love asparagus sauteed in a little butter and sprinkled with some sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper so good!

  2. This is definitely one for our house of halloumi junkies… i’ll never get bored of it, not never! Need to dust off my pomegranate molasses as it’s lurking at the back of the cupboard all winter!

    1. Ren Behan says:

      Ha ha, halloumi junikies, us too!

  3. This looks like just my kind of salad, with all my favourite ingredients. I am so happy about asparagus season too. In fact, I shall be having some with my jerk chicken tonight. Not the most traditional pairing, but delicious all the same.

    1. Ren Behan says:

      Lovely, it’s funny how actually asparagus goes with so many things we don’t automatically think of first. Hope you enjoy your punchy jerk chicken 🙂

    1. Ren Behan says:

      Thank you Sarah, simple but super-tasty! An overload of chocolate recently.

  4. 5 stars
    Your salad sounds and looks divine. I love all the flavours and ingredients. Must get some halloumi! PS Thanks for the link-love. It is an old pic if anyone clicks through – not such great lighting!

    1. Ren Behan says:

      It’s such a lovely flavour combination though, Kellie, the carrot and miso. I didn’t notice it was such an old post, was just intrigued by the recipe!

  5. Oh this looks stunning and super healthy. A perfect pregnancy pick me up. I also love Jeanne’s salad with the beet and mackerel. With quick dishes like this it’s so easy to eat healthily isn’t it

    1. Ren Behan says:

      Thank you Urvashi, it was a lovely pick me up and I’m looking forward to Jeanne’s mackerel and beetroot salad, too.

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