Warm Asparagus Salad

This healthy side dish is easy to make but impressive enough for holiday dinners. Walnuts, Parmesan and garlic combine for toasty, savory flavors and a little bit of crunch. Asparagus is low in calories but packs a nutritional punch. Half a cup provides 57% of your recommended daily intake of Vitamin K, essential for bone health. It also provides substantial amounts of folate, vitamin A and C. In addition, asparagus is rich in flavonoids, antioxidants that combat aging and chronic disease.

Makes: 8-10 servings
Time to cook: 20 minutes

Ingredients

Kosher salt

2 bunches asparagus, trimmed, peeled, cut into 1½ to 2 inch long diagonal pieces

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped

1 tablespoon minced garlic

Cracked black pepper

1 cup shaved Parmesan cheese

Juice of 1 lemon 

Cooking Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and fill a large bowl with ice water.

2. Add the asparagus to the boiling water and cook until just tender and bright green, 1-2 minutes. Drain and transfer to the ice water. Once cooled, drain and pat dry and add to a medium bowl.

3. Heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium heat; add the walnuts and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until just golden, about 1-2 minutes. Pour mixture over the asparagus and toss to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

4. To serve, transfer asparagus to a platter and scatter Parmesan on top. Drizzle with lemon juice and serve immediately.

Nutrition per serving
211 calories; 19 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 8 grams monounsaturated fat; 7 grams polyunsaturated fat; 5 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 1 gram sugars; 8 grams protein; 206 milligrams sodium.

Recipe by Kardea Brown, The Food Network