Combine the best of spring and summer in this Barely-Steamed Asparagus with Basil Vinaigrette, and don't miss my trick for using more of the asparagus stems!
Over the last ten years so many foods that used to be strictly seasonal have now become available much longer, and while nothing can replace the fresh goodness of early spring asparagus, having asparagus available into the summer makes it possible to pair it with fresh summer basil for amazing combinations like this Barely Steamed Asparagus with Basil Vinaigrette.
If you're a regular reader you know I'm a huge fan of Basil Vinaigrette for drizzling on tomatoes, and I promise this asparagus with basil vinaigrette is just as wonderful. If you don't have fresh basil available you can use purchased basil pesto to make the dressing, although I love the intense basil flavor of the dressing made with basil puree.
And you may want to make extra basil vinaigrette because it's good on so many things like Artichoke Antipasto Salad, Tomato, Olive, and Fresh Mozzarella Salad, Grilled Halibut, Green Bean Summer Salad, Hearts of Palm Salad, and Grilled Zucchini Caprese Stacks, to name just a few. (Check the search results for basil vinaigrette for even more ideas if you really get hooked on the basil vinaigrette!)
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If you're a regular reader you know I'm a huge fan of Basil Vinaigrette for drizzling on tomatoes, and I promise this asparagus with basil vinaigrette is just as wonderful. If you don't have fresh basil available you can use purchased basil pesto to make the dressing, although I love the intense basil flavor of the dressing made with basil puree.
And you may want to make extra basil vinaigrette because it's good on so many things like Artichoke Antipasto Salad, Tomato, Olive, and Fresh Mozzarella Salad, Grilled Halibut, Green Bean Summer Salad, Hearts of Palm Salad, and Grilled Zucchini Caprese Stacks, to name just a few. (Check the search results for basil vinaigrette for even more ideas if you really get hooked on the basil vinaigrette!)