Spinach, Asparagus & Fennel Salad

Loaded with good-for-you greens and plenty of flavor, this Spinach, Asparagus & Fennel Salad with a delish tarragon dressing is the perfect starter to a decadent meal or enjoy this hearty salad on its own for lunch or brunch.

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This bright, fresh, and lively salad is loaded with springtime favorites. Grassy asparagus pairs nicely with the baby spinach, and the licorice notes in the fennel complement the tarragon in the dressing. The best part of this salad is that you can get the greens and dressing ready ahead of time and then assemble it before you’re ready to eat.

What You Need To Make Spinach, Asparagus & Fennel Salad

• Baby spinach – Use fresh leaves for the best texture; older leaves can be bitter.
• Asparagus – Use fresh asparagus and blanch it quickly then chill it in ice water. Frozen asparagus is too watery for this salad.
• Fennel – Thin slices are ideal; save fronds for garnish if you like an herbal note.

For the dressing:

• Olive oil – Use good-quality olive oil for the best flavor; avocado oil works as a swap.
• Mayonnaise – Helps the dressing cling; Greek yogurt is a safe lighter substitute.
• White wine vinegar – You can use apple cider vinegar if you don’t have white wine vinegar, but the flavor will be slightly different.
• Dried tarragon – This is one of those spices that you never use until you need it, and this recipe needs it. Nothing else has the flavor of tarragon. If you can find fresh tarragon, that’s even better, but you’ll need to use a bit more.
• Dried chives – Fresh chives are fine; add at the end so flavor stays bright.
• Garlic powder – Use garlic powder, not garlic salt, to avoid adding too much salt and keep the flavor balanced.
• Shallot – Sweet onion is a safe substitute; slice thinly to avoid overpowering.
• Salt and pepper – Season to taste; I cook with kosher salt.

How To Make This Easy Spinach Salad

For a full list of ingredients and instructions, please scroll down to the recipe at the end of this page.

1. Cut the stems off the fennel – you just want the bulb. Peel off the outer layer, then use a mandolin or sharp knife to shave the fennel into thin strips. Sprinkle the fennel strips with salt and place them on a few layers of paper towel. You’re draining some of the moisture from the fennel.
2. Trim the asparagus and cut them into 1-inch pieces. Bring a salted pot of water to a boil then blanch the asparagus for 1 minute. Drain the asparagus and chill it in an ice bath. Drain and set aside when cold.
3. Meanwhile, make the dressing. Finely chop the shallot and place the ingredients into a jar with a tightly fitting lid and shake to emulsify everything. Alternatively, use a whisk and bowl to whisk it together.
4. To assemble the salad, place a bed of spinach on a plate and top with artfully arranged fennel slices and chilled asparagus. Drizzle with the dressing and dig in!
5. Alternatively, you can toss the spinach, fennel, and asparagus in a large bowl and dress the salad with some of the dressing (you can always add more later to taste) and serve it that way.

Chef Jenn’s Tips

• Baby spinach is my first pick for this asparagus salad recipe. I always wash and spin dry even bagged baby spinach.
• The asparagus can be prepped a few days ahead, as can the dressing.
• Dried tarragon has a much better flavor than fresh tarragon. It is more concentrated which is what you want in this dressing.
• Top the salad with some lemon zest for a pretty presentation.
• Learn how to cook asparagus like a pro!

What To Serve With This Spinach, Asparagus & Fennel Salad

You can enjoy this salad as a main meal – it’ll make two entree-sized portions, or serve it as a side to smoked beef tenderloin, braised short ribs, or a Mediterranean chicken bake. I also like to keep things light, and this hamachi crudo is fabulous with this salad.

Variations

This is already one of the best spinach salads, but you can really jazz it up with a few of these ideas:

• Add crumbled feta or goat cheese to the top
• Add toasted nuts to the spinach salad
• Top your Spinach, Asparagus and Fennel salad with grilled shrimp

How To Make this Spinach Salad Vegan

The only non-vegan ingredient in this recipe is mayonnaise. Use your favorite vegan mayonnaise to make this spinach and asparagus salad vegan.

Frequently Asked Questions