Grilled Asparagus Salad with Sticky Walnuts

HomeClinics & ProgramsELLICSR KitchenGrilled Asparagus Salad with Sticky Walnuts

Skill Level	Easy

Preparation Time	10 minutes	Total Time	25 minutes
Servings	4	Cost Per Serving	$1.35

1 bunch	Asparagus, remove 1 1/2 inches off the bottom, cut in half
1/4 cup	Walnuts
1/4 cup	Fresh Mint or Parsley
2 tbsp	Parmesan Cheese, grated
1 tsp	Honey
1/2	Lemon, juice and zest
1 tbsp	Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 tsp	Sea Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Place a large sauté pan over medium high heat.
Add asparagus and a pinch of salt. Cook for about 5 minutes until cooked through but still tender. Remove from pan and add to a bowl. Dress with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
Add walnuts and remove pan from the heat. Drizzle with honey, stir and add to bowl with asparagus.
Dress with remaining ingredients and serve.

PDF link to nutrition facts table for Grilled Asparagus with Sticky Walnuts recipe

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a balanced diet includes a balance of the 5 tastes: bitter, salty, umami, sweet and sour. Foods with different tastes are used to help provide balance to the body. For cancer survivors who are experiencing taste changes, it is recommended to try using opposite flavours to help manage a taste change. For example, if food tastes too bitter, adding something sweet to it can help balance the flavor. Including a variety of flavours in your diet can also help improve appetite.
Walnuts are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, with ¼ cup providing 100% of the omega-3s most people need in a day. Walnuts may lower inflammation and “bad” LDL cholesterol levels, helping reduce the risk of heart disease. They are also rich in vitamin E, an antioxidant that may help prevent the buildup of plaque in the arteries, lowering the risk of coronary artery disease and heart attack. In TCM, walnuts are thought to “nourish the blood” and support healthy digestion.
In TCM, spring is the season of the liver and the gallbladder. Green plants and trees pop up everywhere, and so spring is associated with the color green. Eating green foods is believed to support a healthy liver. In Ayurveda, traditional medicine of India, asparagus is sometimes used to support digestion. In cell and animal studies, asparagus helps lower inflammation and prevents liver cancer cells from spreading.