Salad Greens with Balsamic Mushrooms & Roasted Asparagus

I love this salad. Perfect for an elegant dinner or casual supper. Hearty enough for a vegetarian main dish or make the carnivores happy by adding grilled chicken. Easy, healthy & delicious. What more could you ask from a salad? Use whatever combination of greens you like.  Enjoy!

Salad Greens with Balsamic Mushrooms & Roasted Asparagus
(serves 6 as a main dish)

Ingredients
1 bunch asparagus, cleaned & trimmed. Peeled if stalks are thick
1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 lb crimini mushrooms, cut in half
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar, divided
1/4 cup dry red wine
1 tsp spicy brown mustard
8 cups mixed salad greens, combination of spinach, tatsoi, mizuna, kale and arugula
1 tbsp toasted pine nuts
coarse ground sea salt
freshly cracked black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Add the asparagus and drizzle 1 tbsp olive oil over top. Roll asparagus on sheet to evenly disperse oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast in oven for 20-25 minutes until beginning to caramelize. Remove from oven and set aside.

While asparagus is roasting, heat 1 tbsp oil in medium sized skillet. Add mushrooms and saute over medium high heat for 5 minutes. Add 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar and red wine. Continue sauteing for 20 minutes, or until most of liquid has evaporated and mushrooms are coated with vinegar/wine reduction.

Add remaining olive oil, vinegar, mustard and large pinch each salt and pepper to bottom of large salad bowl. Whisk to emulsify. To bowl, add salad greens, pine nuts, mushrooms (including any remaining liquid) and toss to combine. Cut asparagus in half and add to bowl. Toss. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary. Serve immediately.

It is "Salad (greens)" week at Food Network's Sensational Sides roundup. Check out the other delicious sounding recipes from my blogger friends. Do you have a salad? Feel free to share in the comments section or link to your blog if you have one.

The Lemon Bowl: Caribbean Salad with Bananas and Red Onions
Jeanette's Healthy Living: Power Berry Avocado Almond Chia Seed Salad
Weelicious: DIY Salad Buffet
Dishin & Dishes: Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Two Dipping Sauces
Taste With The Eyes: Scallop, Micro Lettuce, Farro and Lemon Basil Sauce
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Salad Greens with Balsamic Mushrooms and Roasted Asparagus
Red or Green: Green Salad with Grilled Salmon, Avocado and Tortilla Chips
The Sensitive Epicure: Strawberry Spring Salad with Cilantro Flowers
Virtually Homemade: Thai Beef Salad
Domesticate Me: Vegetable Fajita Salad with Chipotle Vinaigrette
FN Dish: Get Your Leafy Greens

best,

diane
napa farmhouse 1885

red or green?
california girl in taos
MoseyLove!

please follow me on facebook

I have started sharing my Taos experiences on my newest blog "California Girl in Taos". Please visit and let me know what you think.