Asparagus Salad with Orange and Poppy Seeds

Is it true what they say about poppy seeds? Raise your hand if you know what I’m talking about.

BUSTED. If you raised your hand it means you’ve either been in jail or prison or in court or at the police station wearing a black and white striped jumper before, AM I RIGHT?

Opium, you guys. I’ve always heard that poppy seeds carry traces of opium as they are extracted from some plant, and if you eat poppy seeds before a drug test, you’ll be thrown into the pits of despair FOREVUH.

You can’t be too careful.

This salad is coated in an opium, I MEAN POPPY SEED dressing. So if you walk on the wild side and plan on making this (which you absolutely should if I say so myself), please:

A) Turn on the Mission Impossible soundtrack.

B) Close your blinds during the creation of the dressing.

C) Walk with your back flat against the wall and your hands stretched out to your sides.

D) Eat in the dark.

Now, if you can’t find me, it’s because this blog post has been traced by the FBI and I’m making a new home for myself in the pits of despair.

Please send cheese dip.

Asparagus Salad with Orange and Poppy Seeds:

What it took for 2 (or 4 starter salads):

* 1 bunch asparagus, ends trimmed
* 1 orange, cut into segments, and zested
* 1 Tbs orange juice
* 1 tsp sugar
* 1 Tbs red wine vinegar
* 2 tsp poppy seeds
* 2 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
* 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
* 4 cups arugula
* 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
* coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

In a small bowl, combine the orange juice, zest, sugar, red wine vinegar and poppy seeds. Add in the oil and whisk with a fork until combined and all dressingy.

Bring some water to a boil. Add the asparagus and cook 2 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking.

Arrange the arugula, asparagus and red onion on each plate. Top with orange segments, blue cheese and a good drizzle of the dressing.

Season with salt and pepper if desired.

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19 Responses to Asparagus Salad with Orange and Poppy Seeds

  1. Sommer@ASpicyPerspective November 7, 2011 at 2:40 pm #
    You are so NAUGHTY... and I love it! ;)
  2. The Purple Carrot November 7, 2011 at 2:43 pm #
    Yum!!
  3. Deborah November 7, 2011 at 2:53 pm #
    I've always wondered if that's true. But I think this would be worth going to jail for!
  4. Maria November 7, 2011 at 3:08 pm #
    Beautiful salad! Count me in:)
  5. Cookin' Canuck November 7, 2011 at 3:31 pm #
    Cheese dip is on the way and I'm heading to the store to buy some poppy seeds. Beautiful salad!
  6. Lisa [With Style and Grace] November 7, 2011 at 3:31 pm #
    I wish we were neighbors. you make the best food.
  7. Living The Sweet Life November 7, 2011 at 4:00 pm #
    You're hilarious!! What a gorgeous salad .... i'll totally risk going to jail for this :D
  8. jenna November 7, 2011 at 4:05 pm #
    this looks like a wonderful salad. i love that you can still find healthy looking asparagus. sadly ours is long gone.
  9. Brooke November 7, 2011 at 4:25 pm #
    I totally knew what you were talking about. Swears it's not cuz I've been in the joint. But, if I had, I'd have used my one phone call, called you and asked for this salad.
  10. Lauren November 7, 2011 at 4:38 pm #
    I'm in love with this.
  11. Andrea the Kitchen Witch November 7, 2011 at 4:51 pm #
    I'd gladly fail a drug test for a bite of this salad! It looks amazing. What a great combination of flavors and textures!!
  12. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga November 7, 2011 at 7:18 pm #
    I love asparagus and you make me want to run out and buy some. Now!
  13. Rachel @ Not Rachael Ray November 7, 2011 at 7:53 pm #
    This looks so delicious Bev! Yum! Well worth the risk ;)
  14. Cassie November 7, 2011 at 9:50 pm #
    I want! They totally proved that you can fail a drug test after eating poppy seeds. Did you see that Myth Busters episode?
  15. Jess @ Jess Go Bananas November 8, 2011 at 2:42 am #
    hahaha when they do drug tests at school-some kids show up positive because they ate a poppy seed bagel...or so they say....
  16. Nutmeg Nanny November 8, 2011 at 3:29 am #
    Hahahaha. It just makes me think of the episode of Seinfeld where Elaine couldn't go on a business trip b/c she tested positive for opium b/c of the muffins. This salad looks great too. I would totally go to jail for it :)
  17. Sandy @ RE November 8, 2011 at 3:54 am #
    I want to come to your house for lunch some day. K?
  18. Michelle November 10, 2011 at 3:02 am #
    It looks yummy. I will risk job loss, jail, pits of despair to try it. And I will use any excuse to act like a spy in the streets.
  19. sportsglutton November 10, 2011 at 5:16 am #
    Sounds like a perfectly seasoned/flavored dish to me. Delicious!

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