Salmon and purple asparagus warm rice salad

How stunning is the colour of this purple asparagus?  I've gotta admit, I didn't even know purple asparagus existed until I saw it at the shop but how could I resist buying a bunch when it looks like this?

I was inspired by the asparagus and this Cajun Rice made by The Spice Trails to make a warm rice salad.  I had cooked brown rice and smoked salmon in the fridge, which I thought combined with the asparagus, would make an excellent base for a warm salad.

I'd recommend keeping some cooked grains in the freezer to make salads like this super easy and quick to pull together.  I cook up large batches of brown rice or quinoa and freeze them in 1 cup quantities in individual ziplock bags.

I added some mushroom and spinach for some extra veggie goodness and I used feta and it's oil to add a creaminess to the dish. 

And voila, here is my Salmon and Purple Asparagus Warm Rice Salad.

Salmon and purple asparagus rice salad

A fresh & colourful rice salad.

Ingredients:

• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cups cooked brown rice (from 1 cup uncooked rice)
• 1 bunch purple asparagus, chopped into 2cm sections
• 5 mushrooms, diced
• 2 large handfuls baby spinach
• 2 tbsp marinated feta, diced
• 50g smoked salmon or trout, flaked
• Lemon juice and feta oil for dressing

Cooking Directions

1. Saute onion and garlic in olive oil and butter. Add mushrooms and asparagus. Cook for 2 minutes. Add cooked rice and stir until rice is coated. 
2.  Add spinach and allow to wilt. Season to taste.
3. Place salad in bowl and top with smoked salmon and feta. Dress with lemon juice and feta oil.

Keep smiling
Dani :)