It’s That Simple is our series about recipes so easy, you can make them with your eyes closed. Think tiny ingredient lists, laid-back techniques, and results so delicious you’ll text home about them.
It’s not often you see raw asparagus celebrated front and center as the main component of a dish, but with the right preparation, the spears not only hold their own, they shine. Here, they’re gently smashed in a zip-top bag with a rolling pin into irregular pieces. This technique does two things: First, it breaks down the asparagus slightly, making it more tender and manageable to eat. But more importantly, it creates endless nooks and crannies for dressing to hang on to. The simple dressing consists of just olive oil, lemon, and shallots. It’s bright, savory, and clings perfectly. You can serve this dish as is for a simple side, add chopped nuts, dried fruit, or any protein of your choice to bulk it out into a main salad.
