Put this Asparagus with Tarragon Vinaigrette on your Easter brunch menu and you will have more time to spend with your guests and hide those eggs! This is the perfect make-ahead Spring side dish that is ready in under 30 minutes and just also happens to be Vegetarian and Paleo friendly!

I originally shared this recipe on April 13, 2011. I have updated the images and some of the text today.

“Can be made up to one day in advance.” These are magic words to a cook when he or she has company coming. I know when I entertain, I like to hook myself up the day before by prepping what I can. If I’m really organized, I like to plan the menu around dishes that won’t keep me in the kitchen instead of enjoying my guests.

For the most part, I can handle one or two hands-on recipes. But the rest have to be pretty much ready to go before people arrive. This Easter we have the whole crew coming over for an egg hunt and Brunch. That’s on top of my duties as the Easter Bunny. So that means I can handle exactly zero hands-on dishes on Easter morning.

For the main course I have ordered a maple sugar glazed ham from Harrington’s of Vermont. Not only does it have sweet maple flavor, but it is double cob smoked right here in my little (er) hamlet. They do a booming mail order business if you’re interested. I highly recommend it.

I wanted to have a springy selection of side dishes that would compliment the ham and be made the day before. So I decided tha I am going to make this asparagus with tarragon champagne vinaigrette and this creamy horseradish potato salad. Both the asparagus and the potato salad are served chilled and can be made the day before.

To make the asparagus ahead, just cook and cool the asparagus, cover it and store it in the fridge overnight. Note, the dressing can be made the day before too, but it needs to be held separately or it turns the asparagus a not-so-lovely shade of army green. Just drizzle it on before serving, sprinkle on a generous amount of black pepper and you’re good to go.

To round out Easter Brunch here are some more recipe ideas that can be made ahead.

Healthy Maple Carrot Cake

Maple Black Pepper Candied Bacon

Apple Cheddar and Sausage Breakfast Strata

Spinach and Bacon Deviled Eggs

Ham and Broccoli Slow Cooker Brunch Bread Pudding

Greek Yogurt Raspberry Coconut Layer Cake

Easy Maple Greek Yogurt Dip

If you are gluten free, you don’t have to miss out on Carrot Cake. This Gluten-free Carrot Cake Recipe looks just about perfect! 

asparagus with tarragon vinaigrette

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 8 servings 1x

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Description

This Asparagus with Tarragon Vinaigrette is the perfect make-ahead Spring side dish to add to your Easter menu. It is ready in under 30 minutes and just also happens to be vegetarian and Paleo friendly!

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Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• Salt for boiling water plus ¾ teaspoon, divided
• 3 bunches asparagus, woody ends trimmed, peeled if desired
• 1 shallot, peeled and roughly chopped
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons champagne vinegar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon chopped tarragon
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• Freshly ground pepper to taste

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Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Make an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice and cold water. Add asparagus to the boiling water and cook until crisp tender and bright green, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain the asparagus and transfer to the ice bath to cool.
2. Meanwhile, combine shallot, olive oil, vinegar, honey, tarragon, Dijon and the remaining ¾ teaspoon salt in a blender. Puree until smooth.
3. Arrange asparagus on a platter. Drizzle with the vinaigrette and grind tons of pepper on top.

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Notes

0 mg Cholesterol, 2 g Added Sugars
To make ahead: Prepare through step 2 up to 1 day ahead. Store cooked and cooled asparagus and dressing separately, covered in the refrigerator.

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Nutrition

• Calories: 90
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 228 mg
• Fat: 7 g
• Saturated Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 6.5 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 2 g

Here are the original images associated with this blog post.