Japanese Asparagus Salad

It's already almost two years passed from my visit to Japan but I still remember the taste of this delicious asparagus salad.... It's spring time now and the local asparagus are just starting to appear in the groceries but I cannot wait to try this salad once again!

 
INGREDIENTS: 
Servings: 2-3

500g asparagus
1.5 tbs light soy sauce
1.5 tbs mirin
1/2 tbs rice vinegar  
2 tbs sesame oil
1tbs sesame seeds 

1. Peel the asparagus: using the vegetable peeler, peel the lower half of the spears, the hard part till the part that starts being flexible if you bend the asparagus.
2. Cut the upper one third of the asparagus spears.

3. Cut the lower part into halves and boil for 5 minutes in hot water without salt.
4. Add the upper parts of the spears and boil for 3-4 minutes more.
Note: This is done in order not to overcook the points.   

5. Drain the asparagus very carefully.
6. In a small bowl mix Mirin, soy sauce, rice vinegar and 1tbs sesame oil.

7. Toast the sesame seeds in a pan with no oil till they are coloured a bit.

8. Season boiled asparagus with the sauce and let the asparagus cool down.




9.  Serve the salad with some more sesame oil and sesame seeds on top.

Itadakimasu !!!