Hearts of Palm Salad with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette (2024)

Hearts of palm salad vegan with a fresh and tangy lemon basil vinaigrette makes a simple chopped vegetable summer side dish. The bright and herby dressing perfectly complements sliced hearts of palm fresh asparagus, tomatoes, and olives in this quick and easy salad.

NOTE: CookEatLiveLove is supported by readers and links to products I love in this post are Amazon and other affiliate links which means I do make a small amount of money when you click and make purchases. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you’ll come back again soon!

Chopped vegetable salads are an excellent change from the traditional lettuce-based salad. This hearts of palm salad definitely doesn’t disappoint!

It’s the perfect combination of textures, juicy vegetables, and tangy flavors!

If you love chopped salads as much as I do, then you might also enjoy this Peruvian chopped salad, a simple cucumber and mango salad, or this summer berry salad.

It works as a side for all types of meals, from easy weeknight dinners to weekend gatherings with family and friends. Serve up with a bowl of these easy peruvian beans or this easy marinated tofu recipe.

❤️ Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Simple yet colorful combination: The contrast of colors and flavors in this salad with hearts of palm go together beautifully.
• Healthy: Gluten-free, vegan and dairy-free salad with palm hearts everyone will love.
• Easy to make: For outdoor events, large or small groups, casual dinners and so much more.

What is Hearts of Palm?

Pale, ivory in color, this vegetable is the edible inner part of the stem of the cabbage palm tree, the state tree of Florida.

Hearts of palm have a delicate flavor reminiscent of artichokes or bamboo shoots and their texture is tender and they flake easily.

As far as vegetables go they are on the more expensive end and are usually found in cans or jars, packed in water. After opening, store them in a plastic or glass container in the refrigerator for up to five days.

They can vary in terms of thickness and can be sliced into bite-sized pieces that look similar to coins.

Most commonly hearts of palm are added to salads but can also be used in stir-fries, stews, or served up seared or grilled.

In vegan and vegetarian cooking, they are frequently used as a substitute for different kinds of seafood such as crab or scallops.

They have a natural affinity for avocado, lemon, tomatoes, asparagus, black olives, mango, orange, and herbs.

🥘 Ingredients to Make This Recipe

The perfect combination of fresh veggies and pantry staples combine to create this easy chopped vegetable salad.

• Asparagus: Fresh green asparagus adds a nice contrast in color, texture, and flavor to the hearts of palm.
• Hearts of palm: These often come in a jar or can and will be found in the aisle with veggies or pickles.
• Roma tomato: Juicy Roma tomatoes work great for salads. You can also use grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes.
• Kalamata olives: The salty, tangy flavor of kalamata olives provide a healthy fat in this easy salad recipe.
• Almonds: Toasted almonds have a slightly richer flavor and add the perfect amount of crunch to the salad.
• Acidity: Lemon juice, zest, and white wine vinegar work together to create a nice blend of acidity in the dressing.
• Aromatics: Fresh garlic cloves and a bit of red onion add some flavor to the lemon basil dressing.
• Basil leaves: Lemon basil dressing definitely requires using fresh basil. Unfortunately dried basil leaves don’t have the same flavor.
• Dijon mustard: Emulsifies the dressing but also adds a bit of zing to the lemon basil vinaigrette.
• Avocado: This easy lemon basil salad dressing skips oil and uses avocado as the healthy fat in the dressing making it perfectly creamy and delicious.

🍽 Equipment

• Sharp knife
• Cutting board
• Small blender
• Mixing bowl

🔪 How to Make a Salad with Hearts of Palm

This hearts of palm salad recipe is easy to make in just a few simple steps. Here’s a brief overview of making hearts of palm salad. For more detailed instructions, check the recipe card.

1. Trim the asparagus ends of the stalks and discard. Next cut the remaining stalks into one-inch pieces.
2. Open and drain the liquid from the hearts of palm. Slice into thin (about one-quarter inch) coin shapes.

3. In a blender, combine the lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, red onion, basil, vinegar, avocado, and mustard.
4. Blend to mix ingredients. Add two tablespoons of water and season to taste with salt and pepper. Blend again to mix. Add more water if you want a thinner consistency.

5. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. When the water boils, add asparagus and cook for 1-2 minutes or until crisp-tender.
6. Immediately remove the asparagus from the water using a slotted spoon and plunge it into an ice water bath. Let it fully cool in the water, for about five minutes. When cooled, drain well.

7. Combine the diced tomato, hearts of palm, olives, and cooled asparagus in a bowl. Add the dressing and toss to lightly coat all the chopped ingredients with the dressing.

8. Once mixed, serve up in a serving bowl or on plates topped with toasted almonds and fresh basil strips.

Storage

• Make ahead: To make this hearts of palm salad in advance, store the veggies and dressing separately. Then mix the dressing with the vegetables right before serving. The cut vegetables will be freshest served within three days of assembling.
• Leftovers: This salad is best eaten within 24 hours but you can store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days though once mixed with the dressing the asparagus may lose its vibrant color and the veggies may get soggy.

📖 Variations

• Protein: Add a plant-based protein such as cubes of tofu, chickpeas, or quinoa to make the salad a bit heartier.
• Leafy greens: If you enjoy a leafier salad, serve up with chopped romaine, massaged kale, or fresh spinach.
• Add some artichokes: The texture and flavor are the perfect match for hearts of palm. Go half and half for a hearts of palm artichoke salad or replace them altogether.

What to Serve With Hearts of Palm Salad

• Pasta: The flavors of this salad combine with just about any bowl of pasta but some of my favorites are this vegetarian lasagna, butternut squash pasta, and tofu bolognese.
• Picnic or Cookout: Serve it up for just about any outdoor event along with fan favorites like this bbq veggie burger, grilled tofu skewers, and eggplant sandwich.
• Simple lunch salad: Combine it with a bowl of soup. My favorites include this creamy potato soup or pumpkin bean soup or with a half a sandwich like this easy vegan triple decker.

💭 Expert Tips

• Don’t overcook the asparagus. For salads you want it to be crisp-tender.
• Hearts of palm salad is best served fresh.
• Fresh lemon juice and basil are essential to the dressing.

❓FAQs

More Salad Recipes to Explore

If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below? You can also drop a review in the comment section I always appreciate your feedback. And don’t forget to tag me @cookeatlivelove in your photos on social media so I can see your creations.

📖 Recipe

More Salad and Dressing Recipes