Salad weather.
Fortunately I had one I wanted to try.
A few weeks ago, we ordered salads at work and I got one that had blueberry vinaigrette with red onions and feta cheese. It sounds like an odd combination, but it was very tasty. (Although way too many red onions made their way into my serving. It looked like an onion party at the bottom of the bowl when I was done!)
So fast forward to this Sunday. I had some luscious looking strawberries from the farmer's market.
Emphasis on looking. They didn't taste quite as sweet as they looked, but they were good and were the first of the season, so all is forgiven. Plus they made an amazing vinaigrette!
I had lettuce - romaine and red leaf. To that I added slices of avocado and diced red onion. I sliced some strawberries on top. Because I was making this a meal, I also added in some pieces of my salmon burger.
It sure looked pretty.
But the best part was yet to come. I finally found a use for those Talenti jars that have been mysteriously accumulating. :)
First I mashed some blueberries and strawberries. I added them to the jar with some red wine vinegar and olive oil to taste. I mashed some more, then put the lid on and shook.
I drizzled it over the salad. (Doesn't that sound like a fancy chef word? I drizzled it. Better than I dumped it on top.)
The salad was so delicious and so refreshing that I made it again on Monday. This time I added sliced almonds and they gave it a fabulously satisfying crunch.
Oh - the red onion added just the bite the salad needed. I accidentally left them out on the second night and their absence was noted. :(
I've noticed that I tend towards adding fruit to salad. Am I alone in that or is that a habit for anyone else?
Want other strawberry salad ideas? Mary Jane shared one a few weeks ago for strawberries, spinach and goat cheese.
I am a kitchen sink salad eater so I like anything in mine. Fruits, veggies, meat, eggs..I like raisins especially. This looks yummy.
ReplyDeleteLove the image, Tina. The more things in it, the better.
DeleteI'm getting more adventurous in my salad eating thanks to the café! I really like the combination of mandarin oranges and spinach and slivered almonds. Yum. And I had a very similar salad a few weeks ago at an Alpha night. Everyone devoured it. I'm so excited because I think there will be local strawberries at the market on Saturday. Sqqqquuuueeeaaaallllll! I'll make this salad and something strawberryish for dessert to celebrate.
ReplyDeleteCelebrate with strawberries! Sounds like a plan, Kav. Bring on Wimbledon.
DeleteThis looks really good, Mary Cate. I have a recipe for a strawberry spinach salad I love. For yours, though, I think I'd add some chicken breast instead of the salmon. I love salmon, just not in my salad. And the vinaigrette sounds divine. Yum.
ReplyDeleteI haven't eaten chicken in ages, Mindy, but I'm sure it would work really well.
DeleteThis looks fabulous! Just the thing for a cool lunch. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I love fruit in my salad. And pile on the salmon!
Fruit and salmon lovers unite!
DeleteI'm laughing at your "first of the season" strawberries. Ours are long gone. I love beets and goat cheese over greens.
ReplyDeleteAh, my fellow beet lover. I had a beet and kale smoothie on Monday. Delicious!
DeleteYes, this was the first week the local berries showed up at market. The supermarkets have had them from out of state, but it's not the same.
I love salads with fruit! I'll definitely try your dressing! It sounds yummy.
ReplyDeleteCate, I did a similar salad just yesterday although it was store bought raspberry vinaigrette (and outdated, to boot, but still luscious!!!) and grilled chicken/strawberries/cole slaw/lettuce/celery/almonds.... I love a mix of sweet and savory in my salads, too! But your homemade dressing looks marvelous.... and might tempt me to get out the Ninja.
ReplyDeleteNow that Beth has showed me how to use the crazy little machine!