Fabulous fruity, but savory, salads
Today I've got 3 super summer salads for you!!
Too many times we think of fruit salads as just a bunch of fruits thrown together and used as a light dessert...nothing wrong with that at all!! In fact, I love that kind of dessert, especially in the summer time when there are so many types of fruits to choose from.
But, in doing that, we don't fully utilize fruits! They make a wonderful counterpoint to a savory salad and I've got 3 recipes for you today that do just that...
This first recipe I actually posted last summer, but thought I'd repeat it since it's just SOOO good!
Watermelon-cucumber salad
3 cups cubed, seeded watermelon
1/2 of a large English cucumber, diced with the skin on
1 handful cilantro, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, diced
4 oz. crumbled feta cheese
Place all the above ingredients in a large bowl and stir. Then, in a separate container, make a dressing from:
the juice of 2 limes
about 1/3-1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
Just before serving, pour the dressing over the salad and stir to coat. Serve immediately.
Serves 4.
This watermelon salad is a wonderful harmony....the sweet of the watermelon pairs perfectly with the spiciness of the cilantro and jalapeno and with the saltiness of the feta cheese. It's so fabulous that it may be it's own food group! If not, it can definitely hold its own on any summer table.
Now, this second salad doesn't have a picture...it got eaten way too fast and I forgot to snap a picture of it :) But, these pics will give you a hint at the ingredients...
Apple Celery Salad
2 large apples, peel on, chopped
1 whole celery heart, cut on the diagonal
1/2 onion, diced
1 cup walnuts, chopped
Combine all these ingredients in a large bowl. To make the dressing, combine:
2 T. fresh lemon juice
2 T. red wine vinegar
1-2 tsp. dijon mustard
1-2 tsp. honey
salt and pepper to taste
After combining the dressing ingredients, whip in 1/3-1/2 cup olive oil until fully blended.
Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat.
Serves 2-4.
This is an absolutely fabulous and refreshing summer side salad! It's so healthful and flavorful. You'll love it with any kind of grilled meat or fish.
This final salad was an instant hit that my husband has asked for more than once!!
Blueberry Salad
1 pint blueberries
3 gourmet cucumbers, skin on, quartered and diced
4 oz crumbled feta cheese
10-12 fresh mint leaves, rolled and sliced into thin strips
2/3 cup roasted pine nuts
Combine all these ingredients, except the pine nuts, in a large bowl. Make the dressing from:
1/3 cup olive oil
3 T. champagne vinegar
2 T. sugar
salt and pepper, to taste
Just before serving, add the pine nuts and then, toss with the dressing.
Serves 4.
Blueberries are an amazing superfood that are low in calories, high in fiber, and chock-full of important antioxidants! They have been shown to improve nighttime vision, improve memory and motor skills, and reduce the risk of infection. This salad is a super way to add them into your diet instead of just the basic blueberry muffin or pancake (not that I am in any way opposed to either of those :)
So, there you have it....3 super summer salads that use fruits in a savory way. Try something new at your next summer picnic or bar-be-que and just sit back and let the rave reviews waft pleasantly over you...
Too many times we think of fruit salads as just a bunch of fruits thrown together and used as a light dessert...nothing wrong with that at all!! In fact, I love that kind of dessert, especially in the summer time when there are so many types of fruits to choose from.
But, in doing that, we don't fully utilize fruits! They make a wonderful counterpoint to a savory salad and I've got 3 recipes for you today that do just that...
This first recipe I actually posted last summer, but thought I'd repeat it since it's just SOOO good!
Watermelon-cucumber salad
3 cups cubed, seeded watermelon
1/2 of a large English cucumber, diced with the skin on
1 handful cilantro, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, diced
4 oz. crumbled feta cheese
Place all the above ingredients in a large bowl and stir. Then, in a separate container, make a dressing from:
the juice of 2 limes
about 1/3-1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
Just before serving, pour the dressing over the salad and stir to coat. Serve immediately.
Serves 4.
This watermelon salad is a wonderful harmony....the sweet of the watermelon pairs perfectly with the spiciness of the cilantro and jalapeno and with the saltiness of the feta cheese. It's so fabulous that it may be it's own food group! If not, it can definitely hold its own on any summer table.
Now, this second salad doesn't have a picture...it got eaten way too fast and I forgot to snap a picture of it :) But, these pics will give you a hint at the ingredients...
Apple Celery Salad
2 large apples, peel on, chopped
1 whole celery heart, cut on the diagonal
1/2 onion, diced
1 cup walnuts, chopped
Combine all these ingredients in a large bowl. To make the dressing, combine:
2 T. fresh lemon juice
2 T. red wine vinegar
1-2 tsp. dijon mustard
1-2 tsp. honey
salt and pepper to taste
After combining the dressing ingredients, whip in 1/3-1/2 cup olive oil until fully blended.
Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat.
Serves 2-4.
This is an absolutely fabulous and refreshing summer side salad! It's so healthful and flavorful. You'll love it with any kind of grilled meat or fish.
This final salad was an instant hit that my husband has asked for more than once!!
Blueberry Salad
1 pint blueberries
3 gourmet cucumbers, skin on, quartered and diced
4 oz crumbled feta cheese
10-12 fresh mint leaves, rolled and sliced into thin strips
2/3 cup roasted pine nuts
Combine all these ingredients, except the pine nuts, in a large bowl. Make the dressing from:
1/3 cup olive oil
3 T. champagne vinegar
2 T. sugar
salt and pepper, to taste
Just before serving, add the pine nuts and then, toss with the dressing.
Serves 4.
Blueberries are an amazing superfood that are low in calories, high in fiber, and chock-full of important antioxidants! They have been shown to improve nighttime vision, improve memory and motor skills, and reduce the risk of infection. This salad is a super way to add them into your diet instead of just the basic blueberry muffin or pancake (not that I am in any way opposed to either of those :)
So, there you have it....3 super summer salads that use fruits in a savory way. Try something new at your next summer picnic or bar-be-que and just sit back and let the rave reviews waft pleasantly over you...
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