I always say I should eat more salads. I like them, seriously. Usually, they seem like too much work just to make for myself. When I do, I like to keep them simple yet full of flavor and different textures. To be honest, I went to the farmer's market with no preconceived notion of what kind of salad to make; whatever looked good to me. The strawberries right now are so aromatic and cheap ($5 for 3 baskets), simply irresistible. Then I came across something that looked like dill with pretty tiny flowers, but knew it was not dill. When I asked the farmer what it was, he told me they were cilantro flowers. Ah, the frilly stuff that grows from my cilantro when it goes to seed. I never thought about using it, but at $1 I figured it'd be a cheap gamble. The smell of them were so light and fresh, seemed like a perfect pairing for the strawberries. And I'm a sucker for flowers on salads. For this salad I used feta, but I'd imagine soft goat cheese/chevre would work as well, too. I also added in some fresh spring onions and a vinaigrette for dressing.
Strawberry Spring Salad with Cilantro Flowers
Ingredients:
- red leaf lettuce, washed, dried, and cut into small strips (chiffonaded)
- spring green onions, washed, dried, chopped fine
- strawberries, quartered lengthwise
- cilantro flowers, washed, dried, chopped fine keeping the flowers intact to sprinkle on top
- feta cheese, crumbled
- olive oil, first cold press
- vinegar of your choice (I like fig infused white balsamic vinegar)
- salt, pepper, seasonings (I love Penzey's French country vinaigrette seasoning)
Directions:
Compose salad with the lettuce on bottom, followed by the green onions, then the crumbled cheese, the strawberries (make them look pretty), and the flurry of cilantro flowers.
In a cup, mix up a 1:1/oil:vinegar with seasonings and taste. Lightly pour over the salad and enjoy.
-Erin Swing
The Sensitive Epicure
This is part of Food Network's Sensational Sides Feast. Check out The FN Dish. This week we're focusing on something green. On twitter, we're tagging #SensationalSides. Here are other amazing green recipes to try out from our other friends:
The Lemon Bowl: Caribbean Salad with Bananas and Red Onions
Jeanette's Healthy Living: Power Berry Avocado Almond Chia Seed Salad
Weelicious: DIY Salad Buffet
Dishin & Dishes: Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Two Dipping Sauces
Taste With The Eyes: Scallop, Micro Lettuce, Farro and Lemon Basil Sauce
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Salad Greens with Balsamic Mushrooms and Roasted Asparagus
Red or Green: Green Salad with Grilled Salmon, Avocado and Tortilla Chips
The Sensitive Epicure: Strawberry Spring Salad with Cilantro Flowers
Virtually Homemade: Thai Beef Salad
Domesticate Me: Vegetable Fajita Salad with Chipotle Vinaigrette
FN Dish: Get Your Leafy Greens
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