Bright & Vibrant Citrus Salad!

        Last week marked the first days of Spring and to honor the occasion I pulled together a zesty citrus salad that not only looks as bright and colorful as the Spring but also tastes like the perfect bite of a fresh new season. Cool mint leaves coupled with spicy slivers of red onion make for the ideal balance of flavors against a thick slice of orange. Feel free to utilize your favorite variety of orange or mandarin (example: blood oranges, tangelos, grapefruit) or whatever happens to look the most fresh at your local grocery. I selected juicy Cara Cara oranges, which are typically slightly pink on the inside and have a more complex and sweet flavor. I also used pea shoots for the first time for this particular recipe. I normally don't stray too far from romaine lettuce, a spring mix, or (on rare occasions) arugula, but I believe that the pea shoots bring a more subtle and delicate flavor to this dish. The final components of this citrus salad are the perhaps the must indulgent, flakes of creamy goat cheese and a drizzle of honey balsamic vinaigrette to round out all the other flavors for a citrus salad that not only looks like a modern art piece but tastes like a culinary master piece also! 

Magic Ingredients: (for the salad)

- Red Onion

- Crumbled Goat Cheese

- Mint Leaves

- Pea Shoots

- Oranges 

Getting Started:

-Start by slicing an orange according to the pictorial below:

- Slice a red onion into small slivers.

- Assemble the citrus salad as shown in the pictorial below (layer the pea shoots and mint, followed by slices of oranges, crumbled goat cheese, red onion, and a generous drizzle of dressing) 

Magic Ingredients: (for the dressing)

- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

- 1 tablespoons mayonnaise

- 1 tablespoon honey / agave Syrup

- 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Getting Started:

- Mix all of the ingredients together until smooth and creamy.

Yours,

Nico