Thursday, March 29, 2012

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

11 comments:

  1. Yummy! It's been so hot over here, I could really use that salad :)

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  2. this citrus salad looks amazing!
    follow each other, m'dear?

    cheers,
    amanda

    www.intuitiveflair.com

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  3. Nico, it looks pretty and i bet it tastes just as good as it looks. So refreshing for this time of year. I love goat cheese. Thanks for sharing.
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

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  4. Mmmmm, goodness this looks absolutely delicious! So perfect for spring time. :)

    Trendy Teal

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  5. Yummy! I love this! Healthy and delicious :)

    xoxo,
    Paris

    glitteratiandglamour.blogspot.com

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  6. Looks tasty! I love salads that mix fruits and vegetables! Goat cheese as extra bonus!
    --TS

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  7. oooh I want some! Looks so fresh and healthy!!!!

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  8. Goodness, that loosk so tasty. I bet the mint with the orange is really refreshing!

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  9. Looks delicious. This would be great for a Sunday brunch!

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Positive comments are always appreciated!