Have you ever come across those people who shy away from veggies? There are those who don’t really like salads, and that’s probably just because they haven’t discovered all the possibilities there are to prepare this magnificent meal. And then there are those who are tired of preparing salads with the same ingredients over and over again.
This is the moment to innovate, the moment to learn new and easy ways of doing. It’s time to get this food not only to be healthy, but also fun. Take good note!
Burrata cheese and chickweed salad
Chickweed has many ways of referring to it, but despite this peculiarity the most important thing about this plant is its taste. Once you try it, you can taste the stream where it was picked, the humidity and the earth in which it has grown, and that is what makes it so special.
In the restaurant La Vaca and la Huerta (Calle Recoletos 13, Madrid) they mix it with burrata cheese, dried tomatoes and truffle oil. Simply spectacular.
It’s true that chickweed is not available in every fruit and vegetable shop. There are some that are cultivated and others that are wild, but in both cases there are not many available. My recommendation it that you pre-order them in your regular shopping market.
Endive and quince jelly
For those who like sweet we propose this delicacy. Mix endives with pine nuts and fried sesame seeds and quince jelly in cubes. Mix it well and add extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. There is nothing simpler. The key is the combination of tastes – the roasted pine and sesame nuts and the sweet quince – a real delicacy.
White bean salad with honey mustard sauce
A fresh and original salad with canned white beans. Mix them with tomato, cucumber, green and red peppers cut into cubes. The vinaigrette is the key: a cup of vinegar, two of oil, chopped garlic, oregano, black pepper and a spoonful of mustard and another of honey. Mix it well and don’t forget any of the condiments. Every detail is essential!
Red cabbage salad
This original recipe from Germany shows us a new way of eating a vegetable we don’t usually eat raw: red cabbage. We grate it and knead it with our hands to get the juice out and give it a bit of malleability. We mix it with carrots and onions – also grated (avoid being too heavy handed with the onion). We then add vinegar, oil, a bit of salt, black pepper and sugar to taste. There are some that avoid the sugar, but it’s part of the German recipe.
Broccoli and avocado salad
Boil the broccoli for 5 minutes and rinse it with cold water. Sauté a few nuts (no oil). Dice the avocado and pour some lemon juice drops on top. Mix all the ingredients and begin with the vinaigrette (the most interesting part of this recipe). Mix virgin olive oil, a spoonful of lemon juice and another of mustard. Add a pinch of salt and another of black pepper and mix it in. The combination of the crunchy broccoli, the avocado texture and the citric lemon twist will surprise you. The roasted nuts make it even more special!
Jam vinaigrette and black olive pate salad
Start with the vinaigrette: extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, strawberry or tomato jam, black olive pate, a pinch of black pepper and grated Grana Padano cheese. Mix until it emulsifies. This is a good dressing for oak leaf lettuce, lollo rosso lettuce or corn salad. You can add cherry tomatoes and courgette in thin slices. I don’t recommend adding too many more ingredients, since the dressing is already pretty heavy.
Cured duck breast and fruit salad
In this recipe you can choose any lettuce you like best. The important thing here is the quality of the duck breast and fruit you use. We propose oranges (you must peel them carefully, taking the skin off too), mango, pomegranate,…Add nuts, extra virgin olive oil, vinegar and a pinch of salt. The combination of the cured duck breast and the fruit is surprising.
Salad with mint sauce
This salad doesn’t have any lettuce at all, but it does have some very interesting ingredients. Start by cutting a Fuji apple, grilled chicken breast, celery and cooked ham into cubes. Buy a mint sauce (you’ll find it in any gourmet shop) and mix it in with mayonnaise to taste. When you add the sauce to the ingredients also toss in a few chopped mint leaves. Try something new; you’ll be sure to like it!