Description
Gourmet dandelion salad emerges as a culinary treasure from Mediterranean traditions. Fresh greens blend with zesty vinaigrette, inviting diners to savor each crisp, nutrient-packed bite you’ll thoroughly enjoy.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups / 960 ml / 32 fl oz young dandelion greens, washed and chopped
- 1 crisp apple (Honeycrisp or Fuji), thinly sliced
- 1 avocado, diced
- ¼ red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup / 30 g walnuts or pecans, toasted
- ¼ cup / 30 g crumbled goat cheese or feta (optional)
- ¼ cup / 40 g dried cranberries or raisins (optional)
- 3 tbsps / 45 ml olive oil
- 1 tbsp / 15 ml fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Vinaigrette Creation: Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and honey in a small container until smoothly emulsified, creating a bright and balanced dressing.
- Seasoning Blend: Enhance the vinaigrette with kosher salt and black pepper, calibrating the flavor profile to achieve a harmonious taste experience.
- Ingredient Preparation: Thoroughly cleanse dandelion greens, delicately slice apples into elegant half-moons, cube avocado with precision, and transform red onion into gossamer-thin rings.
- Nut Toasting: Activate the nuts’ rich essence by gently browning them in a dry skillet, releasing their intense aromatic qualities and developing a golden exterior.
- Salad Assembly: Construct the salad by layering the crisp dandelion greens as a verdant foundation, artfully positioning apple slices, avocado cubes, red onion, and toasted nuts with intentional placement.
- Final Touches: Cascade the prepared vinaigrette over the composed salad, using a delicate touch to ensure each ingredient receives a light, even coating without overwhelming the dish’s delicate balance.
- Serving Presentation: Gently toss the salad to distribute the dressing, maintaining the integrity of each ingredient, and serve immediately to capture the peak of freshness and textural contrast.
Notes
- Prevent Browning Avocado: Toss avocado cubes with a splash of lemon juice to maintain their vibrant green color and prevent oxidation.
- Select Fresh Dandelion Greens: Choose young, tender dandelion leaves with minimal bitterness, preferably harvested before flowering for optimal taste and texture.
- Control Dressing Intensity: Add vinaigrette gradually, tasting as you go to avoid overwhelming the delicate greens and maintain a balanced flavor profile.
- Customize Nut Options: Swap toasted nuts based on dietary preferences or allergies, considering alternatives like pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds for added crunch and nutrition.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg