Battle of the sexes day 2. As promised I'm sharing my Valentine's Day salad idea for HER! Healthy, light, pretty and easy to make.
I wanted something RED or pink and what better than pomegranates? There weren't any available in the produce isle so I bought just the seeds.
And at the local health food market was a large hanging chalkboard that read: These strawberries are in season. The large display of strawberries looked so delightful; a perfect addition to my red salad idea.
As far as the heart-shape goes, I had recently seen this LA chef mentioned in a magazine. His favorite dish was a salad he displayed on the plate in the shape of a circle. It was so pretty that it stuck in my head for days. It gave me the idea for the heart salad.
Valentine's Day Salad
8 strawberries, sliced
5 Tbls pomegranate seeds {set aside a few for sprinkling}
¾ fennel bulb
4-5 green onions, thinly sliced
2 handfuls arugula
1 lemon, juice
3 pinches sea salt {or to taste}
pepper, to taste
¼ c hard goat cheese, shaved and cubed {optional}
Balsamic Dressing with Pomegranates
4 Tbls olive oil
2 Tbls balsamic vinegar
2-3 Tbls pomegranates
1 teaspoon agave or honey {optional}
For the salad, chop vegetables into small pices or slivers. The fennel is especially wonderful when FINELY sliced. Larger chunks aren't as tasty. Shave or slice them with a peeler or a mandolin or by hand into very thin pieces as shown in photo below.
In a bowl combine the veggies. Add the pomegranate seeds, the sea salt and the lemon juice. Toss entire thing.
For the dressing, combine wet ingredients in a blender with the pomegranates. Blend until fairly smooth and blended. Strain it through a small mesh strainer. Add about 2 Tbls of this dressing to the salad and toss it once again.
Voila, salad is ready!
Cranberry Pomegranate Margaritas
makes: 2
½ c tequila
½ c unsweetened tart cranberry juice
2 limes, juiced
4 Tbls Cointreau
4 Tbls agave nectar or simple syrup
2 Tbls pomegranate seeds
! Tbls xylitol {or sugar if you want}
Sea Salt
Combine the first 5 ingredients into a bowl. Whisk rapidly or blend in blender until completely combined. In a separate dish combine pom seeds with xylitol and mash a bit.
Salt the rim of 2 nice cocktail glasses. Filled them ice cubes or crushed ice. Pour mixture over the ice. Using a spoon, top with a blob of the pomegranate mixture.
Sarah
Juli! HI! Miss you 🙂 This salad looks awesome, totally making it for a V-Day dinner. Question: how exactly do you "shave" veggies? I love that! Do you have to use a special tool?
Juli Novotny
Hi Sarah! There are multiple ways. Just using a knife and cutting it so fine it's like paper. NO CHOPPING!!! Just slowly cut into almost see through pieces. You can use a mandolin but even that can't get it close enough. A peeler often works, too.
This salad is almost good w/o ANY dressing at all. I swear. The lemon and olive oil is amazing alone. But the dressing adds a bit of tang.
Good luck! Miss you guys too!
Sophie
Yum! What could a vegan substitute the goats cheese with?
Love the inventive heart shape!
X
Juli Novotny
sophi - avocado for sure. that is always a good choice and add some pecans and maybe some capers.
Justina
LOVE that heart shaped slalad. looks adorable and delish! Pinning now!
Juli Novotny
thanks justina!!!! 😉