Or is it the season to be jolly. With holly. I know, I know Christmas is just around the corner and we’ll get to that in a couple of weeks I promise, but today I need to talk about salad. I’ve shared my love of salad with you before, but just in case you weren’t listening that day or just had something much better do, I’m sharing again. My love of salad knows no bounds; it has been referred to as crazy, obsessed and psychotic. But I prefer to call it devoted.
You may be asking Why? Why? Why? It’s just salad you crazy person. And I guess I could agree if it’s just a little bit of lettuce and a tomato or two (although with a good dressing – so good), but with the right combination of ingredients a salad can eclipse a Heston Blumenthal extravaganza. All you need to do is think about what you really feel like. Choose one ingredient that’s really on your mind or in your mind tastebuds and build everything else around it.
Asian – rice noodles, shredded lettuce, coriander, ginger, sesame oil and maybe a few peanuts.
See what I’m doing? Not reinventing the wheel, but rather making classic combos that work every time.
Oooh, what about Lamb…… Yes, this is where my char-grilled lamb and pomegranate salad comes in. If I could sing an operatic “laaaaaa” I would. In fact I think I will “LAAAAAAAAA”. I adore this salad. It’s big and full of flavour with a classic combination of lamb and pomegranate. I’ve marinated the lamb using pomegranate molasses which is available at speciality food shops (or you could make your own), along with garlic, soy and rosemary.
The salad takes the pomegranate flavour a little further using the seeds of the fruit (why wouldn’t you I ask?). I love pomegranate seeds, they’re like little red jewels that are sweet but slightly tart at the same time. Couple all of that with some lettuce, couscous and a gorgeous honey dressing and you’ve got a filling masterpiece that may just curl your toes. Or make you sing operatic notes.
What are your favourite salad combos?