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summer surprise salad

(1 rating)
kwil458 avatar
Recipe by
Kat Williams
@kwil458
san marcos, TX

We love this salad because it is a great mix of textures and flavors – cool, crisp, refreshing, sweet, salty, and tangy with just a touch of heat.

(1 rating)
yield 8 serving(s)
prep time 30 Min
method No-Cook or Other

Ingredients For summer surprise salad

  • SALAD:
  • 2
    fennel bulbs
  • 2
    fennel stalks, with leaves
  • 2
    pears, pealed
  • 2
    apples, pealed
  • 1 md
    yellow sweet onion
  • 4 oz
    can of sliced black olives, reserve 1 tablespoon of drained brine for dressing
  • 2
    naval oranges
  • DRESSING:
  • 2
    meyer lemons, zested and juiced
  • 1 Tbsp
    honey
  • 1 tsp
    spicy brown mustard
  • 1 pinch
    cayenne pepper
  • 2 Tbsp
    safflower oil
  • salt, to taste (if needed)
  • pepper, freshly ground, to taste (be generous)

How To Make summer surprise salad

  • 1
    Slice fennel bulbs, fennel stalks, pears, apples, and onion very thinly; place in medium salad bowl.
  • 2
    Drain olives, reserving 1 tablespoon of the drained brine for the dressing; add drained olive slices to salad bowl with other ingredients.
  • 3
    Slice all the pealing from the oranges; then slice the fruit into 1 inch chunks; add to salad bowl with other ingredients.
  • 4
    Dressing: Zest and then juice both lemons into small mixing bowl. Add reserved olive brine, honey, mustard, and cayenne pepper; whisk to combine. While briskly whisking this mixture, drizzle oil very slowly into the mixture, whisking until creamy. Taste, and then add salt and pepper as needed. Pour dressing over salad and toss lightly to coat. Can be served immediately, or chilled for about 30 minutes.
  • 5
    NOTES: I prefer a very light dressing on this salad, so I don't use much oil. But feel free to add a couple more tablespoons of oil to achieve a thicker consistency if you want. Be sure and taste the dressing before adding seasonings. Because of the saltiness of the olive brine, you may not need to add any more salt at all. And be very generous with the pepper to give this salad a kick. Also, any kind of olives can be used in place of the the black olives. Just don't omit them altogether. The saltiness of this tiny little ingredient is a must in this salad.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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