Summer Delight

What’s in a salad? A cornucopia of fresh crisp and crunchy delights. A celebration of vegetables, fruits, cheese and nuts –a delightful combination of salty, sweet and tart…delicious contrasts .The beautiful green lettuce. The sweet seductress –the strawberry. The mild red pepper. The healthy nuts. The sharp cheese. And the coup de grâce of the salad-the dressing! Just what the doctor ordered. Nothing is better than this cool crunchy goodness when the weather Gods are unhappy and temperatures are a hundred degrees. Well-almost nothing is better except… big jug of sweet-salty-tangy delicious iced nimbu paani.So reminiscent of home.

Summer Delight

2 cups torn lettuce leaves (I used a mixture of romaine, iceberg and butterhead)-just one type is fine too
½ an apple sliced
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes,halved
6 strawberries, washed, hulled and halved
2 spring onions, finely diced, greens included
½ a red bell pepper chopped
1 tablespoon raisins,soaked in warm water for 15 minutes
1 teaspoon chopped toasted almonds (use any nuts you want)
1 ½ table spoon feta cheese
Salt and pepper
½ cup strawberry vinaigrette

Mix together lettuce,apples,peppers, spring onion. Top with roasted nuts and feta cheese.Season.Mix well.Chill.Just before serving,drizzle dressing over it.

Strawberry Vinaigrette

2 cups strawberries,washed, hulled, chopped
4 teaspoons sugar
Juice of 3 limes
2 tablespoons olive oil
Place the strawberries in a blender;process until pureed. Add lemon juice and sugar; process until blended. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream; process until thickened.Place in a jar and store in the refrigerator.This makes about 2 ½ cups.