2-Radicchio Salad, with Cucumber and Blueberries with Blueberry, Mint & Yogurt Dressing
Salads are such simple dishes to prepare... Or at least they should be! I mean... It's not as if you have to stand in front of a stove and cook anything now, is it?! Haha!
So yes, salads are quick and easy to make... But that doesn't mean they have to be boring! Or to not look amazing! This one is neither... And it is also inexpensive, healthy and delicious as well!
As far as I'm concerned, the secret to a good salad is a combination of flavors and textures that compliment each other and that taste refreshing and well balanced when you eat them all together... And that is exactly what you have here!
Slightly bitter radicchio, crispy and fresh cucumber, fruity blackberries and fresh mint, together with mild yogurt, tangy lemon juice and good olive oil... An optional touch of onion adds a savory depth of flavor... And who could ask for anything more? Especially when it looks fantastic too!
2 little radicchio swill easily make one large salad... Trust me! Once those leaves have been plucked apart, you will be surprised! I used a red, "Trevisano" and a yellow, "Variegato di Castelfranco" for mine, but if you can't get these where you are located, you could get very similar looks and flavor from regular red radicchio and regular white endive. Otherwise, you will need about a 3rd of a cucumber, a couple of handfuls of blueberries, 1 small Spring onion, some fresh mint, some plain yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper... All very basic stuff!
Looks complicated, doesn't it? Well, it isn't! And anyway... You have me to tell you how... So read on!
First things first... Cut the radicchios from their stalks, gently pluck the leaves apart, rinse well and dry off whilst you prepare the dressing.
For 1 large salad, you will need 2 tablespoons of yogurt, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, the juice of half a lemon, a good pinch of salt and pepper, about 5-6 large leaves of mint- finely chopped, the Spring onion, finely chopped and a few berries... 10-15 should be enough.
Simply mash the berries down with a fork and stir all of the ingredients briskly together... That's all there is to it! What... Did you expect something more difficult? Shame on you!
Making your salad look pretty, to wow your friends when you serve it up, is easy! Start off with the larger leaves and set them out in a circle, working from the outside-in. Then add thinly sliced cucumber here and there, nicely and evenly spaced.
Now you can easily insert the leaves of the Trevisano, here and there... Enjoy yourself, it's fun! It's a little bit like flower arranging... Only edible!
Spoon over the dressing generously, but carefully, and add the berries last of all to keep it looking at its best. I added a fresh sprig of mint as a finishing touch and as you can see from the main picture... It did look absolutely as pretty as a picture... Only once you have set it out on the dining table and everybody has said, "WOW!" - I'm afraid you are going to have to get in there and stir it through before enjoying it!
But even then, it still looks mighty fine! And yes indeed... Enjoy it you will!
Now come on sunshine! We have been waiting for you for so long!
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