Skip to main content

Blackberry Lemon Mint Cucumber Radish Salad

Simple fresh salads with fresh herbs from the garden are on tap for this summer.  No garden?  No excuses.  You have windows, don't you?!  Use 'em and grow at least one herb - it will brighten up not only your dishes but your attitude.

Also, add berries to every salad you can.  You'll appreciate it.
1 cucumber
6-8 red radishes, cleaned and sliced
1/2 orange pepper, diced
12 blackberries
1 green onion, diced
2 Tbsp fresh parsley, minced
2 Tbsp fresh mint, minced

Dressing:
juice of 1/2 lemon
2 Tbsp seasoned rice vinegar (or other favorite vinegar)
1 tsp whole grain Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/4 tsp dried (or fresh!) dill weed
salt and pepper to taste

Whisk together the dressing ingredients in a bowl.

Coarsely peel the cucumber, leaving a few slivers of dark green skin on for accent. Trim ends and slice cucumber in half lengthwise. Now cut cucumber into half moons.

Add the cucumber along with the pepper, blackberries, onion, parsley and mint to the bowl with the dressing. Toss well and allow to marinate for at least 30-60 minutes in the refrigerator, stirring every 10 minutes or so.

Serves 4 as a small side salad.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Umami Beef Short Ribs Samin Nosrat

This is the penultimate prep for beef short ribs.  Based on the superb documentary by Samin Nosrat, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, this is the most umami rib dish you will ever have.  Its the combination of red miso and soy sauce that marinates and flavors the beef - give it a long time to work right - that means overnight in the fridge; it's worth the planning ahead. 6 beef short ribs on the bone, about 3-4 lb 1 large sweet yellow onion, diced 2 stalks celery, diced 1 jalapeño pepper, minced 4 cloves garlic, halved Marinade: 1/4 cup red miso 1/4 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup pale dry sherry or Mirin rice wine 1 Tbsp sesame oil 1 Tbsp honey 2 cloves garlic, minced Salt the ribs generously with coarse salt and let rest overnight in the refrigerator in a resealable plastic bag. Whisk together the marinade.   Pour into the plastic bag and allow to marinate on the counter for about 2-3 hours, or again overnight in the refrigerator. Preheat oven to 375F. 

Scrambled Benedict

This is the ultimate Sunday brunch item. Don't be intimidated about making a Hollandaise sauce - it is so much easier and quicker than you may think. And it is oh, so luscious over eggs.  You can poach your eggs or fry them; whatever you prefer.  My favorite is poached, but others in the family like scrambled better, so I scrambled. Happy brunching. Hollandaise Sauce: 2 egg yokes, in a small bowl 1/2 cup butter, just melted in microwave 1 Tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1/4 tsp salt ~1 Tbsp lukewarm water 2 English muffins 2 remaining egg whites 3   eggs 1 Tbsp cream dash dried dill Set up a double boiler (I use a medium pot with a metal bowl on top), and bring 2 cups water to the boil. Reduce heat to low. In the yet unheated double boiler top bowl, whisk together the butter, lemon juice, mustard and salt. Warm over double boiler. Whisk the egg yokes together.   Slowly whisk the yokes into the warmed butter mixture, drizzling the yokes in slowly.   Whisk continuously.   If the

Coconut Rice Noodles with Eggplant

Noodle bowls are always a welcome dish for a wholesome dinner meal after an outing like grooming roses with your Park friends. Or whatever you've been doing in the afternoon. This will satisfy an appetite after a good day's work, with hearty eggplant, satisfying noodles and a cozy broth of coconut and tomatoes. Garnish with basil or mint. 1/2 lb dried wide rice noodles 2 Tbsp olive oil plus 2 Tbsp salted butter 1 medium onion, sliced kernels from 1 fresh corn stalk, or 1/2 cup frozen 3/4 lb eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 4 cups) 2 cloves garlic, minced 3/4-inch fresh ginger, minced 1 tsp favorite curry powder 1 can whole coconut milk (I used Trader Joe’s) 2 cups chicken (or veggie broth) - I used home-made stock 1 dozen grape tomatoes, halved Set a medium pot of water to boil for the noodles. Simmer according to package directions until just before cooked. Meanwhile, melt the butter in the olive oil in a wide skillet.   Add the onion and sauté for about 5 minutes on