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Appetizers Produce Salads

California Strawberry Salad

Strawberry Salad
California Strawberry Salad - Photo courtesy of the CA Strawberry Commission

Last week the California Strawberry Commission hosted an event for bloggers and food writers in San Francisco. Cheryl Sternman Rule was on hand discussing her amazing book, Ripe: A Fresh, Colorful Approach to Fruits and Vegetables. After the event, the CA Strawberry Commission shared recipes that I am privileged to share with you. One of my favorites is the California Strawberry Salad, a recipe developed by True Food Kitchen. True Food Kitchen is a restaurant with several locations in Southern California and Arizona. It was developed in partnership with Andrew Weil, MD and their goal is to make mouthwatering food that is also great for your health. I hope they have plans to move to the Bay Area!

For more great strawberry recipes, check out the recipe collection at the CA Strawberry Commission website.

Strawberry Salad
California Strawberry Salad - Photo courtesy of the California Strawberry Commission
California Strawberry Salad
 
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A savory salad courtesy of True Food Kitchen and the California Strawberry Commission. Used by permission.
Author:
Recipe type: Appetiser
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 2 cups snap peas, cleaned
  • 1 fennel bulb, diced
  • 1 pint strawberries, washed and sliced
  • 4 oz baby greens
  • 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus more for roasting
  • 1 Tbsp agave nectar
  • 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1⁄2 cup goat cheese
  • 1⁄2 cup toasted walnuts
  • Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Blanch the snap peas in salted boiling water for 30 seconds. Refresh in ice water immediately after cooking to lock in the bright green color and to keep from overcooking.
  2. Lay out the fennel on a sheet pan. Season with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast snap peas at 375 degrees for 10 minutes or until tender and caramelized. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 45 minutes.
  3. Arrange strawberries, baby greens, blanched snap peas and roasted fennel in a large salad bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the agave nectar and balsamic vinegar with the olive oil to create the vinaigrette. Whisk until incorporated. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  4. Divide on four plates and drizzle vinaigrette over the salad. Top the salad with equal parts goat cheese and walnuts.
Strawberry Salad
California Strawberry Salad - Photo courtesy of the CA Strawberry Commission
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Appetizers Produce Uncategorized

Strawberry Caprese Salad

Strawberry Caprese Salad
Strawberry Caprese Salad - photo courtesy of the California Strawberry Commission

Last week, the California Strawberry Commission hosted in an event in San Francisco highlighting strawberries and featuring Cheryl Sternman Rule, author of the new book, Ripe: A Fresh, Colorful Approach to Fruits and Vegetables. Ms. Sternman Rule is a Silicon-Valley based food writer who writes the amazing blog, 5 Second Rule. I am always inspired by her writing and her photography alike. If this blog is not on your radar screen, it should be. Add it to your list. Stat.

The California Strawberry commission generously shared some amazing recipes with me which I am excited to share with you, like this Strawberry Caprese Salad. What a great combination to mix the sweetness of strawberries with the tanginess of a balsamic reduction and the creaminess of Mozzarella. If it seems strange at first, don’t forget, tomatoes are fruit too!

I feel so lucky to live in California in the heart of Strawberry country. Did you know that California produces 88% of all of the strawberries in the US? We benefit from a year-round growing season. In Southern California, there is harvesting of strawberries in April, May and June as well as October, November and December. Northern California sees its peak growing season in late spring and early summer, but also continues to harvest into November.

To keep strawberries fresh once harvested, they are rushed to a cooling facility where the heat from the fields is drawn out quickly and then they are kept at 32˚F until they reach the market.

For more great strawberry recipes and recipes for everything else in your CSA box or in your bag from the Farmer’s Market, don’t forget to order:

Strawberry Caprese Salad
 
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Author:
Recipe type: Salad
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 2 pounds fresh California strawberries, stemmed and halved
  • 2 cups bite-sized fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini), drained, halved
  • ½ cup balsamic vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 3-4 fresh basil leaves, chiffonade, finely diced
  • 3-4 mint leaves, chiffonade, finely diced
  • Salt, pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. To make balsamic syrup, in nonreactive pot, simmer vinegar over low heat until reduced to one-half its original volume (1/4 cup).
  2. In serving bowl, toss strawberries and mozzarella balls with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Add basil and mint; toss again.
  3. Drizzle balsamic syrup over and around salad. Grind more pepper on top.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 350 Fat: 23 Carbohydrates: 25 Fiber: 5 Protein: 18 Cholesterol: 40


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