A Fresh Summer Salad

For this recipe, you will require an unlikely combination of very few ingredients that I guarantee to leave your taste buds wanting more. I have recently discovered, and come to appreciate, the marriage of sweet and salt. If done well, it reveals limitless possibilities.

Baby Spinach and Goat Cheese Salad (serves 2)

2 packed cups of baby spinach leaves

1 medium red bell pepper (capsicum) thinly sliced

1 mandarin peeled and pieces separated

1 medium red onion thinly sliced into strips

50g goat cheese (maybe a little more, if you so desire)

a dusting of all-purpose flour (optional)

3 tbsp vegetable oil (optional)

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (totally NOT optional)

salt and pepper to taste

Thoroughly wash and dry the baby spinach leaves and keep them aside. Remove the skin from the pieces of mandarin and keep them aside. Break up the goat cheese into chunks and keep it aside. Lightly coat the slices of onion in vegetable oil, and toss them together with a dusting of all-purpose flour so that they are slightly battered. Fry the flour covered onion in the remaining vegetable oil until the strips are curled and crispy. Strain them and keep them aside on a plate covered with a napkin to absorb any oil. Now, combine the baby spinach, mandarin pieces, red pepper slices and goat cheese in a large salad bowl. Whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper, and drizzle this over the salad. Give it a toss if it needs one. Finally, garnish the salad with the fried onion strips.

Variations for Health and Taste:

If you’re not a fan of baby spinach, any combination of greens should work well. Try 1 head of radicchio combined with 1 bunch of arugula. Even lettuce of any kind should do the trick if the suggested greens are unavailable, or if you enjoy your salad on the conservative side. Also, any colour of bell pepper will do, as they are all an excellent source of dietary fibre, vitamin C, and vitamin B6. If you can’t get your paws on mandarin, then any citrus should work just as well. However, I highly discourage you from using lemon and lime - stick to orange and tangerine. As for the onion, it need not be battered and fried. If you’re on a low-carb diet, then feel free to simply caramelize the onion. It is also perfectly acceptable to garnish the salad with slices of fresh red onion as well (white doesn’t make for the best fresh garnish.) Finally, roasted goat cheese will give added character to this salad, or even a sprinkle of roasted pine nuts. Buon Appetito!