Recipe: Strawberry slaw with fig balsamic vinaigrette
Strawberries brighten this slaw. (Photo: Debbie Arrington) |
Early spring salads depend on something other than tomatoes to give them a burst of juicy flavor as contrast to crunchy greens.
Strawberries show off their savory side in this easy slaw with a touch of sweetness. Their bright color and tart taste work well with cabbage and spinach.
Although basic grape-based balsamic vinegar works in the vinaigrette, try fig or other fruit-based balsamic vinegar. It adds another note of sweet-tart flavor to accent the fresh strawberries.
Strawberry slaw with fig balsamic vinaigrette
Makes 2 servings
Ingredients:
8 strawberries, hulled and sliced
1 cup cabbage, thinly shredded
1 cup spinach, shredded or torn
¼ cup dried cranberries
¼ cup chopped almonds
For vinaigrette:
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon fig balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon sugar
Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Instructions:
In a large bowl, place sliced strawberries, cabbage, spinach, dried cranberries and almonds.
Prepare vinaigrette. In a small jar with a tight-fitting lid (such as a half-pint mason jar), combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Cover and shake until blended.
Pour vinaigrette over strawberry-cabbage mix. Toss lightly.
Serve immediately.
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Garden Checklist for week of May 5
Survey your garden after the May 4 rainstorm. Heavy rain and gusty winds can break the neck of large flowers such as roses. Also:
* Keep an eye on new transplants or seedlings; they could take a pounding from the rain.
* Watch out for powdery mildew. Warmth following moist conditions can cause this fungal disease to “bloom,” too. If you see a leaf that looks like it’s dusted with powdered sugar, snip it off.
* After the storm, start setting out tomato transplants, but wait on the peppers and eggplants (they want warmer nights). Pinch off any flowers on new transplants to make them concentrate on establishing roots instead of setting premature fruit.
* Trim dead flowers but not leaves from spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips. Those leaves gather energy to create next year's flowers. Also, give the bulbs a fertilizer boost after bloom.
* Pinch chrysanthemums back to 12 inches for fall flowers. Cut old stems to the ground.
* Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and control weeds.
* From seed, plant beans, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, corn, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, radishes and squash.
* Plant onion sets.
* In the flower garden, plant seeds for asters, cosmos, celosia, marigolds, salvia, sunflowers and zinnias. Transplant petunias, zinnias, geraniums and other summer bloomers.
* Plant perennials and dahlia tubers for summer bloom.
* Don’t wait; plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.
* Harvest cabbage, lettuce, peas and green onions.