Leafy Green Salad with Apples & Tomatoes

So now that everyone is updated on what I haven't been posting for the last couple of weeks, let me start catching up by continuing my Salad 101 posts. I have covered How-to's on Cleaning & Storing Salad Greens, Types of Salad Greens & Tossing and Adding the Dressing. Now I will FINALLY be sharing the recipes :D .. 

Since I embarked on this salad making journey, I have been experimenting with various types of greens, fruits, dressings & seasonings, and have finally achieved the balance that my family loves.

My basic rule is that salad greens will form the base of the salad, along with some fruit to provide the sweetness, along with some citrus  to provide tang. Other vegetables can be added to make the salad more filling, nuts can be added for crunch, and proteins like chicken & cottage cheese can be added to make it more of a main course than a salad. 

Fresh Salad Greens with Apples & Tomatoes

Leafy Salad Green with Apples & Tomato

Salad Ingredients:
3-4 cups of Shredded/Cut Mild Greens (Mesclun Lettuce/Mixed Salad Greens or Chinese Cabbage)
1/4 cup of Rocket/Arugula
1/4 cup of Baby Spinach
Fresh Herbs (Basil, Parsley, Oregano) - 10 to 12 leaves, roughly chopped
1 Apple - cut into slices
1 Tomato - cut into wedges
1-2 Oranges - cut into segments

Dressing:
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp yoghurt
1 tbsp vinegar
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp mustard
salt & pepper
sumac (optional)Note: The dressing is also not a typical vinaigrette - I reduced the olive oil & added yoghurt for some creaminess. 

1. Toss the fruit (apples & oranges) with some lemon juice. 

2. Blend the ingredients for the salad dressing in a blender for 30 seconds till it is creamy. Alternatively you can add all the ingredients and whisk for about a minute. Taste & adjust seasonings if required. 
3. Take a big salad bowl and add salad greens, baby spinach & rocket/arugula. You can increase/decrease the quantity of the specific type of salad green based on personal preference.
4.Toss the salad greens together with 2 tbsp of the dressing. Adjust and add more dressing if required.
5. Add apples, carrots & oranges. Add 1 tbsp of the dressing and lightly toss. 
6.Garnish with tomatoes.

If you want to save the salad for the next day, then add the salad dressing individually into your plate otherwise the salad will start wilting once the dressing is added.

Playing Around:

1. Fruits: Substitute the apple for pear 

2. Citrus: Substitute the oranges for Mosambi or Grapefruit

3. Vegetables: Olives, capsicum, carrots or broccoli can be added/substituted

4. Protein: Add grilled paneer, grilled chicken or feta cheese to make it more filling

5. Crunch: Toast some nuts in a dry skillet and crush & sprinkle on top

Read up on my other Salad 101 blog posts below:

Salad 101 - Cleaning & Storing Greens

Salad 101 -Tossing Greens & Adding the Salad Dressing
Salad 101 - Types of Salad Greens
Salad 101 - The Basic Salad Dressing

Where to get Salad Greens in Karachi:

Sungold Organic – Home delivery of Organic Vegetables

Email at Sungoldorganic@gmail.com

Sungold number, 0342-2382731, 0345-2008247:
Growing your Own – Seeds available from Crops in Pots & available from Mom’s Garden

Gardening Help – SWOT’s Guide to House and Gardens & My Kitchen Garden Project

Shops – Assortment of vegetables can be found from Agha’s, Farids, Hyperstar, Empress Market, Defence Sunday Bazaar, & a ‘Sabzi Wala’ near French Bakery at Khadda Market

Reference Books:

How to Cook Everything (Completely Revised 10th Anniversary Edition
The New Best Recipe by Cooks Illustrated Magazine