Spice up your salad - fruit
Last week in our Spice up your Salad series, we took a look at how you can add some extra crunch and flavour by adding nuts, grains and seeds to your leaves. I hope you have had the chance to try some of the tasty recipes we featured.
This week I want to introduce you to the idea of adding fruit as well. Using fruit in main savoury dishes is quite normal in the cooking of many other cultures, but we don’t always think about doing it here. But mixing fresh fruit to a fresh salad can give it a real zing and splash of sweetness. It is also a great way to get more nutrients into your diet, particularly if you aren’t a big fruit eater.
It doesn't have to be complicated – just adding a few sliced strawberries or some diced apple to a green salad can really lift it out of the ordinary. If you are little wary or have to convince family members to give it a go, you can always have the chopped fruit in a little bowl on the table and start by adding a small bit first.
Other fruits you might like to try and that go really well with salads are:
- apricots
- mango
- pears
- grapes
- pomegranates
- oranges
- pineapple
- papaya
- kiwi
- melon
- cherries
- figs
- grapes
- nectarines
- peaches
- plums
If you are not used to adding fruit to salads, but fancy giving it a go, check out these tasty recipes:
- http://www.carlsbadcravings.com/pomegranate-pear-pistachio-salad-creamy-pomegranate-dressing/
- This website has 10 great fruit and salad recipes so you will be sure one to tempt you! http://dailyburn.com/life/recipes/creative-fruit-salad-recipes/
- Such an easy recipe which uses pineapple – a flavour we often find in savoury dishes. http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/spiced-chicken-pineapple-salad
- If you want something more meaty but still want to try fruit in your salad how about this Asian inspired salad http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/seared-beef-papaya-salad-tamarind-soy-dressing
- A great one for summer as peaches come into season, try this delicious peach, chicken and feta salad http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipe/herbed-chicken-peach-feta-salad
I'd love to hear which proved to be your favourites - let me know your verdict on my Facebook page!