Salad has become a big part of my life now that I’m dating a Palestinian chef. Salad to him is like bread to me. It goes with every meal.
I have found that combining the simplest ingredients make for the best salad. I love to include home grown herbs like my mint. They boost salad’s flavor! I am very fond of romaine lettuce although I keep organic mixed greens on hand from his restaurant. Some feta, tomatoes, whole olives, green onions, apples, and a homemade salad dressing is all that you need for a mind blowing first or main course.
When we first started dating, he said I could never buy store bought dressing again. I laughed. I’d been using store bought salad dressing all of my life. Occasionally, I’d make my own lemon and olive oil dressing but that’s as far as I’d venture. I was good. I was buying the expensive pomegranate dressing from Whole Foods. It wasn’t shelf stable!
He was very right though. Once I stopped using store bought dressing, I couldn’t go back. It all tasted very chemically. Where was the life in the ingredients? There wasn’t any. Thankfully, I found ways to easily make dressings for these salads that always elevate the experience.
Pomegranate Salad Dressing (for two)
2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tbsp Pomegranate Molasses
1/2 fresh lemon juice
Sprinkle of dried sumac and aleppo
Pinch of dried Mountain Oregano
Salt and Pepper to taste
Salad Ingredients
Lettuce of choice (I love romaine or mixed greens)
Tomatoes of choice (I’m on a Campari kick right now)
Feta (or grilled halloumi for those who know)
1/2 apple diced
1/2 cucumber sliced
Handful of pecans or Pistachios
Chopped green onions
Olives on the side
Finding Beauty At 30 