| Prep: 15 mins | Cook: 0 mins | Difficulty: Easy | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 200 | 15g | 2g | 17g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 10g | 2g | 2g | 0.1g |
Every time I prepare the Spring Greens Salad with Cicely and Lemon Vinaigrette, I fall in love with its bursts of life-giving zest that make it incredibly refreshing and an embodiment of spring bliss. To say that this is just a salad would do it a disservice, as the layers of flavor, texture, and color in this particular dish are a tribute to my Afro-Southern heritage.
The Magic Behind The Dish
The brilliance of this salad lies in the unique fusion of cicely leaves, an often overlooked leafy green, with assorted fresh fruits and a tangy lemon vinaigrette. It’s this marriage of different taste profiles which lends to the Spring Greens Salad a fertility of flavors that are at once familiar and excitingly foreign. Drawing inspiration from my Nigerian roots and Atlanta upbringing, similar to Robin Miller’s Apple and Cabbage Salad but with an Afro-Southern spin.
As a lawyer and culinary enthusiast living with my partner and without children, I often find myself needing nourishing and quick meals. The Spring Greens Salad seamlessly fits into my lifestyle, as it’s not only healthful but also quick to whip up.
The Healthful Afro-Southern Delight
One of the reasons I absolutely adore this salad is because it’s as nutritionally rich as it is delicious. The mixed greens serve as a wellspring of vitamins A, C, and K, the various fruits deliver a beneficial punch of fiber and antioxidants, while the olive oil is a great source of heart-healthy fats. Moreover, the sweetness of the honey together with the tang of the mustard and lemon create a sensational vinaigrette that keeps the salad low in sodium thus promoting cardiovascular wellness. Check out this link on Healthline to learn more about the nutritional benefits of these ingredients.
This salad pairs wonderfully with various dishes. Personally, I love to serve it alongside succulent roasted meats like the African Bites Jerk Chicken, where the freshness of the salad cuts through the rich and spicy flavors of the chicken creating a perfectly balanced plate.
So there you have it! The Spring Greens Salad with Cicely and Lemon Vinaigrette – a quick, healthful, and utterly appetizing salad that is also a testament to the sumptuous possibilities of Afro-Southern fusion. Enjoy!
What You’ll Need
- 6 cups mixed greens
- 1 cup cicely leaves
- 2 cups assorted fresh fruits (berries, apple, pear, etc.)
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons honey
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Method
Step One
Rinse the 6 cups of mixed greens and 1 cup of cicely leaves under cool running water. Pat them dry and place into a large salad bowl. Remove any yellow or wilted leaves.
Step Two
Wash 2 cups of assorted fresh fruits and cut them into bite-sized pieces if necessary. Add the fruits to the salad bowl.
Step Three
To make the lemon vinaigrette, start by zesting the lemons until you have 2 tablespoons of lemon zest. Next, squeeze out 1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice.
Step Four
In a separate bowl, combine the 2 tablespoons of lemon zest, 1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice, 1/2 cup of extra-virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons of honey, and add salt and black pepper to taste. Whisk together until well combined.
Step Five
Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad just before serving, and toss gently to combine. Ensure all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
Step Six
Serve your Spring Greens Salad with Cicely and Lemon Vinaigrette immediately, or refrigerate it for an hour before serving to let the flavours meld together.
