When it comes to culinary excellence, few dishes strike a balance of flavors and textures quite like a well-crafted salad. Enter our exquisite Strawberry Salad with Feta, Arugula, and Pickled Red Onions—a delightful ensemble of sweet strawberries, peppery arugula, tangy feta cheese, and the subtle crunch of pickled onions. This vibrant medley is not just a feast for the senses but also a celebration of health and freshness.
Unveiling the Ingredients
Before we delve into the culinary symphony that awaits, let’s gather our ingredients:
For Pickled Red Onions:
- 1 large red onion
- ½ cup white balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
For the Salad:
- 5 ounces baby arugula
- ¼ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- ¼ cup chopped fresh mint
- 2 pounds fresh strawberries, hulled and halved or quartered
- ¾ cup crumbled feta cheese (4 oz.)
- ½ cup toasted pistachios
- ¼ cup olive oil
Crafting Culinary Brilliance
Preparing the Pickled Red Onions:
- Begin by slicing the red onion into thin half-moons.
- In a medium bowl, combine white balsamic vinegar, sugar, and salt.
- Add the sliced onion to the mixture, ensuring it’s well coated.
- Allow the onions to marinate for 10 to 15 minutes, letting the flavors meld and intensify.
Building the Salad Masterpiece:
- On a platter or individual salad plates, arrange a bed of fresh baby arugula, finely chopped parsley, and mint.
- Top this verdant canvas with the star ingredients: ripe strawberries, crumbled feta cheese, and the tangy pickled red onions.
- For that extra layer of indulgence, sprinkle toasted pistachios generously over the ensemble.
- Optional: Garnish with additional parsley and mint for a burst of color and freshness.
Drizzling Elegance:
- In a final flourish of flavor, stir olive oil into the reserved pickling liquid, creating a tantalizing dressing.
- Drizzle this elixir of taste over the salad, ensuring every leaf and berry is kissed by its savory embrace.
Nutritional Insight
Now, let’s delve into the nutritional profile of this culinary delight:
- Calories: 224 per serving
- Total Fat: 14g (18% DV)
- Saturated Fat: 3g (15% DV)
- Cholesterol: 13mg (4% DV)
- Sodium: 316mg (14% DV)
- Total Carbohydrate: 22g (8% DV)
- Total Sugars: 15g
- Protein: 5g
- Vitamin C: 70.8mg (79% DV)
- Calcium: 138mg (11% DV)
- Iron: 1.6mg (9% DV)
- Potassium: 382mg (8% DV)
- Folate: 62.6mcg
- Vitamin B-12: 0.2mcg
- Vitamin B-6: 0.3mg
Embracing Culinary Sophistication
In conclusion, our Strawberry Salad with Feta, Arugula, and Pickled Red Onions transcends the ordinary, offering a symphony of flavors and a bounty of nutritional benefits. Whether it graces your dinner table as a side dish or takes center stage as a light and refreshing meal, this salad is sure to captivate discerning palates and elevate your culinary repertoire to new heights. Bon appétit!
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