CliqueClack Food

Gourmet mesclun salad – World’s Easiest

by Debbie McDuffee

I cannot tell a lie … this is the world’s easiest salad, but it’s also one you can serve to guests and get raving compliments. it’s my go-to salad, when I don’t have time for a ton of chopping but I want a side of greens. It looks stunning and tastes just as good.

Did I hype it enough for you? If you like mesclun greens and can throw them into a bowl, you can pretty much make this salad, and I’ll give you a bunch of variations so it can be a little bit different each time you serve it to the guests you don’t like enough to chop for!

Gourmet Mesclun Salad

Ingredients:

enough mesclun salad mix to nearly fill your bowl
dried cranberries (we like fruit-sweetened ones)
cheese crumbles (feta, goat, or your favorite blue)
sliced almonds (or pine nuts, or walnuts, or pecans)
sliced hearts of palm (optional, but a nice dress-up)
balsamic vinaigrette (yes, you can use one from a bottle if you don’t let your guests see it)

Toss all ingredients together in your desired proportions and serve. Say “thank you” when your guests tell you it’s yummy.

If you don’t want to use bottled balsamic vinaigrette (kind of a yuck in my house!), try my recipe:

Maple Mustard Balsamic Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (unfiltered — yum!)
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon maple syrup (grade B — yum!)
1/2 teaspoon grainy mustard (Westbrae Farms — yum!)
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 to 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

Whisk, taste, adjust olive oil to your liking, toss on salad and serve.

Some other variations?

Try other dried fruits, like blueberries, cherries, apricots.
Or, use fresh fruit instead: orange segments, chunks of apple, fresh raspberries.
Toss in sliced red onion, or scallions.
Add honey-drizzled croutons.
Toss in chunks of grilled chicken for a main dish meal.