Mediterranean Diet / Salad Recipe

Garden Fresh Italian Summer Salad is a refreshing dish that combines a variety of greens, such as sweet ice glace lettuce, red sweet crisp, and red Onion, resulting in a perfect balance of flavors and textures. Each green has a unique taste, enhancing the salad's depth and diversity.

Experience the unique flavors of the greens and discover the nourishing properties of extra virgin olive oil. This dish satisfies the taste buds and provides various health benefits.

Prepare to indulge in a nutritious and delicious Italian classic that celebrates the beauty of vibrant greens and the goodness of extra virgin olive oil.

The Lemon Vinaigrette

A tangy and zesty lemon vinaigrette works wonders to enhance the taste of the Garden Fresh Italian Summer Salad. It provides a refreshing and citrusy kick that perfectly complements the mix of greens. Let's delve into the recipe and understand why choosing premium quality extra virgin olive oil is crucial as the key ingredient.

• 1/4 cup Papa Vince extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon Papa Vince 8-year aged Balsamic Vinegar
• 1/2 shallot, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon Papa Vince Trapani Sea Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

OR... Replace 1/4 cup Papa Vince Extra Virgin Olive Oil + 1 1/2 tbsp Lemon juice with 1/4 cup Papa Vince Lemon Agrumato Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

For an excellent lemon vinaigrette, use high-quality extra virgin olive oil labeled "extra virgin" and cold-pressed. It enhances taste and offers health benefits like heart-healthy fats and antioxidants.

The combination of tangy lemon juice, slightly acidic aged balsamic vinegar, aromatic shallot and garlic, and herbaceous dried oregano creates a flavorful base. Sea salt and black pepper provide a balanced seasoning, but the high-quality extra virgin olive oil ties all the flavors together, infusing the dressing with fruity and peppery notes.

Exploring the Assortment of Greens

This Garden Fresh Italian Summer Salad perfectly combines flavors, textures, and colors. The crunchy sweet ice glace lettuce complements the bold bitterness of the red sweet crisp and the sharpness of red Onion, creating a dynamic eating experience that excites the taste buds with every bite.

SWEET ICE GLACE LETTUCE: forms the crisp and refreshing base of the Garden Fresh Italian Summer Salad. It is known for its mild flavor, delicate crunch, and high water content. Despite its relatively subtle taste, it provides a satisfying and hydrating element to the salad. Rich in dietary fiber and low in calories, it gives a feeling of fullness while offering essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin K and folate.

RED SWEET CRISP: is a leafy green that adds a vibrant touch of red to any dish. It has a slightly spicy, peppery taste and delicate texture with feathery leaves. When paired with the sweet ice glace lettuce, it provides a pleasant contrast of textures. More than just visually appealing. The red sweet crisp is also a nutritional powerhouse, its packed with vitamins A, C, and K and antioxidants that promote overall health and well-being.

RED ONION: its sharp and pungent flavor brings a zesty kick to the Garden Fresh Italian Summer Salad. Its distinct taste adds a layer of complexity to the dish, balancing the sweetness of other ingredients. They contain beneficial compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, red onions provide fiber, vitamin C, and other essential nutrients.

Complementary Ingredients

• Add sweet cherry tomatoes to your Garden Fresh Italian Summer Salad for a refreshing contrast to the greens. They're packed with antioxidants, vitamins A and C, and lycopene for added nutritional value.
• Chickpeas elevate your Garden Fresh Italian Summer Salad with a creamy, nutty taste and high protein content. They're also rich in fiber, iron, and folate. Swap in cannellini or kidney beans for variety.
• Fresh mozzarella adds a creamy texture and mild flavor to salads. It's also a nutritious source of calcium and protein. Diced or bocconcini can be used as substitutes.
• Provolone Cheese adds a savory, smoky flavor. Its semi-hard texture gives a satisfying bite, and its tangy taste balances well with other ingredients. Provolone is a good source of protein and calcium. Still, you can try other cheeses like feta, Parmesan, or creamy goat cheese for a different taste.
• Pepperoncini is a mild chili pepper that enhances the flavor of Garden Fresh Italian Summer Salad with its subtle heat and tang. It's rich in vitamins A and C and capsaicin, which have health benefits. If you prefer less heat, leave it out altogether.

Variations

• For a vegetarian option, you can omit the provolone cheese or substitute it with a plant-based alternative like vegan cheese or tofu.
• Add a handful of sliced black olives or marinated artichoke hearts for a Mediterranean twist.
• Include some sliced grilled chicken or shrimp to increase the protein content and make it more substantial.

Recipe

Ingredients

Lemon Vinaigrette

• 1/4 cup Papa Vince extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon Papa Vince 8-year aged Balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 shallot, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon Papa Vince Trapani Sea Salt
• freshly ground black pepper

For the Salad

• 1 small head of Hydroponic Sweet Ice Glace Lettuce - from LocAL Lettuce Heads .Farm
• 1 head Hydroponic Red Sweet Crisp - from LocAL Lettuce Heads .Farm
• 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 1-pint cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
• 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 4 ounces fresh pearl mozzarella, drained
• 4 ounces provolone cheese, diced
• 5 pepperoncini, stemmed and sliced
• 1 teaspoon oregano for garnish
• to taste, Papa Vince Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

How to Make

Whisk extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, aged balsamic vinegar, shallot, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper in a small bowl for the dressing. Set aside.

Start by cutting the head of the Sweet Ice Glace lettuce in half through the core, then remove the heart. Slice the lettuce lengthwise into 1/4-inch strips. Repeat the same process with the Red Sweet Crisp.

Combine the sliced Sweet Ice Glace lettuce, Red Sweet Crisp, halved cherry tomatoes, rinsed and drained chickpeas, drained fresh pearl mozzarella, diced provolone cheese, and stemmed and sliced pepperoncini.

Drizzle the prepared lemon vinaigrette dressing over the salad ingredients and toss gently to coat everything evenly. Make sure all the components are well covered with the dressing.

(5) - Final Touch: season the salad with additional extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper to taste, if desired. Serve and enjoy the delightful flavors and textures of this vibrant Italian chopped salad.

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