Description
Ribbon salad with orange vinaigrette offers a refreshing twist on classic salad preparation. Crisp vegetables and zesty citrus dressing create elegant layers perfect for enjoying alongside grilled meats or as a light summer side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 0.25 cup fresh mint or basil, chopped
- 0.25 cup feta cheese or Parmesan, crumbled or shaved
- 2 medium carrots, peeled into ribbons
- 1 medium zucchini, shaved into ribbons
- 1 yellow squash, shaved into ribbons
- 0.5 cucumber, peeled into ribbons
- 0.25 red onion, thinly sliced
- toasted pine nuts or slivered almonds
- 0.25 cup (60 ml / 2 fl oz) fresh orange juice
- 1 tbsp (15 ml / 0.5 fl oz) orange zest
- 2 tbsps (30 ml / 1 fl oz) olive oil
- 1 tbsp (15 ml / 0.5 fl oz) white wine or champagne vinegar
- 1 tsp (5 ml / 0.17 fl oz) honey or maple syrup
- salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preparation: Craft delicate vegetable ribbons using a sharp peeler or mandoline, transforming carrots, zucchini, yellow squash, and cucumber into translucent, elegant strips.
- Dressing Creation: Whisk together orange juice, zest, olive oil, vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper in a jar until the mixture emulsifies into a glossy vinaigrette.
- Composition: Transfer vegetable ribbons to a mixing bowl, drizzle with citrus dressing, and gently fold to ensure even coating without compromising the delicate texture.
- Finishing Touches: Garnish with finely chopped fresh herbs, crumbled cheese, and toasted nuts to elevate the salad’s flavor profile and visual appeal.
- Serving: Chill for 10-15 minutes to allow flavors to meld, or serve immediately for a crisp, refreshing experience that showcases the vibrant ingredients.
Notes
- Slice Vegetables Carefully: Use a sharp vegetable peeler or mandoline with caution to create uniform, thin ribbons without tearing the delicate vegetable strips.
- Balance Vinaigrette Flavors: Adjust the orange vinaigrette’s sweetness and acidity by tasting and incrementally adding honey or vinegar to achieve a perfectly balanced dressing.
- Prevent Ribbon Wilting: Chill vegetables before slicing and dress the salad just before serving to maintain crispness and prevent vegetable ribbons from becoming soggy.
- Customize Herb Combinations: Experiment with fresh herb mixtures like mint, basil, or parsley to add unexpected depth and personalize the salad’s flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg