Abstract Expressionist Salad (Print out)

A visually striking salad with diverse textures, vibrant colors, and a zesty olive oil dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables & Fruits

01 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes (red and yellow), halved
02 - 1 small golden beet, peeled and shaved
03 - 1 small cucumber, sliced into ribbons
04 - 1/2 cup red radishes, thinly sliced
05 - 1 cup watermelon, cut into irregular cubes
06 - 1 ripe avocado, cubed

→ Greens & Herbs

07 - 1 cup mixed baby greens (arugula, baby spinach, frisée)
08 - 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves, torn

→ Crunch & Texture

09 - 1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds
10 - 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds

→ Cheese

11 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

→ Dressing

12 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
13 - 1 tbsp white balsamic vinegar
14 - 1 tsp honey
15 - 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
16 - Salt, to taste
17 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Wash and prepare all vegetables and fruits, placing each type separately in bowls.
02 - Spread the mixed baby greens and torn mint leaves loosely over a large platter or shallow serving bowl.
03 - Distribute halved tomatoes, shaved beet, cucumber ribbons, sliced radishes, watermelon cubes, and cubed avocado over the greens, allowing colors and textures to intertwine without uniformity.
04 - Sprinkle toasted pumpkin seeds, pomegranate seeds, and crumbled feta cheese over the assembled salad in an irregular, artful pattern.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together extra-virgin olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and freshly ground black pepper until well emulsified.
06 - Drizzle the dressing generously over the salad using a zigzag and splatter technique to mimic artistic brushstrokes.
07 - Present immediately, encouraging guests to admire the visual contrast before mixing to combine flavors.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a conversation starter—guests will actually pause to admire the plating before diving in, and that moment of appreciation is part of the magic
  • Zero cooking required means you can pull it together in under twenty minutes, perfect for those nights when you want something spectacular without the heat of the stove
  • Every bite tastes different depending on what you fork up, keeping things exciting and playful all the way through
02 -
  • Cut your avocado at the very last moment before serving or immediately before eating—it oxidizes and browns faster than you'd expect, and it will cloud your beautiful presentation
  • The dressing won't perfectly coat everything, and that's completely intentional—some bites will be dry, others luxuriously dressed, and that variation is what makes this salad interesting rather than uniform
03 -
  • Taste your dressing before it touches the salad—it should taste slightly more intense than you'd want on its own because the mild greens and vegetables will dilute it
  • If your guests include someone with a nut allergy, check your pumpkin seed packaging carefully and consider swapping for sunflower seeds, which provide the same textural crunch without the risk
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