Celebration Red Salad
Source: Linda Shiue, MD, Spicebox Kitchen
Recipe Type: Salads | Seasons: Autumn, Summer
Red is considered the color of good luck, joy, and celebration in Chinese culture. This salad honors that tradition with a festive and dramatic addition to any table. The bite of the radishes, cabbage, and radicchio are mellowed out by the sweetness of the beets and the vinaigrette. Bonus flavor and color come from the crispy fried shallots, cilantro, and pomegranate arils, which were introduced from Iran to China by the trade routes of the Silk Road.
Serves 6
INGREDIENTS
Dressing
1 shallot, peeled and minced
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
¾ cup olive oil
½ to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, to taste
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Salad
1 red beet, cooked, peeled, and cut into ½-inch dice (about 1 cup)
1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
½ cup red or French breakfast radishes, thinly sliced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and julienned
1 cup thinly shredded red cabbage
2 cups thinly shredded radicchio
Garnishes
½ cup pomegranate arils
¼ cup fried shallots
½ cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
PREPARATION
Prepare dressing: Whisk together all dressing ingredients in a small bowl or by shaking in a covered jar. Set aside.
Prepare salad: Place all salad ingredients in a large serving bowl. Toss salad ingredients with dressing. Garnish with pomegranate arils, fried shallots, and cilantro just before serving.
Excerpted from Spicebox Kitchen: Eat Well and Be Healthy with Globally Inspired, Vegetable-Forward Recipes by Linda Shiue, MD. Copyright © 2021. Available from Hachette Go, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, Inc. Photography by Michelle K. Min.
