Monday, January 31, 2011

Meatless Monday: Butter Lettuce Salad with Feta and Pomegranates

Butter Lettuce Salad with Feta and Pomegranates
One of the things I love about salads is that they have a thousand different iterations, each one just as fabulous as the last one. This jives with my focus on seasonal eating. Winter salads can rival summer salads.

This salad makes use of the beautiful pomegranates, which are in season right now. This ancient fruit, famous for mentions in Homeric Hymns and The Book of Exodus, typically grows in the Northern Hemisphere between September and February. Even better, pomegranates are chocked full of vitamins (especially C & B), fiber, and antioxidants. Oh, and they taste fabulous, too.

I love combining pomegranates with goat cheese. For this salad, I toss butter lettuce (from my farmers market) with pomegranates and a goat's milk feta. I dress it with a delicious pomegranate salad dressing. This is an elegant dish suitable for a dinner party (your guests will be impressed), yet still simple to throw together for a lovely, tangy, healthy lunch or dinner. Enjoy!


Butter Lettuce Salad with Feta and Pomegranates
Serves 4 people
Prep time: 10 minutes
Print Recipe

Ingredients
1 pomegranate, red arils separated from white membrane (about 1 cup)   
1/2 cup crumbled goat's milk feta
1 head of butter lettuce, washed and torn into smaller pieces (about 4 cups)
1 recipe pomegranate salad dressing (recipe below)

pomegranate salad dressing
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup pomegranate juice
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
salt & freshly ground black pepper 

Directions
To make the dressing, whisk together 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard, 1/4 cup pomegranate juice, and 1/4 cup lemon juice. Slowly whisk in 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.   

To plate this salad, arrange the butter lettuce on four salad plates. Sprinkle the pomegranates and feta cheese over the lettuce. Drizzle with the dressing.

Leftover dressing may be kept in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed container. Enjoy! 

Source for Ingredients
organic pomegranates, goat's milk feta, extra virgin olive oil, and organic butter lettuce from West Hollywood Farmers Market

pomegranate juice and Dijon mustard from Trader Joe's

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