If you have been following this blog you will know that we eat salad almost daily and sometimes more often. Salads do not have to be lettuce based although that is the image that comes to mind when talking of salads. A wide range of vegetables can form the basis for a delectable salad perfect for any occasion.
When I think Tuscan I think of Tuscany and the rich Italian flavours. I used a basic vinaigrette consisting of 1 part vinegar, 3 parts oil and binder then built from there using flavours from Italy. Those flavours include olives, tomatoes, onions, basil, oregano, marjoram, rosemary, and sage as well as extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar. The resulting salad was as tasty as it was colourful! It will be ever so much better tasting with home grown tomatoes as soon as the garden starts producing.
Tuscan Tomato Salad
1 large tomato, diced
½ small onion, chopped
3 tbsp, diced green onion
8 pitted black olives, sliced
Tuscan vinaigrette (recipe follows)
2 sprigs boxwood basil**
Prepare the vegetables. Stir tomatoes, onion, green pepper and olives together. Divide into 2 - 4oz bowls. Drizzle the prepared Tuscan Vinaigrette over the vegetables. Place a sprig of boxwood basil into the centre of each bowl.
Tuscan Vinaigrette
1 tbsp Italian Red Wine Vinegar*
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
¼ tsp honey
½ tsp Dijon mustard
½ tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp chopped chives
Whisk the ingredients together. Pour over salad as desired.
* I used Alessi Italian red wine vinegar from Tuscany.
** Boxwood basil is a strongly flavoured basil with tiny leaves.
2 food lovers commented:
My hubby is pretty much the same, but likes his veggies, too. Broccoli, salad, corn, bell peppers, green beans (he likes more beans than I do, but I'm trying), onions and of course potatoes.
He's the one who got me to try rice, too. Now we eat more brown rice than potatoes. :)
Hi Linda :) Actually my husband likes most foods but he would be quite content with just steak and potato. We eat a fair amount of rice too. I like experimenting with the various rices.
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