cooking lounge • FOOD • LIFESTYLE • MORE • : Fennel, Orange, Olive and Mint Salad

Monday, July 19, 2010

Fennel, Orange, Olive and Mint Salad

It's been a while since I posted. I made this dish for a friend's brick oven pizza party in late spring. Give this a try for a cook-out, potluck or an easy meal for you.
FOOD:
Fennel, oranges and olives tossed in sherry vinaigrette with mint is a refreshing summer salad popping with bright flavors. I think this salad works with seafood to grilled meats to artisanal pizza; and, with some finessing (toss with_______) can be a really nice, mediterranean inspired entree.
Adjust the main ingredients to fit your taste and add your favorite oil based dressing.

photos:wbj

Here's what I did.
Trimmed 2 bulbs of fennel. Sliced fennel lengthwise. Cut off the bottom so the bulb easily separates. Pick your favorite seedless orange (approx 6). Slice off the top and bottom so ends are flat. This makes it easier to separate into segments. Peel removing as much of the pith as possible. Divide into segments. Toss in pitted olives ( I used katamala, approx 8 oz) and chopped fresh mint. The host of the party had a crazy selection of oil and vinegars. I went with a combo of vintage sherry vinegar (Gran Capirete 50 year old) and with a newer, more acidic sherry vinegar from the same maker and virgin olive oil with a little salt and pepper. Done! Served the Fennel, Orange, Olive and Mint Salad on a bed of baby arugula for color, extra bite and as a filler to stretch the salad.
LIFESTYLE:
Periodically, Cooking Lounge will have Lifestyle posts, advice or links from Larry Betz on health and fitness. Yeah, you know so you can eat more and eat better.
Larry Betz, CSCS, has over 30 years of training experience, from gymnastics to a variety of martial arts and weight training. Larry is a certified expert on overall health, strength and conditioning after study with some of the top coaches in the world.
Some of his certifications include: CSCS (Certified Strength Conditioning Specialist), Exercise Science from The Swedish Institute of Health Science, Holistic Health Counselor from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, NSCA-CPT, Titlist Performance Institute (golf fitness instructor). Check back soon for links and more.
MUSIC:
Step-up your game; keep your music FRESH.
Here are some links. Find your summer jams.