Vibrant Garden Salad for your Holiday Table

Garden Harvest Salad with Honey-Balsamic Dressing 

Salad Ingredients:

• 1 large cucumber, spiralised or thinly sliced
• 2 large carrots, spiralised or grated
• Mixed salad leaves (such as baby spinach, rocket, lettuce, dandelion leaf)
• Assorted edible flowers (nasturtiums, viola, calendula, borage etc.)
• Fresh garden herbs (such as basil, mint, chives, parsley)
• Optional: Toasted nuts or seeds for garnish - Pepitas, Walnuts, Hemp seeds.
• Cheese of choice - crumbled tangy feta, creamy dollops of goats cheese, cubes of grilled haloumi.

Dressing Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. In a large salad bowl, combine the spiralised cucumber, spiralised or grated carrots, mixed salad leaves, and assorted edible flowers.
2. Pluck fresh garden herbs like basil, mint, chives, and parsley, and sprinkle them generously over the salad.
3. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey or maple syrup, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.
4. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss lightly to coat everything evenly.
5. Garnish the salad with crumbled feta, creamy goats cheese or grilled haloumi and toasted nuts or seeds for an elegant touch.
6. Note: If using additional toppings, sprinkle on top or serve in a bowl on the side for people to build their own salad according to their dietary needs.

Pour the zesty dressing over the salad just before serving. It enhances the fresh flavours of the vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers from your garden, making your salad an inviting and nutritious centrepiece for your Christmas feast!