What We're Cooking This Season: Spring Salads, Vinaigrettes, and Bruschetta

What We're Cooking This Season: Spring Salads, Vinaigrettes, and Bruschetta

Spring is a wonderful time to start cooking lighter, fresher, and more colorful meals, and there are few things more satisfying than enjoying a delicious meal in the warm sunshine after a long, cold winter. Spring is the season of renewal and rejuvenation, and what better way to celebrate this time of year than by preparing fresh and vibrant salads, vinaigrettes, and bruschetta that highlight the best flavors of the season?

 

One of the great joys of spring cooking is the abundance of fresh produce that becomes available as the weather warms up. From tender baby greens and crisp radishes to juicy strawberries and fragrant herbs, the springtime harvest is filled with an array of colorful and flavorful ingredients that lend themselves perfectly to salads and other light dishes.

 

More than just lettuce

Salads are an ideal way to showcase the flavors of the season. Whether you prefer a classic Caesar salad with tender romaine lettuce and crunchy croutons, or a more creative salad made with colorful heirloom tomatoes, shaved asparagus, and creamy burrata cheese, there are endless possibilities for creating delicious and healthy salads that will satisfy any palate. Here are a couple of new recipes from the Saratoga Test Kitchen:

 

Peach Balsamic Caprese Salad - Caprese salad is such a simple and fresh appetizer to enjoy! We upped the traditional recipe by using peaches instead of tomatoes. This simple but elevated recipe has peaches, Peach Balsamic Vinegar, basil, and fresh salt and pepper. It creates a smooth, sweet, and delicious twist on a recipe staple! 

 

Neapolitan Chopped Salad - Our Neapolitan Salad Pairing is perfect drizzled over this chopped salad. The cabbage and radicchio mix has highlights of flavor from the banana peppers, basil leaves and fennel, while mozzarella and salami add a bit of savory flavor and provide some protein.

 

Top it off

When it comes to dressing your salad, a homemade vinaigrette is the perfect way to add flavor without adding too much fat or calories. A simple vinaigrette made with our olive oils and balsamics is a classic choice that works well with almost any type of salad, but you can also experiment with different herbs and spices to create your own unique flavor combinations. Here are a couple to try:

 

Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette - Balsamic vinaigrette dressings are simple, yet so flavorful. We took it up a notch by using our Strawberry Vinaigrette Pairing as the foundation for this recipe. It is fruity, savory, and perfect for a spring or summer salad.

 

Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette - Using the Gremolata Salad Pairing, we elevated the quality of this staple recipe. It combines citrus, savory, and a little bit of spice.

 

Easy and elegant

Bruschetta is another classic springtime dish that is perfect for showcasing the season's freshest ingredients. Made with grilled or toasted bread and topped with a variety of savory ingredients, bruschetta can be customized to suit any taste.

Our Fresh Tomato & Basil Bruschetta is so simple and quick to put together, yet so delicious. The ripe tomatoes mixed with fresh basil and herbs creates such a  wonderful flavor for spring picnics or parties!

 

Spring cooking is a wonderful way to celebrate the return of warmer weather and the abundance of fresh produce that becomes available during this time of year. Whether you're preparing colorful salads, homemade vinaigrettes, or savory bruschetta, there are endless possibilities for creating delicious and healthy meals that will satisfy your taste buds and nourish your body. So get into the kitchen, start experimenting with the flavors of the season, and savor the joy of spring cooking!