Grapes are so delicious all by themselves, you sometimes forget how much they can add to a salad. Grapes are plump, juicy, sweet, slightly tart, and their flavor blends well with many other salad ingredients, including full flavored greens, crunchy veggies, nuts, and cheese. Grapes also meld surprisingly well with spicy-hot tastes. The sweetness and juiciness of the grapes seems to tame the heat, while bringing out the unique character of the spice.
When I created this salad, I combined one of the beloved spicy flavors of Eastern European cooking (horseradish) with mild and crunchy vegetables and spicy greens. It sounds unusual, but once you try it, you’ll be hooked! It’s a nice “finishing” salad – something to eat AFTER a big meal instead of dessert.
I enjoy this salad almost any time, since the ingredients are usually available all year round. But it’s expecially good after a meal of beef, potatoes, and corn cooked on the barbecue.
- 2 cups white seedless grapes
- 4 medium sweet crisp apples, such as red delicious
- 1 large cucumber
- 4 radishes
- 1-1/2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise or Vegenaise
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon tarragon vinegar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cups spring mix lettuce or arugula, or a combination
- 1/4 cup crumbled blue-veined cheese (optional)
Wash and dry the grapes, then cut them in half (this takes a while, but it’s easy). Core the apples, then peel them and chop into small cubes. Peel the cucumber, remove the seeds, and chope into cubes. Scrub the radishes, and chop into small dice. Put these fruits and veggies into a big bowl.
Whisk the horseradish, mayonnaise, salt, sugar, pepper, vinegar, and oil in a small glass bowl. Pour over the fruit-veggie mixture, and toss well. Arrange the greens on individual serving plates, top with a portion of the veggie mixture. If you wish, garnish with the optional cheese.
To serve on a buffet, toss the fruit-veggie mix and the greens together, then add the dressing and optional cheese and toss again.
6 generous servings.