Author Notes: This is a salad in jewel tones of ruby, pink and green. The flavors, too, provide notes of contrast: suave and tender mâche partners tart and sassy grapefruit in a kind of snappy salad repartée: the Fred and Ginger of the salad world. You may use one pink grapefruit or one red grapefruit, or half of each which I think is prettier. Pomegranate seeds add color, sweetness and crunch. The secret ingredient, ume-plum vinegar–a beautiful shade of pink from shiso leaf, punches up the dressing with fruity salt and sour flavors. It is worth seeking out: keep a supply in your pantry to brighten all kinds of salads. You might add a bit of avocado or a garnish of sliced toasted almonds to this one, if desired. —creamtea
Food52 Review: This refreshing salad was a breeze to pull together—perfect for an easy weeknight side dish. The flavors of the finished salad are clean and subtle, even with the splash of sour ume plum vinegar. Next time, I will up the acidity and salt in the dressing and season the fruit and greens before tossing in order to brighten the final profile of the finished salad. —Kate Williams
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients
For the Salad
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1/2
pink grapefruit, rind removed and trimmed into supremes
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1/2
ruby red grapefruit, rind removed and trimmed into supremes
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1
medium head butter lettuce, the leaves washed, spun dry and torn into bite-size pieces
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2
handfuls mâche, washed, spun dry (about 2 loosely packed cups)
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1/2
pomegranate
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1/2
small shallot, sliced thin
For the Lemon-Ume Dressing (makes about 3/4 cup–more than enough for this salad. Extra dressing may be refrigerated.
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3
tablespoons freshly-squeezed lemon juice
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2-3
tablespoons freshly-squeezed lime juice
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2
teaspoons ume plum vinegar (available at health-food stores)
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1
pinch salt
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1/2
cup mild oil such as grapeseed, almond or (untoasted) walnut
Directions
For the Salad
- In a serving bowl, arrange first the butter lettuce and then the mâche. Lift lightly with hands to slightly toss-it doesn’t have to be completely mixed. Right before serving, toss leaves with some of the dressing then continue with following steps.
- Arrange grapefruit segments over lettuces.
- Remove arils from pomegranate half: in kitchen sink over a large bowl, hold pomegranate half, cut side down in cupped hand over a large bowl. Using a rubber mallet, or the convex side of a large serving spoon or gravy ladle (I use the latter), lightly pound the skin of the pomegranate all over. Seeds will loosen and drop out into your hand and can be emptied into the bowl. Repeat until all the seeds are removed. Pick over the seeds in the bowl to remove membrane or any paler seeds.
- Scatter pomegranate seeds over salad, and top with the sliced shallot. Drizzle salad with more dressing and serve immediately.
For the Lemon-Ume Dressing (makes about 3/4 cup–more than enough for this salad. Extra dressing may be refrigerated.
- In a bowl, whisk juices, ume-plum vinegar and salt
- Add oil in a thin stream, whisking until incorporated. Sample a bit on a lettuce leaf and adjust seasoning. It should be perky.
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