Description
Provençal chef Marie Laurent crafts her seasonal salad by combining caramelized apricot and cherry tomato salad with brocciu cheese into a Mediterranean masterpiece. Fresh ingredients mingle with subtle sweetness, creating a delightful balance you’ll savor on warm summer evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 apricots
- 20–24 colorful cherry tomatoes
- 50 g (1.76 oz) brocciu cheese
- 2 red spring onions
- 30 g (1.06 oz) pine nuts
- 1 tsp honey
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
- 4 tbsps olive oil
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- Fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Caramelize Apricots: Halve apricots, remove pits, and cut into wedges. Heat skillet with olive oil, add apricot segments, honey, and sea salt. Sauté for 2 minutes until slightly firm and golden-brown.
- Toast Nuts: In the same skillet, quickly toast pine nuts over high heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly until golden and fragrant.
- Prepare Vegetables: Slice cherry tomatoes in half and thinly cut spring onions into delicate rings.
- Create Dressing: Whisk extra virgin olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar until smoothly emulsified.
- Assemble Salad: Artfully arrange caramelized apricots, cherry tomato halves, spring onion rings, crumbled brocciu cheese, and toasted pine nuts on a serving platter.
- Season and Finish: Sprinkle freshly ground sea salt and black pepper over the salad. Drizzle prepared dressing evenly. Garnish with torn fresh basil leaves for a final aromatic touch.
Notes
- Fruit Selection Matters: Choose ripe but firm apricots and vibrant cherry tomatoes for the best caramelization and flavor intensity.
- Caramelization Technique: High heat is crucial; watch carefully to achieve golden-brown edges without burning the delicate fruits.
- Nut Toasting Precision: Pine nuts burn quickly, so constant stirring and undivided attention prevent bitter, scorched results.
- Cheese Temperature Tip: Serve brocciu at room temperature to enhance its creamy texture and allow its subtle flavors to shine through the salad.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg