Cucumber & Melon Salad with Basil
Juicy and incredibly crisp, this salad always receives rave reviews.
Ingredients:
½ very ripe Galia, cantaloupe or other summer melon, cut into ½-inch chunks
2 cucumbers, cut into ½-inch chunks
6 basil leaves, cut into chiffonade
¼ cup feta cheese, crumbled
Olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
Shelled sunflower seeds
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Toss melon, cucumber, basil, and feta in a medium bowl.
2. Mix equal parts olive oil and balsamic together in a small bowl, then drizzle over the salad, tossing to coat if desired. Finish with a sprinkling each of sunflower seeds, salt, and freshly ground pepper.
Summer Peach & Heirloom Tomato Salad
Incredibly fresh and light, this colorful salad is accented by a robust heirloom tomato vinaigrette.
Ingredients:
1-2 peaches, pitted, peeled and cut into wedges
1-2 heirloom tomatoes, trimmed of stems and cut into wedges
¼ cup thinly-sliced sweet onion
¼ cup fresh feta cheese
¼ fresh basil leaves, coarsely torn
Grilled Heirloom Tomato Vinaigrette (see recipe)
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Combine peach and tomato slices with sliced onion in a large bowl. Toss with about ½ cup of the vinaigrette. Taste for seasoning and drizzle with more dressing and season with salt and pepper as desired.
2. Transfer to a serving platter and top salad with feta cheese crumbles and basil. Serve immediately.
Mediterranean Recipes
From asparagus and French radishes to chive blossoms and crisp Little Gem and Cegolaine lettuces, this week’s box is a beautiful display of spring’s best offerings. Use these provisions and more to help craft a delicious Mediterranean-inspired feast, with ingredients for a satisfying baked orzo, plus gorgeous sheep’s milk feta cheese, fresh oregano, sweet peppers and crisp cucumbers, all to go alongside in a salad. This refreshing lineup also features sliced multigrain bread, farm-fresh eggs and our housemade lemon polenta cake mix, so that you can enjoy each and every bite this box has to offer.
Here are a few recipe ideas for the week:
Mediterranean-Inspired Spring Salad
The light and bright salad is extremely versatile; toss in your favorite salad ingredients!
Baked Orzo
This hearty baked orzo recipe is incredibly satisfying!
Grilled Asparagus with Classic Gremolata
This healthy, easy dish is a classic way to serve asparagus in the Italian region of Lombardy—and it only takes a few minutes to put together.
Chive Blossom Vinegar
This punchy vinegar is fantastic incorporated into salad dressings; just swap it one-to-one with your favorite vinegar in recipes!
Chive Blossom-Garlic Aioli
This flavorful aioli is wonderful served with freshly-roasted asparagus, or even with homemade French fries!
Mustard Greens Pesto
Brilliantly green, this mustard green pesto packs a bit of a kick and pairs beautifully with grilled fingerling potatoes!
Lemon Olive Oil Polenta Cake
This rustic cake has a slightly-crunchy texture courtesy of polenta and is beautifully flavored by olive oil.
Baked Orzo
This hearty baked orzo recipe is incredibly satisfying!
Ingredients:
2 cups orzo pasta
4 tablespoons butter
1 yellow onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
4½ cups chicken stock
1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
½ cup freshly-chopped parsley
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add in the onions and garlic and sauté for about 4-5 minutes or until the vegetables are softened.
2. Add in the orzo, and cook for about a minute, stirring constantly. Add in broth and then salt and pepper to taste and bring the mixture to a boil. Remove from heat and sprinkle in the feta cheese, mixing well.
3. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350° and grease a 2-quart baking dish. Add the orzo mixture and bake for 35-40 minutes, until all the liquid has been absorbed. Remove from oven and garnish with the chopped parsley before serving.
Variations: Try topping this baked dish with Kalamata onions, fresh herbs and sun-dried tomatoes, or with a helping of your favorite roasted vegetables.
