Fruit Salad with Basil & Cheese Recipe - Ensalada de Fruta, Albahaca y Queso

By Lisa & Tony Sierra

spanishfood.about.com

Fruit Salad with Basil & Fresh Cheese Recipe - Ensalada de Fruta y Albahaca con Queso

Lisa Sierra (c) 2012 Licensed to About.com Inc.

Salads in Spain, like most traditional salads from the Mediterranean are simple dishes, made with green lettuce, fresh vegetables and often time a bit of fish. Fresh fruit is often the way Spaniards end a meal. It might be served whole, sliced, or in a simple tossed fruit salad. This fresh fruit salad is not a traditional dish in Spain, but mixes together traditional ingredients in a single dish. Fresh fruit, basil leaves and slices of fresh cheese, which is soft and has a mild taste are laid out, then drizzled with flavored balsamic vinegar. With the explosion of color, and the combination of sweet and sour tastes, it makes a nice contrast and accompaniment to a summer dinner of grilled meat. Enjoy it along with the main course, or serve it at the end of a rich meal instead of a traditional dessert.

Although the recipe can be made with standard balsamic vinegar, the fruit-infused balsamic vinegars that are available in gourmet food stores add another dimension to the sweet and sour taste of this salad. We recommend fig or black currant balsamic, but your favorite fruit-infused balsamic vinegar can be used.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Yield: 4-6 Servings

Ingredients:

• 1 pint blackberries
• 1 pint raspberries
• 4 red plums, ripe but firm
• 2 large peaches, firm
• 1 large mango (optional)
• 1 large bunch fresh basil
• 8-10 oz fresh mozzarella, or other low-salt fresh cheese,such as Burgos)
• 6 thin slices salami
• fig or black currant balsamic vinegar

Preparation:

Note: The quantities provided above for the different fruits may be adjusted to individual tastes. Substitute your favorite fruit if one listed above is not available, or is not to your liking. For example, any fresh berries or stone fruit work well in this recipe.

Rinse and drain the berries. Rinse the plums and peaches, then remove pits and cut into bite-size pieces.

Peel the mango and remove the large seed. Cut into bite-sized pieces.

Cut mozzarella into slices, not too big.

Rinse basil. Remove the leaves and discard the stems.

Scatter fruit, cheese and basil on a large platter or large open baking dish.

Drizzle fruit-infused balsamic vinegar over the salad and serve with some crusty bread.

Variation: To create a sweeter, dessert type of salad, drizzle a bit of honey over the top.