STAWBERRY HAM SALAD, vegan option

Say Hello! to spring with this sassy salad combination...

Ever so quick and easy: Strawberry Ham Balsamic Salad
'A winner; I loved the flavours and textures.' Taster

Strawberry may seem an odd thing in a savoury salad but the juicy sweet fruit goes well with cold meats like ham or cooked bacon.  

Inspired by tv cook Valerie Bertinelli, 67 wanted something very, very easy and super-quick to put together.

It's an 'impulse' salad designed for UK weather.  You know, taking advantage of any sunshine & warmth which miraculously continues at the end of a working day.  Giving in to an impulse, picking up ingredients on the way home, relaxing and basking in warm weather.  

It's an indulgence, to be sure, but who doesn't yearn for an opportunity to bite into  the first berries of spring and dispelling memories of a long, hard winter? 

A frugal version of this recipe that takes more time is given in Tips.

Cost: £3-5 
Feeds: 3-4

Ingredients:
   1 x 100gm pre-packed mixed leaf salad (67 used baby leaf rocket)
   70 -100gms prosciutto OR Spanish serrano & chorizo selection* (2x taster packs)
   2 generous handsful sweet strawberries, sliced thickly
   few tablespoons flaked almond

   Balsamic Vinaigrette 
      3-4 tbsp good olive oil
      1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
      good pinch salt and 1/8 tsp pepper, pref. coarsely ground
      1 rounded tsp wholegrain mustard
      1/4 tsp sugar, honey or maple syrup (opt)
Pour all ingredients into a jar with a tight fitting lid and shake until thick and blended. Check seasoning

Method:

1. If leaves are not organic, rinse briefly in a 8-2 solution of water and white vinegar; drain; pat dry; spread out on a platter 
2. If platter isn't big enough for one layer, do two, dividing fruit, meat & nuts accordingly
3. Scatter strawberry slices, then almonds over base layer; dot surface with strips/folds of meat
4. Repeat on second layer
5. Season with pepper and a little salt
6. Serve dressing separately
7. Serve with fresh bread

Frugal option: spinach or other salad leaves; 100 gms bacon in strips, fried till crisp instead of deli meat; replace almonds with one third recipe crispy croutons 

Vegan option: replace bacon with vegan bacon bits, made with bacon-sized strips of bread instead of breadcrumbs

Comments:
'A real winner; the combination of fruit, ham and nuts with the slightly bitter salad is really really good.  I loved the flavour and texture.' Retired writer
                                                                                                                                 
Tip:
Strawberries infused with Balsamic Vinegar make an unusual & tasty dessert. See Ina Garten on Food Network.

 *M&S £1 each
More salads on NavBar: Recipes II

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This recipe has  been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises.  It may not be reproduced without the author's written permission