Fried Citrus Salad + Dressing

The new year has got me in the mood to try new salad options! I've been trying to dream up new ways to incorporate some kind of warm element in my salads. Because, baby, it's cold outside! I saw the idea for fried lemon zest in the latest Martha Stewart Living and I thought it would make an excellent salad topper. The result: amazing! Each crunchy bite also offered up a pop of citrus. Plus frying zest makes your whole kitchen smell amazing (unlike most fried food experiments. Ha!). Simply heat a little oil in a pan and add your zest when it's hot. You only need to let it fry for about 30 seconds until it begins to brown. Remove from heat and strain over paper towels to remove excess oil.
I used the zest from 2 lemons for this salad. I then used the juice from those lemons for the citrus dressing. Combine lemon juice with 1/4 cup olive oil, a splash of rice vinegar and salt + pepper. I had planned to add poppy seeds but then I found I was out. Oh well, it was still super tasty. Enjoy! xo. Emma

P.S. I would love to add a spicy salad. Does anyone have a recommendation?

Comments

[tinajo]

I love this, looks and sounds yummy and fresh!

[Toni]

Oh man what a brilliant idea!!! Amazing!
For the spicy salad option, try an Asian spicy hot tofu salad. Cut some firm tofu (you can also use chicken for a non veggie option) into bite size squares and marinade in garlic, soy sauce, fresh chillis, lime, a pinch of chilli powder and honey. Fry in some vegetable oil until golden brown. Serve with a cucumber and carrot salad drizzeld with a lime and sesame oil dressing. Top with some sliced spring onions and some crushed peanuts. So yummy!
xx

[Kiersten]

I know that you don't eat meat, but I love a good, old-fashioned buffalo chicken salad with fresh blue cheese crumbles...maybe find an alternative meat source? Fish, tofu, etc?

[msveve]

love this recipe! Btw, do you have instagram? Would love to follow your daily cooking:) (I'm msveveve)

as for spicy salads, all I can think of is a thai salad (like spicy apple) or spicy corn..

[Kiersten]

http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/appetizers-and-snacks/cauliflower-buffalo-wings/ Theses would work for a buffalo/blue cheese salad!

[Rhoda Wong]

this looks way too good! have to try it!

www.styleandshades.blogspot.com

[Victoria]

Can't wait to try this! THX!

[T.]

yum! Good idea. Thanks for sharing Emma!
As for a spicy salad, I like a cucumber-wasabi combination.

[Rosie W]

How about a grilled chicken salad with cajun spices? :)

[Becky]

This looks great!
I like to add a touch of wasabi to my salad dressings for that little extra spice/bite.
I while back I made a Spicy sushi salad with tofu inspired by one Elsie's posted a while back which you may enjoy Here's the link: http://pixiwishesforeheadkisses.com/2012/11/15/salads-sides/
(Forgive my iphone pics for this post!)

Thanks for another great recipe Emma
Becky xo

[Aurora Gates]

I have an amazing Buffalo Chicken Salad recipe! You have 2-3 boneless chicken breasts. You cook them in a skillet with a little oil until brown on the outside. Then cut them into one inch pieces and cover in hot sauce. Cook again until completely cooked. Let the chicken cool completely before mixing with lettuce. Mix chicken with lettuce of choice and some blue cheese crumbles. I usually serve with ranch but if you find a better dressing, by all means use it!

[Brie]

Try making a dressing using Harissa. It's super spicy and I put it on everything.

[Diana]

Hey Emma, this salad looks tasty (after holydays I need to replace some meals with salads) thanks for the recipe!

Ps: I've just had the kitchen smell problem...ehh i've made Spanish Tortilla and after that even my hair smelled like french fries (with a little spanish flavor :) )

xo Diana

[Estela]

http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2009/04/spicy-carrot-salad.html

I tried Spicy Carrot Salad before. Since I am not a fan of any paprika or cayenne pepper instead I used a dib of salsa picante valentina (you can find it at any supermarket in the Hispanic food section)

[Kate]

That looks so yummy! I love salad.

http://whiskeybreakfast.blogspot.com
http://365sleepydays.blogspot.com

[Anna]

That sounds awesome! I tried your citrus salad with yoghurt yesterday and it was so great! I posted about it here:
http://290daysofcolour.blogspot.se/2013/01/3-citrus-treat.html

[Hannah]

that salad sounds delicious! I'm a fan of spicy salads, I always love adding jalapenos!

Hannah xx

[ilaria]

I love this citrus improvement!:)
for a spicy twist on salads, usually I use some winter radish (during the winter they're more spicey than in summer) or I put on some homemade labne (I made my own little jar of labne every 2 months- and after i made the cheese I roll them in a herb&spicy mixture ( zest of 1 lemon, cumin, cayenne pepper,a pinch of salt, pepper, thyme) and then I store them in the jar -covered with olive oil. Another options would be a marinated chicken (or fish, because you're pescatarian) with lemon juice, honey, soy sauce and cayenne pepper. then mix the meat with a mixed salad made of barley/wild rice/green leaf/almond/roasted pepper-tomatoes-pumpkin.

[Jenna]

I make a salad that is made of spinach, roasted pears (skin and roast in the oven until they start to brown) pine nuts, advocado, green onion, and chopped up pickled jalepenos. Then for the dressing, blend olive oil, pickled jalepeno, honey, salt, pepper, garlic, and lemon juice. It is always a hit!

[Katie]

I should try this some day. I love interesting salads, I blogged about one recently
http://gravityandshe.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/dinner-time.html
Katie xx