It is pretty cool I think to be able to make a dish in less than 15 minutes that is so nutritiously balanced and so delicious.
I made this grape & cheese salad dish last time at a barbecue party, and it went down very well with the adults but unexpectedly well with the children too. A couple of kids came back to have some more (so the salad was really appreciated) but unfortunately there was none left and they were pretty disappointed. I felt bad so I went and made some more.
I knew my kids love it but I didn't expect other children to love it as much, because (you know) children normally have a sweet tooth and this is (in my opinion) a pretty 'adult' salad. Well, at least this is what I thought, but I was proven to be quite wrong.
It also holds really well for days making it a perfect make-ahead side dish!
Just dare and make this grape & cheese salad, take it to a picnic, take it to work, put it into a school lunch box, take it to a garden party, it's a great dish for any time of the year and occasion!!
Tips:
1. The walnuts can be replaced with cashew nuts, almond flakes or pecan nuts, either slightly roasted or raw.
2. The honey can be replaced by maple or agave syrup.
3. Very often I use one or two endives, chop them and put them in the salad (for that little bitter, sweet, nutty taste) a delicious 'touch'. I do chop them in or simply serve this salad on endive leaves (little salad 'boats').
4. Replace the figs with dates if you like those more.
5. One the most important aspect of this salad: the grapes have to be seedless, and good quality crispy grapes. You can choose to do the salads with red grapes only if the white ones aren't the crispiest.
6. You can make this in advance but do not put the walnuts in as they will take in the moisture. Just add them a few hours before serving. I like them crispy but if you don't mind, just put them in.
It is simply scrumptious!
Delish grape and cheese salad
Equipment
- bowl
- wooden spoon
- grater
Ingredients
- 500 g grapes (mixed) seedless
- 120 g cream cheese (Philadelphia)
- 80 g Stilton cheese (Danish blue cheese)
- 1 pinch pepper (freshly ground)
- 4-5 figs (fresh or dry) chopped
- 50 g bacon (crispy)
- 2 tbsp onion (crispy)
- 1 stalk celery (finely or roughly chopped)
- 1 handful walnuts (slightly/forward roasted) roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp honey (to drizzle)
- 2 sprigs thyme (fresh) optional, to garnish
- 1/2 tsp sea salt (coarse/crystals)
- 2 tbsp coconut chips
Instructions
- Wash the grapes and remove from the stalks. Place aside and let them drain very, very well.
- In a large bowl, place the cream cheese with the freshly ground pepper, the crispy onion, the chopped figs and celery stalk.
- Mix all well and add the grapes.
- Put all in the serving plate and sprinkle with the Stilton cheese crumbles or shavings, the sunflower seeds, the nuts (whichever ones you choose to use and some coconut chips.
- Drizzle some honey and serve.
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