3 Ideas For A Summer South African Salad (Recipe)

3 Fabulous ideas for a summer salad - perfect for all celebrations

Let me share with you a stylish South African Salad Recipe, that’s a firm favorite in my house.

Go Fresh, Go New

Although there will always be a place for the traditional salad in a traditional salad bowl (some just look and works better that way), it’s time to go fresh.

Going fresh in ingredients, but also fresh in the presentation.

No recipe!

You don’t need a salad recipe. Just combining a few of your favorite vegetables, adding a dip or (store-bought) salad dressing is enough. It is all about the presentation…

But, if you are looking for a guideline to a stylish South African salad recipe, see below my favorite recipe idea.

Going big!

The key to an amazing-looking salad is to go big. Use the biggest platter or plate that you have and spread the salad beautifully on the plate.

This is part of the fun – it’s easy. You don’t have to be a fantastic cook to impress friends and family with an amazing salad. Just add what you love:

Lettuce, tomato, rocket, berries, cucumber, cheese, sweet peppers… (it’s all up to you). Play with color.

Go festive for Christmas and do red, green, and yellow vegetables. Top it with a few festive berries or cherries and you’ve got something that will look great on any festive table.

Click and Shop Travel and Home’s Favorite Italian inspiration for your home

Make it special!

By combining fabulous ingredients, you can create a delicious salad, while it looks fabulous on your table as well.

One of my favorite salad ideas in 4 easy steps:

A stylish South African Salad Recipe

Rocket, Feta, Figs and Biltong… (a match made in heaven)

Start with a base of mixed rocket leaves (spread out on a big and beautiful plate.)
Cut some preserved whole green figs lengthways into quarters. Lay on top of the leaves.
Scatter finely sliced (paper-thin) beef biltong over the salad.
Crumble your favorite blue cheese, over everything.

This is my recipe, however you can use the more “modern purple figs” if you want to be a bit healthier…

Now for the Salad Dressing:

The perfect salad dressing would be a Balsamic Vinaigrette (ready-made, shop-bought is perfect), which you drizzle over the salad just before you serve.

“Biltong is a form of dried, cured meat that originated in Southern African countries (South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia). Various types of meat are used to produce it, ranging from beef to game meats such as ostrich or kudu. The cut may also vary, either fillets of meat cut into strips following the grain of the muscle, or flat pieces sliced across the grain. It is related to beef jerky in that they are both spiced, dried meats; however, the typical ingredients, taste and production processes may differ.” Wikipedia

Remember, it’s not about placing salad ingredients separately on a platter like in the old days. Instead, mix and arrange them all together as one big, beautiful salad—but leave it flexible so everyone can pick and choose the parts they love!

If you prefer to keep the ingredients separate, use natural elements like a wooden platter for a rustic and inviting touch. (Refer 1st photo on this page.)

On top of looking great, the other bonus of serving an “open salad” is that your guests can decide what they love and combine it according to their individual tastes. You can also serve it with a variety of salad dressings, for people to choose from.

Take your salad to the next level

Add some edible flowers:

Impress with a salad that is a photo opportunity on its own, while you stay in shape for the new year and the new you. Enjoy.

Anna C

NS: This salad idea also makes me think of the beautiful Zanzibar of the coast of Africa. See our article.