This has just become my new ‘favourite’ salad. So refreshing, with so many different tastes and flavours coming through….
Next best thing to sitting in the tropics …maybe?
Using fresh pineapple is always better than canned, however, in this recipe, canned pineapple makes it so easy as you have the pineapple juice right there, ready for reducing.
Just a beautiful salad …
Tropical Salad
Number of Servings: 4
Salad Ingredients:
10 ounces (275-300 g) fresh prawns, peeled and deveined
Olive oil
Lemon juice; salt and pepper
1 cup (250 mL) pineapple chunks, canned or fresh (reserve the juice)
1 cup (250 mL) mandarin orange segments, fresh or canned
1 mango, peeled, cut into chunks
1 avocado, peeled, cut into chunks
1 stalk of celery, thinly sliced
½ of a green pepper, thinly sliced
¼ cup (60 mL) chopped green onions
1 cup (250 mL) loosely packed fresh chopped cilantro
Baby spinach or butter lettuce
Chopped macadamia nuts
Lime Vinaigrette:
¼ cup (60 mL) pineapple juice, drained from the canned pineapple
2 tablespoons (30 mL) fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon (5 mL) honey
¼ cup (60 mL) vegetable or grapeseed oil
¼ teaspoon (1/5 mL) cayenne pepper
Sea salt
Method:
- Make the pineapple juice reduction: In a small saucepan, over low-medium heat, reduce the ¼ cup of pineapple juice to about 1 – 1 ½ tablespoons. You will know that you are done when it is thick and syrupy. Set aside to cool.
- Prepare and cook prawns: Heat a little olive oil in a sauté pan. Add prawns and sauté on both sides – 2 or 3 minutes per side. Remove from pan to cool. Drizzle with a little lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
- In a large salad bowl, combine pineapple chunks, orange segments, mango and avocado chunks, celery, green peppers, and green onions.
- Prepare Vinaigrette: Whisk together the cooled pineapple reduction, lime juice, and honey. Whisk in oil. Add cayenne pepper and sea salt (to taste).
- Pour vinaigrette over fruit mixture; fold in cooked and cooled prawns (or serve them on top); fold in fresh cilantro.
- Serve on a bed of fresh spinach or butter lettuce; garnish with chopped macadamia nuts.
Questions and comments are always welcome alex@chilipeppersandpears.com
