Fennel & Radish Salad with Cherry-Balsamic Vinaigrette
Fresh spring greens tossed with vibrant radishes and crisp fennel create this seasonal fennel & radish Salad with Cherry-Balsamic Vinaigrette.
The air is finally starting to warm up outside, the sun is peeking out from behind the clouds, and the heaping mounds of snow have finally melted.
I think spring is well on its way.
As the weather gets warmer and the sun shines longer, I begin to crave lighter meals made with fresh spring ingredients.
As I was shopping at my local organic market, I came across a beautiful head (bulb?) of fennel. The sweet, pungent licorice notes and wispy green fronds lured me in. The next thing you know, it’s sitting in my basket ready to be crafted in to something bright and healthy.
As I was rummaging through my fridge on the hunt for something to pair with the fennel, I spotted a bunch of redish-pink radishes and a box of earthy spring mix. In a bowl it all went.
Since cherry season is creeping closer, I threw in a handful of extra sweet dried cherries for good measure.
What salad is complete without cheese? So, in went some blue cheese. The pungent, marbled cheese is the perfect contrast to pair with the sweet cherries.
I wanted to highlight the cherries and add some balance to the salad since, in its current state, it’s full of bite-y, bitter greens and zippy radishes. After a careful glance inside my fridge, I spotted a bottle of black cherry juice squeezed between a jar of pickles and cranberry juice.
After a few turns of the whisk, cherry-balsamic vinaigrette was born.
The sweet and tangy vinaigrette eases the bite of the bitter greens and pungent fennel.
Grab your salad bowl and prepare to overload on fresh greens.
Fennel & Radish Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette
Fresh spring greens tossed with vibrant radishes and crisp fennel.
Yield: 1 large salad
Total Time: 10 minutes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Ingredients:
Salad
10 ounces fresh greens (your choice)
1 small bulb fennel, cored and sliced thin
1/4 cup fennel fronds, roughly chopped
half cucumber, sliced thin
4 radishes, thinly sliced
1/3 cup blue cheese crumbles
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/3 cup toasted pecans
Cherry-Balsamic Vinaigrette
1/4 cup cherry juice
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon grainy mustard
1/2 teaspoon honey
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
In a large bowl, toss together salad ingredients.
In a small bowl, whisk together cherry juice, balsamic vinegar, dijon and grainy mustard, garlic, and honey.
Slowly whisk in the olive oil until throughly combined. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Toss the salad with as little or as much dressing as you like right before serving.
Salads like this with different flavors and textures are the best! I really want to pick up some fennel. But spring vanished last night when we got measurable snow :(
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Jennie replied April 22nd, 2014 at 8:43 am
Ewww, snow! This is one of my favorite salads. Thanks, Laura!
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I feel like this salad is made up of veggies I always have leftovers of and never know what to use them for — problem solved! And that cherry balsamic vinaigrette… I’ll be lucky to get more of it on the salad than directly into my mouth.
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Jennie replied April 22nd, 2014 at 8:44 am
I don’t blame you there, Stephanie. The dressing is so good. I thought about sticking a straw in it :)
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This is a stunning salad!
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Jennie replied April 22nd, 2014 at 8:44 am
Thanks, Claire!
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Absolutely gorgeous! This salad screams Spring to me! Pinned!
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Jennie replied April 22nd, 2014 at 8:45 am
Thanks, Anna!
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Oh, girl…I just LOVE fennel in my salads. And, I really like that you added some peppery radishes to the mix. Your Cherry-Balsamic Vinaigrette rocks! I cannot wait to try it. Thanks for sharing another fabulous recipe, my friend! Pinning (of course)!
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Jennie replied April 22nd, 2014 at 8:45 am
Thanks for pinning, Stacy! I’m a radish addict in the spring.
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This is one gorgeous salad! Also I love radishes! Love the cherry vinaigrette too! Pinned :)
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Jennie replied April 22nd, 2014 at 8:46 am
Thanks, Chelsea!
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I’ve never used fennel before! I could drink that vinaigrette though. I finally feel good eating salads – before it was like, give me a giant bowl of chili with that salad, please! The weather is cooperating – took it long enough! :)
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Jennie replied April 22nd, 2014 at 8:46 am
It has a lovely licorice flavor. I love it thinly sliced. Thanks, Mary Frances!
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Umm I’ll field that question…No salad is complete without cheese. Not a one!
This salad looks like summer on my screen! Loving it! And I can’t wait to try your cherry vinaigrette! Love and Pinned!
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Jennie replied April 22nd, 2014 at 8:47 am
The more cheese, the better! Thanks, Lindsey.
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Both your salad and dressing sound amazing! Now that it’s warming up, I plan to eat a lot more salads! Yours looks like a perfect place to start!
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Jennie replied April 22nd, 2014 at 9:24 am
Thanks, Liz! I love devouring salads in the summer.
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Your salad and dressing looks absolutely incredible :D
Love the vinaigrette, I love cherries!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
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Jennie replied April 22nd, 2014 at 9:25 am
Thanks, Uru!
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What a fresh looking salad! I always pass right by radishes, but I love the crunchiness of them, so I need to add those in to my basket!
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Jennie replied April 22nd, 2014 at 9:25 am
Definitely grab a bunch when you’re at the store. I love them! Thanks!
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Lol, I love your process, Jennie. What do I have in the fridge, I’ll throw it in!
Your fridge has a better stock than mine, because ohmigoodness yum!
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Jennie replied April 22nd, 2014 at 9:28 am
There are always far too many items in my fridge. I get excited at the store :) Thanks, Kim!
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Cherry balsamic?! Want! :)
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Jennie replied April 22nd, 2014 at 9:29 am
Yes you do :) Thanks, girl!
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This salad is calling my name! I love the cherry vinaigrette … genius! Pinned
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Jennie replied April 22nd, 2014 at 9:30 am
Thanks for stopping by, Sommer! You’re going to love the vinaigrette. Thanks for pinning!
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Beautiful beautiful salad. It just screams spring through the screen.
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Jennie replied April 22nd, 2014 at 9:30 am
Thanks, Nicole!
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So stoked for spring! And yummy salads like these!
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So I attempted this dressing last night but apparently I am illiterate and I used concentrated tart cherry juice! lol! So I improvised – Still delicious!
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Jennie replied April 22nd, 2014 at 9:32 am
Oh no, Lindsey. I’m happy to hear you were able to improvise. I didn’t know they made cherry concentrate. That’s good to know. I’ve done this before, so don’t feel bad. Half the time I start a recipe before reading through the entire thing, which always leads to improvising. I’m happy to hear it turned out.
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This salad looks amazing! I am such a fan of fennel and love the sound of the cherry balasamic vinaigrette in here! Looks so bright and fresh especially with the pretty radishes :)
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Jennie replied April 22nd, 2014 at 9:37 am
Thank you so much, Kelly!
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YES to all the spring in that salad! seriously, we’ve waited long enough, and that salad looks so crispy and bright with the radish and the fennel. It’s totally what i’ve been craving as the weather has warmed up.
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I have been pinning homemade dressings lately. I hate buying dressing. Love this time of year, I crave salads. Love that you combined the fennel and radishes, such fun flavors together! Beautiful, Hugs, Terra
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