Salads are a favorite this time of year and my Savory Triple Cherries Jubilee captures the sweetness of summer cherries in a vinaigrette. Bright orange notes work nicely with cherries as I infuse sweet dark cherry juice with a muscat orange champagne vinegar, making a light and fruity dressing. Drizzle this over a bed of fresh mixed greens with sweet mandarin orange segments and fresh pitted cherries, and you'll have a colorful salad full of summer flavor!
Cherry & Orange Champagne Vinaigrette
2 cups mixed greens
1/4 cup mandarin oranges
1/4 cup whole almonds
1/4 cup pitted fresh cherries
1 oz goat cheese, crumbled
Vinaigrette:
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup orange muscrat champagne vinaigrette
1/2 cup sweet dark cherry juice
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
salt & pepper to taste
Whisk all the above ingredients except the olive oil in a medium bowl. Slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil while continuing to whisk. Season with salt and pepper to taste; set aside.
In a salad bowl, add the mixed greens. Top with the remaining salad ingredients and drizzle the cherry orange champagne vinaigrette over the greens before serving.
