During the summer there is a little farmers market that pops up on Thursday mornings out here in Montauk. It’s a quaint little market that takes place in the middle of the village and it’s quite popular.
At this farmer’s market, located at the tip of New York’s Long Island, you can find between 15-20 local farmers offering up beautiful buckets of wild flowers, delicate picked-that-morning baskets of raspberries, small bundles of summer squashes, crispy bell peppers and fragrant herbs. A few bouquets of kale can also be found (as many of you beauties know kale is in vogue out here at moment). There are also a few tables with local, artisinal salts, homemade fruit preserves, and a creamy, local homemade fudge table that buzzes all morning long. I love when I get the opportunity to visit. It has a special and relaxed beach vibe that I cherish.
This Confetti Salad is inspired by a recent trip to this market. It celebrates a rainbow of crisp red, yellow and orange bell peppers, a beautiful bunch of purple beets, crunchy carrots, several vibrant lettuces and a few toasted walnuts. I actually made several servings of this salad this weekend and its been such a wonderful base for a no-cook meal I’m glad I made a good amount. I dress an individual serving with olive oil and parmesan cheese just before I serve it. Most days I enjoy this salad just on its own, but if I want to fill it out a little bit and enjoy it as dinner, I like to toss it with some creamy feta or a generous scoop of hummus for a protein boost.
Montauk Market Confetti Salad
Serving Size: 4-6
Ingredients
1 romaine lettuce heart, sliced into thin ribbons
1/2 bunch of Tuscan kale, stems removed, sliced into thin ribbons
1 small bell pepper, red, diced
1 small bell pepper, yellow, diced
1 small bell pepper, orange, diced
1 medium carrot, diced
1 handful snow peas, trimmed and diced
1 small raw beet, ends trimmed and diced
1 small, crisp apple, cored and diced
3 sprigs fresh basil, green or purple, stems removed, finely chopped
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan or Pecorino cheese
1/4 cup walnuts, lightly toasted in a dry pan (~1-2 minutes)
dash sea salt and pepper
(* Buy organic veggies, if possible. Learn more here.)
Better-for-you ingredients
Learn more about the better-for-you ingredients in this recipe:
- Kale – Kale is a nutritional superstar and a health beauty favorite in our quest for radiant skin. It is full of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits that help your body to stay vibrant and youthful.
- Bell Peppers – Health beauties love bell peppers because they are packed with antioxidant vitamins A and C which help to protect against disease and pre-mature aging.
- Basil – Much research has been devoted to the essential oils found in basil which have been found to help ease stress, protect your body from free radical damage and even fight depression. Learn more here.
Directions
Toss vegetable and lettuce ingredients in a large salad bowl with olive oil and parmesan cheese. Fold in walnuts. Enjoy!
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