End of the Road Recipes:

by Crystal Schlueter

Spring is officially here, and I am so tired of the heavy, rich foods of winter. I was recently in Zup’s and ran across a new line of jams, by Lakeside Gourmet. The blackberry jalapeño flavor particularly caught my attention, so I brought it home and had a taste test. The flavor reminded me of a fig jam with a subtle hint of heat and smokiness. I decided to use the jam in a salad dressing and based the other ingredients around flavors that would pair well with it. 

I like to have a lot of different flavors and textures in my salads because it adds interest and feels more satisfying. This salad can be served as a side dish or as a light lunch. You can use regular balsamic vinegar if you can’t find the fig infused variety. Sartori also makes a balsamic cheese, so that it can be used in place of the merlot variety. The rind of this cheese is edible and has a lovely fruity flavor, so be sure to grate it into the salad. 

Blackberry Avocado Spring Mixed Salad 

Ingredients:

1/3 cup Lakeside Gourmet Blackberry and Jalapeño Pepper Jam

1/2 cup avocado oil

1/4 cup fig infused balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon soy sauce

1/2 tablespoon tightly packed fresh mint, chopped

1/2 teaspoon gochugaru chili flakes or 1 pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt

1 (5 ounce) clamshell spring mix salad greens

1 (6 ounce) container fresh blackberries

2 mini cucumbers, thinly sliced

1/2 cup shredded Sartori Bellavitano merlot cheese (with rind)

1/2 cup frozen shelled edamame, thawed

1/4 of a medium red onion, sliced thinly

1/4 cup roasted salted pistachios

1 avocado, peeled and thinly sliced

Instructions:

In a blender, add the jam, oil, vinegar, soy sauce, mint, chili flakes, and salt. Blend until smooth. In a large bowl, toss together the salad greens with 1/4 cup of the dressing. Add the blackberries, cucumbers, cheese, edamame, red onion, and pistachios. Toss again until thoroughly mixed. Transfer the salad to a serving bowl or platter. Garnish with avocado slices. Serve remaining dressing on the side. 

Yield: 4 servings.