Fresh cherry season is short and sweet,
so don't let it pass by without trying this delicious grilled
sweet pepper and onion salad with plump sweet cherries, dressed
with a balsamic vinaigrette and fresh basil.
Cherry Grilled Sweet
Pepper Salad
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 cups pitted Northwest fresh sweet cherries
1 cup thinly sliced sweet onion
2 each yellow and red sweet peppers, halved and seeded
- Combine balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic,
basil, salt and ground pepper; mix well. Reserve about 3 tablespoons
dressing for peppers. Toss cherries and onion in remaining dressing.
- Brush peppers with dressing and cook on
lightly oiled grill over medium heat 10 to 12 minutes. Turn and
brush peppers with dressing halfway through grilling. Place in
paper or plastic bag and close tightly; let stand 10 to 15 minutes.
- Remove peppers from bag and peel off skin.
Slice peppers into 1/2 inch strips and mix with cherry mixture.
Tips:
- To take to a picnic or barbecue, prepare
dressing and marinate cherries and onion ahead. Drain off 2 to
3 tablespoons dressing to brush onto peppers when ready to grill
peppers. Proceed per directions above to prepare salad.
- Grill peppers before grilling meat. Proceed
per directions above.
- Salad may be added to sandwiches in place
of relishes or pickles
- Peppers may be broiled 4 to 6 inches from
heat until skin begins to char. Peel as above.
Makes 4 to 6 servings.
Nutritional Analysis Per Serving: 174 Cal.,
2.7 g pro., 7.8 g fat (37% Cal. from fat), 26.6 g carb., 0 mg
chol., 4.6 g fiber, 541 mg sodium.
Recipe provided courtesy Washington State Fruit Commission.
