Zucchini Salad Recipe with Pomegranate Vinaigrette

Zucchini salad recipe lovers, this one’s for you. For the past four years, my garden has been bursting with zucchini—more than we could ever eat. I’ve made endless fritters, stuffed versions for the freezer, and my go-to zucchini bread. And then there’s radicchio—the underdog veggie I adore, even with its splurge-worthy price tag. This fresh, healthy salad brings them together with feta, mint, and a tangy pomegranate vinaigrette for a truly vibrant bite.

Simple Ingredients for Zucchini Salad Recipe

Creating this refreshing and healthy zucchini salad is a breeze thanks to its straightforward ingredients:

• Zucchini: The show’s star, zucchini, brings the salad a mild and slightly sweet flavor. Its crisp texture pairs wonderfully with the other ingredients.
• Radicchio: This often overlooked vegetable adds a delightful touch of bitterness and vibrant color to the salad. Radicchio’s unique flavor and texture elevate the dish.
• Red Onion: Sliced red onion provides a sharp, tangy kick to balance the zucchini’s sweetness and the radicchio’s bitterness. Its vibrant hue also contributes to the salad’s visual appeal.
• Feta Cheese: Creamy and salty, crumbled feta cheese enhances the overall taste and texture of the salad, adding a delightful contrast to the fresh vegetables.
• Fresh Herbs (Mint): Fresh herbs like mint bring freshness and herbaceous notes to the salad. Mint’s cool and aromatic flavor complements the other ingredients beautifully.
• Pomegranate Molasses Dressing: The secret to this salad’s extraordinary flavor lies in the tangy and slightly sweet pomegranate molasses dressing. It ties all the ingredients together, creating a harmonious and refreshing taste.

Tips for Zesty Zucchini Salad with Radicchio

• Finding Alternatives: If radicchio is hard to come by, don’t fret. The Mediterranean diet embraces adaptability. Seasonal options like arugula and baby kale can step in, providing a similar peppery and bitter note that deepens your salad’s taste.
• Taming Bitterness: Radicchio tends to be slightly bitter when sliced or chewed. Here’s a simple remedy: slice the radicchio leaves and soak them in a bowl for around 30 minutes. This reduces bitterness and softens the radicchio, ensuring a more delightful experience with each bite of your Zucchini Salad. For a milder flavor, consider chopping the radicchio into smaller pieces.
• Thin Slices of Zucchini: Achieving those delicate zucchini slices for your salad is a breeze. Start by washing the zucchini thoroughly and removing the ends. Then, carefully slice the zucchini into thin rounds or lengthwise strips using a sharp knife or a mandoline slicer. Aim for uniform thickness to ensure even cooking and a consistent texture in your salad.
• Precision Matters: Take your time and maintain a steady hand while slicing to achieve the desired thinness. Alternatively, you can use a vegetable peeler to create thin zucchini ribbons. Incorporating thinly sliced zucchini adds a delicate and tender element to your salad, enhancing its overall presentation and texture.

Suggested Pairings

• Mediterranean Chicken Drumsticks: Tender and flavorful, these drumsticks complement the zucchini salad beautifully.
• Panko Halibut: Add seafood elegance by serving the zucchini salad and crispy panko-coated halibut fillets.
• One-Sheet Salmon and Broccoli Rabe: A harmonious combination of salmon, vibrant broccoli rabe, and zucchini salad creates a well-rounded meal.
• Grilled Kofta Kebab: For a Middle Eastern twist, serve the zucchini salad alongside juicy kofta kebabs.
• Mediterranean Quiche for Brunch: Create a delightful brunch spread by pairing the zucchini salad with a slice of quiche, offering a balance of flavors and textures.
• Mediterranean Ricotta Peas Pie: Enjoy the zucchini salad as a refreshing side to a savory and creamy ricotta peas pie.