Name: Grape Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups red or green grapes, room temperature; 1 head cauliflower, cut into florets; 1 cup pickled red onions or raw red onions; 1 1/2 cupe pomegranate seeds; 1 English Cucumber, diced; 5 ounce container of Arugula; 5 ounces Romaine lettuce; Garlic powder; Fresh ground pepper; 1/2 cup raw pecans (optional); 1 recipe maple dijon dressing recipe

I love grapes, and I often freeze them for a sweet snack. Recently, though, I experienced grapes prepared in a unique way. I ordered a roasted cauliflower dish and it arrived with roasted red grapes. Skeptical, I tried the roasted grapes, and their flavor exploded in my mouth. So, I decided to grill my grapes for my own version of a grape salad. Even though I included an array of vegetables, my grape salad recipe highlights the grilled grapes I fell in love with.

When cooked, grapes transform into little balls of deep fruity flavor. The grape skin, slightly heated, encapsulates the flavor, so when you bite into the grapes, they explode with flavor in your mouth.

The flavor is almost indescribable, so I chose other salad ingredients to bring a savory component to compliment the sweetness of the grapes and other fruit I selected. My grape salad recipe is a sweet and savory salad with a smokey maple dijon dressing.

HOW TO GRILL AND ROAST GRAPES FOR GRAPE SALAD

Believe it or not, grapes are easily threaded onto grilling skewers. In order to grill the grapes, it is best to have them at room temperature before grilling or roasting. If the grapes are too cold, they will explode on the grill or in the oven, which of course I did the first time haha!

Once the grapes are room temperature, simply thread them onto your grilling skewers. One of my favorite grilling tools is my firewire, a flexible grilling skewer. But, any grilling skewers will work. Remember, however, that if you use wooden skewers, always soak them in water for a few hours, so foods slide off easily.

Despite popular belief, grapes, or any vegetable for that matter, DO NOT NEED OIL to roast or grill. In fact, the true flavor of fruits and vegetables is deeper when cooked without any oil.

GRILLING GRAPES ON THE GRILL FOR GRAPE SALAD

Preheat the grill to medium temperature (400 degrees)
Once the grill is hot, all grape skewers
Close the grill and cook for a total of 4 minutes; flipping the skewers after every 2 minutes.
Remove from the grill and allow to slightly cool before removing grapes from the skewers.

And if you don’t have a grill or the weather isn’t conducive for grilling, no worries, you can roast grapes in the oven as well.

ROASTING GRAPES IN THE OVEN

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper
Place grapes on the baking sheet
Cook for 15 minutes, until grapes begin to blister

WHAT OTHER INGREDIENTS ARE IN MY GRAPE SALAD RECIPE?

Even though the grapes are the highlight of this grape salad, I wanted to add additional flavors for a delicious entree salad.

In order to add a savory component to my grape salad, I chose a combination of arugula and romaine lettuce. Then, I added roasted cauliflower, toasted pecans, and my Simple Rosemary Infused Pickled Red Onions. Of course, you can use raw red onions instead.

Next, I chose pomegranate seeds to add a tart, subtly sweet component. And, the cucumbers add an element of freshness.

GRAPE SALAD DRESSING IS OIL-FREE CREAMY SMOKEY MAPLE DIJON!

What goes best with savory and sweet? How about a creamy, smokey, maple dijon dressing? One of my favorite ways to bring out the taste of fresh vegetables and fruits is to serve them with an oil-free delicious dressing.

Again, the dressing does not need any added oils or fats to be delicious. As a result, the true flavors of the ingredients come out and aren’t weighed down by unnecessary ingredients.

Raw cashews (soak overnight, but will work unsoaked with a high-speed blender)
Water
Maple Syrup
Dijon Mustard
Apple Cider Vinegar
Liquid smoke (I used hickory flavor)

LOOKING FOR MORE ENTREE SALAD RECIPES? CHECK THESE OUT!

6 servings

Grape Salad

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Grape salad combines savory and sweet with grilled grapes, roasted cauliflower, pomegranate seeds, cucumbers, pickled onions and toasted pecans dressed in an oil-free creamy, smoky, maple dijon dressing.

Ingredients

2 cups red or green grapes, room temperature
1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
1 cup pickled red onions or raw red onions
1 1/2 cupe pomegranate seeds
1 English Cucumber, diced
5 ounce container of Arugula
5 ounces Romaine lettuce
Garlic powder
Fresh ground pepper
1/2 cup raw pecans (optional)

Oil-Free Maple Dijon Dressing

1 recipe maple dijon dressing recipe