Fresh, light and healthy. That's my vision for 2014, in terms of both the food I prepare and how I'd like to feel from head to toe. I'd like to spend more time at the beach, too, basking in the goodness of the sun, surf and sand. Sounds like a well-considered plan, no? Well, let me tell you, things are well underway. Since watching the Richard Curtis movie About Time at the cinema, I've been yearning for a long seaside holiday. Visions of that family picnicking on the grassy cliff top and walking on the sand brought back so many memories of weekends spent with my parents at Malua Bay, where they lived—and a decade of summers when I took my own children to Easts Beach in Kiama, for week-long holidays. To me, there's an exquisite deliciousness about arriving at a seaside destination. That faint hint of salt and seaweed that hits your nostrils, the cool ocean breeze blowing on your face, the sand that smooths away a year's worth of tension. And then the anticipation of kicking off your regular gear and donning sandals or flip flops, lightweight clothes, sunnies and a hat—knowing that this will be your 'uniform' for the next week or more. Yes, yes, yes!!! The seaside...The salad... When I think about it, this salad epitomises 'fresh, light and healthy' and things that remind me of the sea. The prawns, of course, are among the sweetest of fruits from the sea. The dill is reminiscent of seaweed, in appearance at least. The asparagus is remarkably close to samphire. And the cucumber is as cool and delicate as a gentle sea breeze. The dill... reminiscent of seaweedThe asparagus... remarkably close to samphireThe prawns... among the sweetest of fruits from the seaThe recipe... SALAD OF PRAWNS, ASPARAGUS, CUCUMBER & DILL 8 large green prawns 1 bunch baby asparagus 1 large Lebanese cucumber dill sprigs, to garnish For the dressing: 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil juice of half a lemon 1 teaspoon Honeycup or grainy mustard sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste 1 tablespoon chopped dill sprigs First, cook the prawns in boiling lightly salted water for 3-4 minutes, until they change colour and float to the top. The shell and the prawn will have separated slightly. (Reserve the stock, you can use it for broth). Place the prawns into a bowl of iced water to cool them down, then peel and devein them. While the prawns are cooking, steam the asparagus for 1-2 minutes, then drain and plunge into some iced water (or refresh under cold water) to stop the cooking process. Using a sharp vegetable peeler, slice long strips from the unpeeled cucumber. To make the dressing, combine the ingredients in a small jug and whisk until combined. Assemble the asparagus, cucumber strips and prawns in layers on serving plates. Sprinkle the dressing over the salad and garnish with sprigs of dill before serving. This quantity serves 2. Note: This is my take on a recipe by Anneka Manning in her beautiful book more good food, which I had the pleasure of reviewing back in 2000. Fresh, light and healthy... yes, yes yes!!! Tell me dear readers, what's your vision for 2014? Have you seen the movie About Time? And are you as fond of the seaside as I am?
What a gorgeous, summery salad...totally irresistible!!! I think I may just book a flight to Australia to eat a plate with you...anything to get away from this bitterly cold, snowy winter...the forecast is abysmal!!! We could head to the seaside....sounds so nice. Enjoy your weekend, Lizzy!
Lizzy
3/1/2014 02:45:19 pm
Thank you, Liz, come on down!!! We can go to my favourite seaside part of the world downunder and enjoy! xo 3/1/2014 03:46:29 pm
Fresh, light and healthy are the perfect words to describe this delicious looking salad. A must try in 2014!!
Lizzy
3/1/2014 04:48:06 pm
Why Betsy, that is so kind, thank you xo
Lizzy
3/1/2014 04:48:22 pm
Tandy, it's delicious! : ) 3/1/2014 08:24:47 pm
Fresh, light and healthy is a great vision of myself, let alone the food I'm eating ... your salad is amazing, but I hope my resolutions last the distance!!! Happy New Year!
Lizzy
4/1/2014 10:27:09 am
Hi Red, happy new year!
Lizzy
4/1/2014 10:27:40 am
Hi David, happy new year and welcome to Good Things. I hope you will stop by again, love your blog BTW! 4/1/2014 08:36:36 am
Oh this looks almost too beautiful to eat!!! What a coincidence that I have marinated prawns defrosting in the fridge. I can't wait to make it!
Lizzy
4/1/2014 10:28:03 am
Hi Julie, that's very kind thank you... I hope you tried the recipe? Happy new year! 4/1/2014 08:40:00 am
So light and fresh, this salad would be high on my list if our temperatures were a sizzling 50°C! Happy New Year Lizzy.
Lizzy
4/1/2014 10:28:29 am
Hi Eva, and happy new year! I am so pleased we haven't reached those temps in my part of the country!
Lizzy
4/1/2014 10:28:49 am
Hi Maureen, wow, really? There are fires in your region, no?
Eha
4/1/2014 01:34:58 pm
Absolutely perfect: no further comment needed on that!! Beautifully appetizing to look at too :) ! It does sound as if days in the sun and sand are on the horizon ~ have the bestest of time! I won't get on the bandwagon to begin enumerating how restorative the sun is to how many conditions. Personally am not a sand and surf gal ~ have never been. But I love the sun and still water and the current longer and longer walks I take in the late afternoon. Few people realize that one cannot be blue when walking basking in the rays from above :) ! Happy planning!!!
Lizzy
5/1/2014 06:25:42 am
Hi Eha... I'm not a 'surfer' kind of gal either, but I've going to the seaside since I was little and I love the sun and the water and, yes, the walks on the beach etc. Oh, I can barely wait! Especially as my throat is still sore, even today.
John@KitchenRiffs
4/1/2014 01:36:34 pm
A long seaside vacation sounds lovely! We were just talking about that a few weeks ago. Don't know when it will happen, but one of these days. In the meantime, I'll just have to enjoy this salad! Really nice combo of flavors and textures. Thanks.
Lizzy
5/1/2014 06:26:28 am
John, thank you kindly... I loved the look of this as soon as I first saw it and have been enjoying it for so long I thought it was time I shared
Joanne T Ferguson
4/1/2014 05:22:00 pm
G'day! LOVE your photos Lizzy, true!
Lizzy
5/1/2014 06:27:03 am
Thanks Joanne, it is an elegant salad, isn't it.
Lizzy
5/1/2014 06:27:25 am
Glenda, thank you very kindly : ) 4/1/2014 08:44:09 pm
Liz, the refreshing simplicity of this salad and your analogies to the sea (and health and vigor) were downright poetic. Which leads me to ask... may I link your Food Verse page to a food poetry group I recently joined? "Good Things" were meant to be shared! Please let me know. Thank you!
Lizzy
5/1/2014 06:28:46 am
Kim, thank you very much... Yes, of course, and please ask your poetry group members if they would like to contribute to my page... I would be happy to publish suitable works with links back to websites, email addresses etc! : ) 9/1/2014 06:19:54 pm
Thanks, Liz! I'm sure they'll be excited to read the poems you've already posted and I'll let them know about your invitation to submit. We're a fledgling group and I'm a newbie food poet, but I love the prospect of this genre. Again, thanks! 4/1/2014 09:12:15 pm
Anything with prawn in it is a winner for me and one of my favourite herbs with seafood is dill! :)
Lizzy
5/1/2014 06:29:16 am
I think I'm the same on both counts, Lorraine : )
Lizzy
5/1/2014 06:29:37 am
Ela, thank you... : ) 4/1/2014 11:38:08 pm
Oh I do like to be beside the seaside.....Lovely photos, Liz. And just the sort of food I like to eat.
Lizzy
5/1/2014 06:30:09 am
Shall I sing along with you, Christine? It won't be too long and you will be : ) 5/1/2014 12:42:05 am
Ah, your words transported me to the cote d'azure, but then it also reminds me that I will be enjoying a holiday some time soon at the beach. =) For the while I will be enjoying your salad as soon as I get some fresh dill.
Lizzy
5/1/2014 06:31:02 am
Helene, perfect... I was hoping to evoke a sense of the sea. Fresh dill is amazing... mine, would you believe, is growing out of the cracks in our paving stones! : )
Jane Way
5/1/2014 10:03:13 pm
Dear Lizzy, you are a legend.....perfect in every way. Thank you !! Jane
Lizzy
6/1/2014 07:09:55 am
Hi Jane, happy new year, and thank you for your very kind words : )
Gintare@Gourmantine
6/1/2014 07:14:52 am
Looking at your photos I miss summer and sunshine and fresh foods, gorgeous salad!
Lizzy
6/1/2014 07:15:44 am
Thanks so very much, and welcome to Good Things. Thanks for stopping by : )
Lizzy
9/1/2014 05:28:21 pm
Aha, thanks Liz xo 8/1/2014 10:19:20 am
How pretty, light and elegant this dish is. I did see the movie. I loved it and yes, it made me want to see ocean. I used to live in California right at the Beach. I'm going back in a few weeks to visit. Hooray.
Lizzy
9/1/2014 05:28:10 pm
Angela, how lovely! Hooray indeed! Thank you for your kind words. 8/1/2014 06:23:54 pm
If I asked you *really* nicely would you make this for dinner tonight? :)
Lizzy
9/1/2014 05:27:56 pm
Sure thing... come over! 8/1/2014 06:29:19 pm
Lizzy, you have put some very simple ingredients on a plate and turned it into a masterpiece! I would so love to dig into that salad right now.
Lizzy
9/1/2014 05:27:35 pm
Lisa, thank you very much : )
Lizzy
9/1/2014 05:27:05 pm
Anna, thank you kindly!
Lizzy
10/1/2014 06:05:27 pm
Maureen, I envy you and your water views. A perfect salad for you indeed!
Lizzy
11/1/2014 11:38:54 am
Jess, thank you so much! : ) And welcome to Good Things. 12/1/2014 11:28:39 am
I love all the fresh greens in your salad - healthy & delicious!
Lizzy
14/1/2014 06:35:13 pm
Laura, thank you kindly. I love the freshness!
Lizzy
14/1/2014 06:35:27 pm
Rosa, thank you very much! 14/1/2014 08:04:42 am
Oh Lizzy, that is the most beautiful looking salad…your photographs are absolutely stunning. You have me dreaming of warm weather. :)
Lizzy
14/1/2014 06:36:00 pm
Karen, thank you so much! I am glad to know it has evoked some thoughts of summer for you : )
Lizzy
19/1/2014 07:35:01 pm
Vanessa, who can blame you! I love the sea too... can I come visit you? : ) Comments are closed.
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Welcome...Üdvözölöm
Cooking and writing have been a lifelong passion. Join me as I share with you my favourite recipes; postcards and morsels from my travels; conversations with cookery writers and chefs; and news on food, cookbooks and cooking. - Liz Posmyk
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NB: I use Australian standard measuring cups and spoons in my recipes.
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