Tuesday 23 October 2012

Tuna and Feta salad with honey and pomegranate vinegar dressing






























I still love pomegranate molasses as a salad dressing but was disappointed to find out that mine contained sugar. I thought it was naturally sweet. I've now discovered pomegranate vinegar which I don't think does. You can find it online here. Mine wasn't as good quality as this one but tasted amazing. It goes brilliantly with a trickle of honey as a dressing for a salad made with the following ingredients:

Tuna and feta pasta salad with a honey and pomegranate vinegar dressing.

Ingredients:
  • A small lettuce, raddicchio or coz are nice. Choose something that won't easily wilt with the heat of the pasta.
  • A can of tuna in olive oil, drained
  • Feta cheese
  • A little fresh pasta. Cheese filled Tortellini is lovely but any fresh or dried would be nice. Cooked and left to cool a little.
  • Some onion or shallots. I used a sliced small red onion and a couple of spring onions because I love the flavour of both. The red onion is sweet and the spring onions have a fresh flavour. I especially like the green part of the stalk.
  • Half a small green sweet pepper/capsicum
  • A ripe tomato cut into chunks
  • One or two radishes, top, tailed and sliced finely
  • A few black olives
  • A handful of pomegranate seeds and walnuts
  • Pomegranate vinegar or red wine vinegar
  • Honey

The method is simple. 

  1. Prepare the pasta and leave to cool, to room temperature.
  2. Wash and prepare all the fruit and vegetables and then combine in a dish. 
  3. Top with the pasta.
  4. Add the drained tuna. Crumble over the feta and top with the olives, walnuts and pomegranate seeds.
  5. Dress with the vinegar and honey. There's no need to make a dressing, just drizzle over. I don't think there is any need for seasoning either as I used canned tuna it was already seasoned and the feta and olives were salty enough.

This is a really tasty autumn salad with a bit of an Italian influence thanks to the Radicchio,Tortellini and olives. The pasta makes it quite substantial and the warmth gives it a real comfort food factor without being overly heavy. Now that pomegranates are in season over here they make a perfect addition to any salad and add a lovely autumnal colour to the table...as well as being super, super anti-oxidant...

...a perfect simple supper...





11 comments:

  1. Lovely salad. I often use pomegranate molasses but now I've got to get myself some of the vinegar to try.

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  2. The one I used was really light and refreshing Phil...I'd like to try the balsamic one that I put a link to next. Although it is a bit expensive for vinegar!

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  3. I love salads in any version and this one looks delicious!! I bet you can have the pomegranate molasses once in a while :)

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    1. Yes...I don't think I'll be able to resist it every so often especially if it's with salad...that should kind of cancel it out...

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  4. You are my cooking goddess Debby! Really, I think you need to move to the US, I have a spare room!

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    1. wow thanks Tracey...knowing from your blog what an accomplished cook you are that is high praise indeed.

      I'm packing my bag as I write...sadly only metaphorically....

      Enjoy the rest of the week happy pink and blue knitting.
      deb

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  5. I didn't know there was such a thing as pomegranate vinegar! This looks absolutely wonderful, brilliant idea for dinner tonight (even if I don't quite find the vinegar). We have become apple cider vinegar devotees in this house, I can nearly drink it neat!

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    1. It was new to me too Lucy. But as I was just writing on Phil's comments such a different thing from the molasses, much lighter and refreshing. They are both amazing ingredients to use...I'b bit obsessed at the moment especially as this is the season for pomegranates over here. We get them shipped over from Turkey and Spain in the Autumn. I just love them.

      I've got some cider vinegar too but don't use it very often. My mum used to drink it every day...with honey I think. I must try out your pink salad it looks amazing...a good way to use it.

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  6. I didn't realise pomegranate molasses contained sugar too :( Need to check out that vinegar, sounds lovely with the sweet honey and salty feta and olives and bitter leaves. And the colours look fab of course! p.s. been sharing your etsy shop link with a few foodie friends, they all seem to relaly like it (:

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    1. It may have been just the one I was using. I'm now on the look out for one without...I'm sure there will be some. I just never thought to check before.

      Oh thank you Shu Han...that's sweet of you.

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  7. Hi My name is Anne and I am a blog writer ( I write about travel, meeting bloggers and all sorts of things that go on my life) too and live near Wantage. I came across your blog when I was just doing a google search for the Brazilian cafe on Abingdon road, and saw your post. I think I might just have to visit there one day, your review of the place is good.

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