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Lettuce Boats with Balsamic Drizzle

This is more of an idea than a recipe. 
Create an attractive side salad using a romaine leave as a boat to hold the ingredients.
Reducing balsamic vinegar leaves you with a syrupy drizzle. It's tasty and also a healthy alternative to regular salad dressings. There are many good balsamic vinegars to choose from. I like to have a variety of flavoured balsamic vinegars in my pantry...my favourites are fig and pear or blueberry. 

Ingredients - for 4 boats:
  • 1 fresh heart of romaine lettuce, this is the inside smaller leaves of the head of romaine
  • 1 cup finely chopped lettuce
  • 2 cups your choice fresh vegetable, chopped fine (cucumber, celery, radish, carrots, onions, avacado)
  • cherry tomatoes
  • feta or blue cheese, crumbled
  • 3/4 cup good quality balsamic vinegar
Method:
  1. Cut core off the end of the heat of romaine separating leaves. Wash, dry and place in a bag in fridge for at least an hour to get cold and crisp.
  2. Chop up your choice of salad ingredients and combine with the chopped lettuce.
  3. Pour balsamic vinegar into a small saucepan. Over medium, heat until it begins to bubble. Turn to low and allow balsamic vinegar to reduce to about 1/2. As it reduces it will become more of a light syrup.
  4. While balsamic is reducing, lay your chilled lettuce leaf boats on serving dish and fill with chopped salad ingredients, and top with tomotos and cheese of your choice.
  5. Drizzle warm balsamic reduction over salads and serve immediately.

5 comments:

  1. Hey Kathy - nice to hear from you and this is perfect for me right now (starting my 7 day routine again next week). This looks so healthy and tastey!

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  2. Kathy,
    What a great idea and I love balsamic and romaine. It is so hot here that the appetite wanes and a salad is about all that sounds appetizing right now. Thank you!

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  3. I love the idea of reducing balsamic vinegar! Can you then store it on the shelf, or must it be in the fridge? I can't wait to try this. Bet the house smells nice while the vinegar is bubbling away :)

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  4. Great idea! I'm going to do that! Except with no fresh figs, I'm going to mix some fig jam with the balsamic vinegar! Thanks so much for the ideas!

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  5. That looks like a mini Greek salad, wonderful !!!!

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