Rocket, Parmesan and Balsamic Salad with Strawberries

Heap peppery fresh rocket leaves onto a plate and scatter over shards of shaved, aged parmesan. Poke a few just-picked strawberries in and about. Sprinkle with the best quality balsamic vinegar you can afford, and douse liberally with extra virgin olive oil. Finish with a grinding of sea salt. Close your eyes and think of Venice or Verona, Florence or Siena, Naples or Rome… Springtime in Italy.

Rocket, Parmesan and Balsamic Salad with Strawberries

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A few weeks ago we went to a friend’s house for dinner. This salad of rocket, parmesan and balsamic with strawberries was served as a first course and was much appreciated. It always is, and everyone always accepts more. It’s one of those equisite examples – found so often in Italy – of simple ingredients coming together in a synergistic masterpiece of flavours, textures and style.

I actually hadn’t thought about it since last spring, and was super happy when Serena and Stefano jolted my memory, right at the time when we were picking dozens of ripe strawberries down in our orto, our kitchen garden. We don’t often have dairy products in the house – apart from clarified butter – but I went out and bought a small block of parmesan so as to indulge in this.

It’s perfect served alongside a quickly grilled steak, or a pink-in-the-middle tagliata.

Luckily, I snapped these photos before the strawberries finished.

And thankfully, the summer version, with cherry tomatoes, isn’t far away.

More Salads and Sides

Salad Nicoise with Tuna, Green Beans and Potato – A classic dish, one of our stand-bys.

Chicken, Green Bean and Beetroot Salad with a Ginger Balsamic Dressing – Yes, eat more beetroot, it’s so pretty on the plate!

Zucchini, Mint and Carrot – A fresh summer salad, perfect for when you have two many zucchinis, and too much mint, both at the same time.

I hope you love this Rocket, Parmesan and Balsamic Salad with Strawberries. If you do, be sure to rate it!

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