Eating this salad offers a feeling reminiscent, straight-up, of Sanji’s energy from Torus Link. This is a salad that is light, springy, and sunnily-sweet, yes— with sweet gala apples and smoky black sesame in particular made pleasantly light and juicy through golden berries, lemon juice, and bell peppers– mint, onions, and savory offering just a TOUCH of serious sharpness for contrast. Yet most of all, this salad is bright and unencumbered: perfect for when you want to think clearly and efficiently and NOT be too bogged down by the heavier details!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups lettuce leaf blend of your choice (I used one with mizuna and chard)
• 1/2 cup red and yellow mini bell peppers
• 1/4 cup pistachios
• 1/4 cup fresh golden berries
• 1 large lemon (for zest and about 2-3 Tbsp lemon juice)
• 1 tsp black sesame paste
• 1 small gala apple, about 1/2 cup’s worth
• 1/2 cup green onions
• 1/2 tsp dried savory
• 1/4 tsp dried mint
• 1 Tbsp golden raisins

Special Equipment: high-speed blender or food processor, citrus zester

Prep time: 10 minutes
Yields: 1 serving

Preparation:

1. Cut the gala apple into thin half-moon slices and roughly chop the green onions. Reserve.
2. Puree together the pistachios, golden berries, lemon juice, black sesame paste, and bell peppers. Reserve.
3. Plate the lettuce leaf blend in a large bowl or plate; arrange the green onions on top and place the reserved apple slices in a concentric circle on the border of the plate.
4. Pour the reserved puree over the fruit and lettuce and sprinkle the dried savory, mint, and golden raisins on top. Zest about 1/4 tsp of lemon zest directly over the salad, and then enjoy the light, clear airiness, just like that of Sanji’s!

Yasmine’s notes:

Might I suggest you listen to this song while prepping this salad? It’s one of the prime songs I tie to Sanji’s overall beat… and not least one she sings a cover to in Torus Link!