Spinach salad with taramasalata dressing

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So, so, I was getting really exciting for Greek pic-nic and kite-flying day: Clean Monday or Kathari Deutera as we call it over here in Athens. Yet, for another year the weather has turned a little cloudy, a little too windy, and a little wet. Honest, I am no weather winger. I haven’t complained since I left London, it is steadily sunny and warm and soooo bright. But not this weekend! It’s going to be pouring down and anyone going to fly a kite is certain to re-enact Benjamin Franklin’s experiment. So food, console oneself with food. A light spinach salad with cod roe dressing.

You possibly know already that Clean Monday is synonymous with a sea-food feast. This brings together a table full of wonderful mezze and mains. Think of octopus, boiled or grilled, served with olive oil and vinegar; a lot of calamari, our favourite is fried. Pulses and pickles are on the spotlight too, think of lentil or black-eyed beans salads. And dips, from the famous tzatziki to taramasalata, which enjoys a very special day. Every family has its very own version, be it just with olive oil or potatoes.

Given the miserable weather, I think the menu of the day will incorporate a heart-warming bean soup – fasolada – along with some delinquent sides of shrimps and calamari and of course taramasalata. After experimenting with 3 different types of taramasalata, I played around with cod roe a bit more and what came out was a lovely dressing for salad. Crunchy spinach, peppery rocket leaves, succulent cherry tomatoes all topped off with a rich cod roe dressing.

Ingredients

  • 400 gr spinach
  • 150 gr rocket
  • 15-20 cherry tomatoes
  • For the dressing
  • 1 tsp cod roe
  • half an onion
  • 100 ml olive oil
  • pepper to taste
  • 1 lemon for its juice to taste

Instructions

  • Use a food processor to mix the cod roe and onion, for approximately a minute.
  • Start adding the olive oil, bit by bit until you get a smooth and runny mixture.
  • Add some fresh pepper and then the lemon juice, slowly and taste your dip to adjust it to your preferences.
  • In a large box mix the spinach and rocket leaves and pour over the cod roe dressing.
  • Toss and you are ready to serve
cod roe dressing

I hope you enjoy this delicious, peppery salad and if celebrating Kathari Deutera, perhaps the weather is shining on you and you will get a chance to fly a kite too!

from Athens with love,

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11 thoughts on “Spinach salad with taramasalata dressing

  1. Frankie Beane says:

    What are rocket leaves? They look like dandelions leaves? You know how everything has different names in different places. Really looks refreshing. I am still waiting for the first hint of Spring. I think I saw buds today.

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