This month's Weekend Cookbook Challenge, hosted as always by my girl Ali at Something So Clever, was to cook something orange. I hate carrots so that was out. Persimmons? I'm stumped when it comes to them. I started remembering an orange salad dessert in Jamie Oliver's cookbook Jamie's Kitchen. While I love the photos in his books - and I have several of them - I can't say I've made too many of his dishes.
Something light and citrusy was the perfect way to celebrate the incredible weather we've been having in Atlanta. I wore a sundress on Sunday! This couldn't have been easier to make - I think it took me 5 minutes to put together. I did tweak the recipe a bit. Instead of clementines, I used Satsuma oranges that I bought at the farmers market this weekend. I omitted the mint and used Dagoba's chocolate flavored with Lime. It was just noticeable enough to add something to the salad. I'm sure the mint is lovely, too.
Clementine Chocolate Salad - serves 4
8 clementines
1 large handful of slivered almonds
10 fresh mint leaves, finely sliced
6 tablespoons sugar
4 tablespoons water
seeds from 1 vanilla bean
3 1/2 oz. best quality bittersweet chocolate, shaved
Peel the clementines, slice across thinly and remove the seeds. Arrange on 4 plates and sprinkle over the almonds and mint. Bring the sugar and water to a boil, add the vanilla seeds and allow to simmer until the liquid becomes a light golden syrup. Try not to touch it too much at this stage. Drizzle the syrup over the clementines and top with the shaved chocolate before serving.
Chocolate and orange and lime?? That is perfection. Gorgeous pictures as always girl :)
Posted by: Alicat | March 06, 2006 at 08:16 AM
Very inviting indeed. Fresh fresh fresh!
Lovely recipe! thank you!
Posted by: Bea at La Tartine Gourmande | March 06, 2006 at 08:47 AM
Ooohh, my favourite combination - chocolate & orange! Fab!
Posted by: MM | March 06, 2006 at 09:24 AM
nice work. in my crazy life, if i can stop by to see more, i will.
Posted by: brady lowe | March 06, 2006 at 01:31 PM
Wow...that looks great.
Posted by: emily | March 07, 2006 at 05:56 AM
site is up!
Posted by: James B | March 07, 2006 at 06:15 AM
Such a treat to follow your blog. Your latest salad is true eye candy and delicious sounding. Rock on!
Posted by: GadgetGeek2 | March 07, 2006 at 06:20 AM
Gorgeous, easy, and delicious is a nice combination.
Very pretty picture.
Posted by: Julie | March 07, 2006 at 03:25 PM
Just beautiful -- just perfect!
Posted by: Alanna | March 10, 2006 at 10:33 AM
Thanks for this fine recipe! It's great and you look pretty fine too.. Cheers!
Posted by: Simon | February 11, 2007 at 04:44 AM
do you buy shaved chocolate or shave it yourself? if so how do you shave it?
Posted by: Scott | March 06, 2007 at 11:42 AM