Mixed Green & Mixed Cheese Nova Salad

To me, this is kind of like a stereotypical salad that you’d find in almost any bistro’s menu. There are cheeses, greens, apples, and I feel like, no matter how many variations of this salad are out there, it still deserves to be a recipe on this website. The recipe is my own, and I love how classic the flavors are together. Please don’t forget the balsamic vinegar or the nova flakes. Balsamic vinegar adds tangy sweetness, which in contrast with the apple, creates a dichotomy of flavor. The nova flakes are the reason why I did not salt or pepper the salad. With that, I hope you find this recipe fun and easy to throw together. 

Ingredients:

1 cup baby spinach

1 cup baby arugula

1/4 cup freshly grated gruyere, divided

1/4 cup freshly grated Welsh cheddar, divided

1/4 granny smith apple, roughly chopped

Nova Flakes, bite-sized pieces, amount to your liking

Drizzle balsamic vinegar

Peasant bread

Directions:

Take a larger piece of the bread loaf, tear in half, and toast on the second next to the highest setting. Once popped, put on the second to the lowest setting and toast again. Once done toasting, cut into bite-sized pieces and set aside for salad.

Add spinach and arugula to bowl. With hands, roughly toss. Layer onto plate. Grate about half of the gruyere and half the cheddar into the greens. Gently toss with hands on the plate, careful not to lose any ingredients. It’s important to toss on a plate and not in a bowl because the cheese will end up on the bottom if done in a bowl. Chop and arrange apple. Sprinkle bits around edges of plate. Hand-tear nova flakes into bite-sized pieces and arrange around plate.

Drizzle balsamic vinegar in a zigzag over the salad.

Hand-tear the toasted bread into bite-sized pieces, and sprinkle onto plate. Freshly shred the rest of the gruyere and cheddar on top of the salad. Use less if you want to, or more. 

Consume immediately so that the salad does not wilt before you eat it.

Serving Suggestions:

Pinot noir, mulled wine, apple cider.