Salads for the New Year: recipes for five unusual salads

The New Year is an occasion to go beyond the classic olivier and mimosa and serve light, bright and memorable salads with unexpected combinations of products. The selection includes five options: pineapple shrimp, red fish and avocado, citrus fruits and nuts, as well as original interpretations of meat and vegetable salads that are easy to repeat at home. Each recipe is designed for basic products, does not require restaurant techniques and is suitable even for novice cooks. All the details are in the Izvestia article.

Pineapple shrimp salad

This salad combines a spectacular serving and a classic combination of seafood and fruit. Pineapple plays the role of both an ingredient and a "plate" here, so the snack immediately becomes the center of attention on the festive table.

For one large pineapple boat, you will need:

• whole fresh pineapple

• 100-150 g of boiled shrimp

• 4-5 quail eggs

• 5-7 olives

• 150 g of cheese like mozzarella

• 5-6 cherry tomatoes

• 1 kiwi

• a light dressing based on yogurt or olive oil with lemon juice

How to cook:

1. Cut the pineapple in half, carefully remove the pulp and cut into cubes.

2. Boil the shrimp and quail eggs, chop the olives, cheese, tomatoes and kiwi.

3. Mix all the ingredients with the dressing, put in the pineapple halves and serve immediately to keep the fruit fresh.

Red fish and avocado salad​

A delicate salad with red fish, avocado and cheese is a versatile option for those who prefer light but hearty dishes. It is based on a balance of brackish fish and creamy avocado texture, complemented by eggs and cheese.

For cooking, you will need:

• lightly salted or smoked red fish

• ripe avocado

• 2-3 hard-boiled eggs

• 70-100 g of hard cheese

• a little green onion or lettuce

• dressing based on olive oil and lemon juice or light mayonnaise

How to cook:

1. Cut the fish into small cubes, peel the avocado and slice it too, sprinkling with lemon so that it does not darken.

2. Grate the eggs and cheese, mix all the ingredients, add the herbs and dressing, mix gently and serve in portions in creamers or cooking rings.

Citrus salad with nuts and onions

Salads with oranges and other citrus fruits allow you to add fresh, juicy accents to the New Year's table. Such dishes are well suited as a light snack between more satisfying dishes, and as an independent vitamin salad.

One of the options includes:

• oranges

• red onion

• a little lemon juice

• olives or pitted olives

• nuts (cashews, walnuts or almonds)

• olive oil, salt, freshly ground pepper

How to cook:

1. Peel and peel the oranges, cut into slices, and cut the red onion into thin half rings.

2. Mix the citrus fruits with the onion, add the nuts and olives, season with oil and lemon juice, and add a little salt if necessary.

3. Let the salad brew a little before serving to combine the flavors, but don't hold it too long to preserve the texture of the fruit.

New Year's salad with crab sticks and tangerines​

For those who are used to the classics with crab sticks, but want to add a New Year's exotic flavor, a salad with tangerines and pineapple is suitable. It combines seafood, citrus fruits and sweet fruits, creating an unusual but harmonious taste.

The basic structure includes:

• crab sticks

• peeled and clingy tangerines

• pineapple slices (fresh or canned)

• cheese or egg for satiety

• herbs and a light sauce based on yogurt or mayonnaise with lemon

How to cook:

1. Cut the crab sticks and additional ingredients into cubes, cut the tangerine slices in half if necessary.

2. Combine all the ingredients, add the sauce, herbs and mix gently, taking care not to damage the citrus slices.

3. Serve the salad in small creamers or in peeled tangerine "cups".

New Year's meat salad with fruits and nuts

Unusual meat salads for the New Year are often based on the contrast of smoked or boiled meat with fruits and nuts. This format allows you to replace the usual olivier with a lighter, but no less satisfying option.

A popular combination is smoked chicken, pineapples, prunes, nuts and mushrooms.:

• smoked chicken

• canned pineapples

• soaked and sliced prunes

• fried mushrooms

• walnuts or other nuts

• mayonnaise or a mixture of mayonnaise and yogurt for dressing

How to cook:

1. Soak the prunes in hot water beforehand, fry the mushrooms until the liquid has evaporated, and lightly brown the nuts in a dry frying pan.

2. Cut the smoked meat and pineapples into cubes, combine with prunes, mushrooms and nuts, season and refrigerate before serving.

3. For a more festive look, arrange the salad in layers in a ring or decorate with nuts and herbs on top.

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