Radial Symmetry Sunburst Salad (Printable)

Perfectly sliced veggies and creamy cheese arranged in a radiant sunburst for a vibrant and elegant centerpiece.

# What you'll need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 medium golden beet, peeled and thinly sliced
02 - 1 medium red beet, peeled and thinly sliced
03 - 1 small zucchini, thinly sliced
04 - 1 small yellow squash, thinly sliced
05 - 1 medium watermelon radish, thinly sliced
06 - 1 large carrot, peeled and thinly sliced

→ Cheese

07 - 3.5 oz goat cheese, crumbled
08 - 2 tbsp crème fraîche

→ Dressing

09 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
11 - 1 tsp honey
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

13 - 2 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
14 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
15 - Edible flowers (optional)

# Method:

01 - Using a sharp knife or mandoline, slice all vegetables as thinly as possible.
02 - Place a small bowl or ramekin at the center of a large round platter to designate the focal area.
03 - Fan the sliced vegetables outward from the center in alternating colors and shapes, creating overlapping concentric circles with perfect radial symmetry.
04 - Remove the central bowl and fill the space with goat cheese crumbled and combined with crème fraîche.
05 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl, then evenly drizzle the dressing over the arranged vegetables.
06 - Sprinkle fresh chives, toasted sesame seeds, and edible flowers over the top to finish.
07 - Present immediately as an elegant appetizer or salad centerpiece.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours in the kitchen, but the magic happens in just 25 minutes—your guests won't believe how effortless you make it look
  • Every vegetable tastes fresh and bright because nothing gets cooked; you're tasting the garden's true colors
  • It's naturally vegetarian and gluten-free, so you can confidently serve it to almost anyone without apologizing or explaining
  • The combination of creamy goat cheese against crisp, cool vegetables hits all the senses at once
02 -
  • Don't slice vegetables more than an hour or two in advance; they'll start to wilt and lose their crispness and vibrancy. The magic of this dish is in its freshness
  • A mandoline will change your life, but it will also cut your fingers if you're not paying attention. Learn to use the guard, or invest in a cut-resistant glove
  • The sunburst only works if your slices are thin enough to fan. If you make them too thick, they won't overlap elegantly
  • Don't overdress this; you want the vegetables to taste like themselves, not like a swimming pool of vinaigrette
03 -
  • Chill your platter in the freezer for 10 minutes before arranging; cold helps vegetables stay crisp and the presentation stays fresher longer
  • If you're serving this at a dinner party, arrange it up to 2 hours in advance, cover it loosely with plastic wrap, and keep it in a cool spot. Add the dressing and garnish just before bringing it to the table
  • The goat cheese and crème fraîche mixture can be prepared ahead and stored in the center of the sunburst under that plastic wrap—it actually gets more flavorful as it sits
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