Strawberry Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

I never liked strawberries in the past. I mean fresh strawberries. Any other form of strawberries like strawberry jam, strawberry ice-cream, strawberry milkshake, I like a lot. Why? Because fresh strawberries from the supermarket are a tasteless lot. I don't know, maybe it's just me. But all this changed when Korean strawberries came along.

Korean strawberries are sweet, juicy and tasty. They have renewed my faith in these red beauties. Last weekend I saw very fresh Korean strawberries on sale at Aeon. They don't come cheap of course. One pack of 250g was retailing at RM17.50 but since it was on promotion, it cost me RM14.50. Still hard to swallow for me hah..hah...

The thing about strawberries is that they are so pretty. Don't you think so? I originally bought these to brighten up my Steamed Chocolate Buttermilk Cake. If not for these dazzling beauties, everything would be brown and blah. But after they had served their purpose, they were massacred to make a salad. Cruel, huh?

This salad came about when I suddenly remembered Monica's very pretty and delicious looking Strawberry Chicken Salad with Balsamic Vinaigarette. I love salads and I have never had a strawberry one before. But I couldn't get the particular cut of chicken that was fresh, so I settled for......siew yoke of course! 

When I got home, I fried some bacon and reserved the oil for the dressing. Bacon is in Monica's recipe, so please don't look at me hah..hah.. But she didn't say anything about using the bacon drippings, so that was all me. I know that some people are shaking their heads over my choice of ingredients for the salad. But I'm the one eating it and you don't have to do what I do. 

I made the salad dressing using pounded garlic, salt, pepper, olive oil, bacon drippings, Dijon mustard and Balsamic vinegar. I usually mix Balsamic vinegar with either apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar as I find Balsamic vinegar too strong on its own. This time I didn't. 

Well, it is true what they say about strawberries and Balsamic vinegar. I love this salad. In the past I was not open to the idea using fruits in salads but I have changed my mind. The mild sweetness from the strawberries, the tartness from the vinegar and the smoky goodness from the roasted pork and fried bacon totally rocks this salad.

I'm happy that I tried this salad and I am pretty sure these Korean strawberries will make their way to my grocery list again but I will only buy them when they are on offer hah..hah.... Now I am thinking strawberries in my cakes and strawberries dipped in chocolate. I think I have some ganache in the freezer. Whoohoo!!

Strawberry Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Recipe source : Adapted from A Beautiful Mess
(Makes one serving)

Ingredients :
For salad :
- Mixed salad leaves
- Strawberries, sliced
- Shallots or big onions sliced
- roasted pork (siew yoke)
- bacon, fried till crispy

for Balsamic Vinaigrette :
- 1 big clove garlic
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp black peppercorn
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp bacon oil
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp Balsamic vinegar

Method :
1. To make Balsamic vinaigrette, pound garlic, salt and peppercorns until fine.
2. Add olive oil, bacon oil, honey, mustard and vinegar and stir/whisk to combine.
3. Put all salad ingredients into mixing bowl and toss with the Balsamic vinaigrette.