Wild Mulberry, Oregano & Nectarine Salad

When life gives you wild mulberries, you make this perfect summer mulberry salad. Full of all those summer vibes and flavours. Come along for the taste sensation and I bet you will have most of these other items in the cupboard and fridge.

The best part is you don’t need to make a different dressing to drizzle over at the end. The dressing for this salad is made from the squishing of the mulberries which creates a naturally thick and flavourful coating. One less step is one less step and this can be incorporated into many other salads using berries. Thank me later…

Unfortunately this salad can only be brought into your cooking repertoire during the warmer months as it does rely on mulberries. If you have the lucky advantage of being in a location where mulberries fruit twice a year - yes they do have a fruiting cycle between July and August and then again between October and the end of November - don’t put it to waste! Pick as many berries as you can if you have access to a tree or know of wild mulberry trees. Otherwise stock up on them from the shops because they are not only delicious to eat, their health benefits are far greater than many other berries.

Their health benefits are a whole other story and one that is very impressive. On a basic level, mulberries are rich in potassium, vitamin C, vitamin K, calcium and iron. But going into more detail these nutrients means mulberries are good for;

• digestion

• boosts your immune system

• improves vision

• improves blood circulation

• good for helping damaged hair

• helps with dry skin

• high in antioxidants which is great for anti-aging properties

• helps maintain a healthy heart (fights the bad cholesterol and thus better for the blood flow)

If this gets you in the mood for bringing mulberries into any and every dish you can possibly think of then you also may like to try my Mulberry and Hibiscus Skillet Cake. Not only is this a fun and delicious option for the whole family but you can also read more about the differences between mulberries and blackberries in this article.

Back to salads for a quick moment - this salad is great as a side dish to pretty much any main meal be vegan, vegetarian, meat or fish based. But don’t let that stop you, because I eat this salad as a whole meal for lunches or as a light dinner. The mixture of fruits is a classic summery feel and the addition of nuts means you will be fuller for longer. If you want, you can add a fillet of grilled salmon or perch for that killer protein and added wholesome boost.

Wild Mulberry, Oregano & Nectarine Salad

Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh wild mulberries

• 1 tsp fresh oregano, dried

• 1/2 lettuce bulb (I used curly Green Leaf but you could use Lolla Rosa, Baby red oak or Butter)

• 3 springs mint

• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

• Pinch sea salt

• 1 large yellow nectarine 

• 1/4 cup unsalted, raw peanuts (optional)

Method 

Wash the lettuce well and dry with a lettuce spinner. 

Place the mulberries in a large bowl along with the extra virgin olive oil and sea salt. Using the back of a fork, squish the mulberries to break them down. Leave some more whole than others but you should also get a thick deep purple or black liquid forming when the bone mulberries mix with the oil.

Add the remaining ingredients and gently mix to coat. Serve alongside home-made pizza, summer grill or as is for a delicious lunch.