Have you ever tried to cook or bake with lavender?
I posted the question on my blog’s facebook page and got some amazing suggestions and links from my wonderful followers. Apparently lavender is a wonderfully versatile herb. Not only does it make for a beautiful garnish but you can use it in drinks, (strawberry lavender lemonade is next on my list of things to try), desserts (think lavender flavored cookies, cakes, cheesecakes), flavor ice creams and sorbet and marinate chicken or meat.
The thing you have to remember about cooking with lavender is a little goes a long way. Lavender has a very strong taste and unless you want to turn your meal into a bottle of perfume don’t add too much of it. The rule here is to use 1/3 lavender dried flowers in the place of fresh and always start with a little amount and see how you like it then you can add more if you want
I decided to start my lavender experiments with today’s salad that I served with a wonderful herbed lavender chicken that I will be sharing soon.
Grilled peach feta salad with lavender dressing
3 cups romaine lettuce torn
1 red onion cut into rings
2-3 tablespoons of feta crumbled (I used my homemade feta that I made following John’s recipe)
2 peaches cut into segments
For the lavender dressing
Juice of half a lemon (4 tablespoons)
5 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon mustard
1 teaspoon fresh lavender flowers
1 clove garlic minced
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
To make the dressing
In a bowl add the lemon juice, salt, mustard ,lavender, garlic and balsamic vinegar and whisk
Slowly drizzle the olive oil while you continue whisking until you have added the entire amount
I usually add the onion rings to the dressing while I prepare the salad, this takes the sharp edge off the onions
On the grill or in a pan on the stove top, lightly grill the peach segment
In your serving plate, arrange the torn lettuce, topped with the grilled peach segments
Take the onions out of the dressing and arrange on top of the lettuce
Crumble the feta cheese on top
Decorate with a few lavender twigs
Drizzle the dressing on the salad right before serving
Notes:
You can add toasted almonds for an element of crunch
Jülide Başkur
/ June 26, 2012Your food pictures are very nice, I follow your blog with pleasure, good luck
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ June 28, 2012Thank you very much Julide, it is a pleasure to have you here
Geni - Sweet and Crumby
/ June 26, 2012What a bright and flavorful array of ingredients. Grilling the peaches really brings out such a fabulous smokey but sweet flavor in them. Great idea! Feta too?! Too wonderful.
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ June 28, 2012I totally agree, grilling adds so much to peaches. As for the Feta, I needed something to contrast the sweetness and I thought Feta would do the job nicely
mireia
/ June 25, 2012mmm mouth wathering!!!! I love peaches!!!
rsmacaalay
/ June 25, 2012I so love this salad! I think I will start using our lavender plant from now on
Nami | Just One Cookbook
/ June 24, 2012I just went to peach picking today (now it’s yesterday), and I have such juicy peaches in a box! I’ve never grilled peaches but now you showed me how, I’m going to make this salad for Sunday lunch! I do not have lavender around though. Maybe that’s next time. For now I can’t try peach and feta combo in salad! Thanks Sawsan for the inspiration!
mjskit
/ June 24, 2012What a simple and delicious salad! Love the grilled peaches, something I’ve never done. But then when I find a good peach it usually doesn’t make it into the fridge before I have it eaten! Love the addition of lavender to your dressing. Definitely will be trying this once the peaches hit the market here!
Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide
/ June 24, 2012What a beautiful pairing. Lovely recipe and photos.
thebigfatnoodle
/ June 23, 2012What a beautiful recipe, I would never have thought of using lavender in a dressing. My lavender in the garden is just about ready for harvesting too!
bitsandbreadcrumbs
/ June 23, 2012I commented before, but may have been put into spam. This looks so wonderful and I’m trying it tonight. A friend of mine in Virginia just went to a lavender workshop, and they used lavender in cooking, then I saw your post and knew I had to try this. It sounds so lovely. Thank you for sharing Sawsan.
bitsandbreadcrumbs
/ June 23, 2012Oops, now I see my first one showing up…strange, feel free to delete this one and sorry about the duplicate!
Eha
/ June 23, 2012What a ‘happy’ looking salad one just has to try
! Love lavender but have to admit not having cooked with it: possibly a new love affair!
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ June 23, 2012Courtney
/ June 23, 2012We have a HUGE lavendar bush, but I’m so scared that if I add it to food it’s going to be completely overwhelming… thanks for experimenting for me.
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ June 23, 2012You are so lucky!
Try out a few recipes that don’t have too much lavender and get a feel of the taste and the amount you and your family find appropriate then you can add more or try others when lavender is the main prominant flavor
Kristy
/ June 23, 2012This salad is perfection Sawsan! Look at those grilled peaches! And I can just imagine how good it smelled and tasted. Looking forward to your chicken recipe now too.
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ June 23, 2012Thank you so much Kristy
it smelled and tasted heavenly but the smell that took over the house was the smell of the chicken cooking, I will be sharing that recipe tomorrow
Korena in the Kitchen
/ June 23, 2012Wow, that was fast! This looks so delicious and summery
Looking forward to seeing the lavender chicken recipe as well.
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ June 23, 2012Hello Korena, we are actually going on a road trip tomorrow and I am posting the easy quick recipes because I am a little tight on time
The chicken recipe is coming tomorrow
A_Boleyn
/ June 22, 2012I’m trying to grow my own lavender from seed but not having much luck at getting the seeds to germinate. Then when they … I mean it (one seed out of 16 tried) finally germinates, I overwater and kill the poor thing. But someday, I may use my own lavender in cooking something tasty like this dish.
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ June 23, 2012Oh I did that with basil! I just seem to have no luck with it so I go and buy small plants from the nursary. I am seriously considering getting a lavender one now
ChgoJohn
/ June 22, 2012Your recipes, Sawsan, are always top-notch but your photography makes everything so much more appealing — and that’s no small feat considering how good the recipes are. I sure hope there are some peaches in the market tomorrow or I’ll go searching for some. I hope to enjoy this salad on Sunday.
Thank you, Sawsan, for the shout-out. You really have become quite adept at cheese making and I’m glad you’re enjoying the feta recipe.
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ June 23, 2012John I am truly humbled and at a loss of words, thank you is such an understatement
I am eternally grateful to you for all the inspiration your posts and blog are. I learn so much each time I am there and I look forward to your every post
Looking forward to hearing what you think of this salad when you have a chance to try it
Savory Simple
/ June 22, 2012What a gorgeous salad!
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ June 23, 2012Thank you kindly
Caroline
/ June 22, 2012I’ve actually never cooked/baked with lavender but have heard wonderful things about it as well. This salad is gorgeous and sounds so delicious Sawsan!
Karen
/ June 22, 2012Your salad looks beautiful, Sawsan. I bought peaches last week but they didn’t have much flavor. Next month we should have good sweet ones.
flavorsofthesun
/ June 22, 2012What an original salad. I love the flavors in this and am especially intrigued by the lavender dressing. I love to cook with lavender, but have never used it in a salad.
Thanks so much.
Dee at Deelicious Sweets
/ June 22, 2012What a beautiful salad! The combination of ingredients is right up my alley. I have not tried cooking with lavender but I should and it’s seems so fancy and I’m sure you would eat anything with lavender in it with your pinky up
Have a great weekend!
Eva Taylor
/ June 22, 2012Gorgeous, Sawsan, and you just gave me my salad for a brunch I am hosting on Sunday! Simple, beautiful and delicious. I had planned on making Kelly’s (Inspired Edibles) Lavender scones and I think this salad would be exceptional with it. I’ll take heed of your note about the perfumey nature of the herb…
I’ll make a few alterations for my guests, adding crispy fried prosciutto, goats cheese instead of feta and I’ll need to omit the onions as I have onion-hating guests!
This IS the reason I love to blog and read blogs. Thanks again, have a fantastic weekend.
Priya Sreeram (@priyasreeram)
/ June 22, 2012loved the lavender dressing; fun recipe
bitsandbreadcrumbs
/ June 22, 2012I love this! As a matter of fact, yesterday a friend of mine in Virginia was just telling me about a lavender workshop she had just attended where they talked about cooking with lavender. I’m going to share your link with her…and I’m going to make this salad when I pick up more peaches tomorrow. Thanks for sharing, Sawsan!
Norma Chang
/ June 22, 2012That salad is perfect for the summer.
There was a baby deer in my backyard this morning, tried to take a photo for you but it never stood still for me to get a shot.
Sarvani @ baker in disguise
/ June 22, 2012That first pic is beautifully fresh Sawsan!! this salad has so many firsts for many.. i’ve never grilled peaches and i’ve never had lavender in anything.. always wanted to try it.. just never got my hand on any…i once saw a chocolate ganache tart with lavender cream..since then have been quite fascinated… am waiting for your chicken with lavender post.. really intrigued by that one!!!
Chica Andaluza
/ June 22, 2012It´s peach time here and I have been wanting to make John´s Feta for a while now…so as soon as I have picked some lavender, it´s time to cook up this stunning recipe!
fati's recipes
/ June 22, 2012Oh Sawsan, this is SUCH an exoctic salad…. grilled peach… lavender… WOW!
looks fantastic by the way!
Bam's Kitchen
/ June 22, 2012How refreshing on a hot day like this!
saffronandhoney
/ June 22, 2012That looks gorgeous! So colorful and well-balanced.
Promenade Claire
/ June 22, 2012I grow lavender and am always looking for new ways to use it, and blogging has certainly opened my eyes to the countless possibilities! The combination of flavours sounds so full of summer
Choc Chip Uru
/ June 22, 2012You make peaches look very very tasty my friend
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ June 22, 2012Thank you so much Uru ,they are my family’s favorite summer fruit