Salad Brain Exercise–Beets and Feta

by Min Merrell

Salad Brain is a creativity platform.

These exercises use the platter, rather than the typical deep salad bowl, as the canvas for creation and a means to illustrate the universal process of creative thinking and design. No matter the field, the steps of creativity are the same. Here we’re using salads because we all have some experience with salad, a low-stakes, easy medium for practicing everyday creativity. Plus, your installation will feed you beautifully and well, and shouldn’t we all be eating more salads anyway?

 We call it PLATTERAL THINKING!

For an introduction to getting in touch with your salad brain, read Welcome to Salad Brain Creativity.

INGREDIENTS:

Beets, cooked and sliced

Red onion slivers

Kalmata olives

Crumbled feta cheese

Fresh mint

Olive oil and date vinegar

Black pepper

Salt as needed (the feta and olives are salty–taste and see what you need)

PLATTERAL THINKING:

Keep it simple stupid (KISS) is the name of the game here. Three earthy purple elements–beets, olives, and onion are the backbone of the salad. Feta cheese continues the drive toward Greece.  Lots and lots of fresh mint, more than just a garnish, is the green.  A green platter doesn’t hurt either! Great with Mediterranean grilled dinners.  Keep the elements in different sizes.  Here the beets are the largest element.

WHAT IF?

How about throwing in another purple–blood orange pieces. Pistachio nuts. Pomegranate seeds and pomegranate syrup would add sparkle and tart sweetness. What if the beets were yellow? That changes the whole dark purple vibe.

Related Posts