Radial Symmetry Sunburst Salad (Print Version)

Thinly sliced vegetables arranged in a sunburst style with goat cheese and a citrus-honey dressing.

# 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 pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

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

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Using a sharp knife or mandoline, slice all vegetables as thinly as possible.
02 - Position a small bowl or ramekin in the center of a large round platter to serve as the focal point.
03 - Fan the sliced vegetables outward from the central point in concentric, symmetrical circles, alternating colors and shapes, overlapping slices slightly to create a sunburst pattern.
04 - Remove the bowl or ramekin and fill the empty center with crumbled goat cheese blended with crème fraîche.
05 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl, then drizzle evenly over the arranged vegetables.
06 - Sprinkle fresh chives, toasted sesame seeds, and edible flowers on top for a decorative finish.
07 - Present immediately as an elegant appetizer or salad centerpiece.

# Top Tips:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours in the kitchen when it actually takes 25 minutes—your secret's safe with me
  • Every vegetable keeps its own flavor while creating something that's more than the sum of its parts
  • It's vegetarian, gluten-free, and naturally impressive enough for your pickiest dinner guests
  • The creamy goat cheese center tastes like a reward for all that careful arranging
02 -
  • Slice everything the same thickness or the whole arrangement will feel unbalanced—consistency is what makes this work as a visual piece
  • Don't assemble more than 20 minutes before serving, or the vegetables start to weep water that dulls the dressing and the visual impact
  • A mandoline slicer is genuinely worth keeping in your kitchen just for dishes like this—it's the difference between approximation and perfection
  • The watermelon radish is tricky to slice without your hand getting tired; use a guard or be incredibly patient
03 -
  • Keep your knife or mandoline cold and dry—the sharper and cleaner your blade, the more beautiful your slices will be
  • If you're making this ahead, keep the vegetables and cheese separate, then assemble 15 minutes before serving for maximum crispness and visual impact
  • The dressing is the bridge between all these different vegetables—don't be shy with the lemon juice and honey, but taste as you go
  • Save those vegetable scraps for stock; nothing about this process needs to be wasteful
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