A colorful array of vegetables is effortlessly displayed looking too beautiful to eat. Filled with fresh ingredients: shaved-squash, tomatoes, zucchini blossoms, ricotta, and thyme oil, make the perfect healthy meal that would entice anyone to eat their veggies. This shaved-squash salad is a quick and healthy way to fit in all the best ingredients of summer into one delicious recipe.

Recreate this shaved-squash salad

Martha Stewart Living, June 2012
Prep Time 15 minutes // Total Time 30 minutes // Yield Serves 2

1 generous handful fresh thyme sprigs (about 3/4 ounces)
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest, plus 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 baby zucchini (3 ounces total), thinly shaved on a mandoline
4 baby pattypan squashes (a mixture of yellow and green; 3 ounces total), thinly shaved on a mandoline
4 ounces mixed teardrop or cherry small tomatoes, cut in half crosswise (1 cup)
6 zucchini blossoms, halved or quartered if large
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn if large, plus more for sprinkling (optional)
Pinch of red-pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
Coarsely ground pepper
3 ounces fresh ricotta (1/3 cup)

Place thyme on a cutting board, and bruise with the dull edge of a knife. Place thyme and oil in a small saucepan. Cover, and heat over medium heat until small bubbles appear. Turn off heat, and steep thyme, covered, 20 minutes. Discard sprigs, leaving loose thyme leaves in oil. Whisk together lemon zest and juice and 2 tablespoons thyme oil (reserve remaining oil for another use; it can be refrigerated up to 2 weeks).

Combine half the dressing with the zucchini, pattypan squashes, tomatoes, zucchini blossoms, basil, red-pepper flakes, and salt. Season with pepper, and toss. Divide half the salad between 2 plates, and dot with half the ricotta. Top with remaining salad and remaining ricotta. Drizzle with remaining dressing, and sprinkle with basil.

Cook’s Note

Good Gourd
More than 95 percent water, summer squashes are very low in calories — a cup of raw sliced squash has less than 20 calories.
[Thanks to WholeLiving for the delicious recipe]

TAGS: cooking, food, fresh, greens, healthy, recipes, squash, Summer, tomato, vegetables, zucchini