Radial Symmetry Sunburst Salad (Print Version)

Elegant concentric layers of colorful vegetables and tangy goat cheese create a vibrant centerpiece salad.

# 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 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
08 - 2 tablespoons crème fraîche

→ Dressing

09 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
11 - 1 teaspoon honey
12 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

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

# How to Make It:

01 - Using a sharp knife or mandoline, slice all vegetables as thinly as possible for optimal presentation.
02 - Place a small bowl or ramekin at the center of a large round platter to serve as a guide.
03 - Fan the sliced vegetables outward from the central point in alternating colors and shapes, layering slices slightly to form concentric symmetrical circles.
04 - Remove the central bowl and fill the space with crumbled goat cheese combined with crème fraîche.
05 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl; drizzle evenly over the arranged vegetables.
06 - Sprinkle fresh chives, toasted sesame seeds, and edible flowers on top before serving immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's pure theater without the stress—your friends will think you're a culinary artist, and the beautiful secret is that it's actually simpler than most salads
  • Every vegetable gets its moment to shine with its own color and texture, creating this hypnotic pattern that makes people linger at the table longer
  • It's naturally gluten-free, vegetarian, and feels fancy enough for dinner parties yet casual enough for a weeknight escape
  • The honey-lemon dressing bathes those delicate vegetables in brightness, while the creamy goat cheese center grounds the whole composition
02 -
  • Don't slice your vegetables more than a few hours ahead—they'll start to soften and lose their crispness. This dish lives on that edge between tender and snappy
  • The mandoline is your best friend but also your humble teacher. One moment of inattention and your finger becomes part of the ingredients, so always use the guard, always
  • The dressing ratio matters more than you'd think—too much lemon and it gets sharp and assertive, not enough and the whole thing feels flat. Taste as you go
03 -
  • Keep a damp paper towel nearby when slicing your vegetables—the moisture helps your knife glide through, especially with watery vegetables like zucchini and radish
  • If your platter feels too crowded, resist the urge to fill every gap. Sometimes the most elegant arrangements have moments of negative space that let the colors breathe
  • Toast your sesame seeds fresh in a dry pan right before serving—they'll release their warm, nutty aroma just as you're bringing the dish to the table, and it's a small detail that elevates everything
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