Cooking

Tempt your valentine's sweet tooth with the unexpected.

Instead of strawberries smothered in creamy dark chocolate for your Valentine this year, why don’t you tempt their sweet tooth with the unexpected.

Chocolate garlic is an old traditional recipe I learnt from the “Garlic Guru” of Australia while writing my book ‘From Paddock to Plate’, passed down through the generations of his family. The combination of garlic and chocolate makes this a treat not just for your taste buds but also somewhat for your health. I have received suggestions for it to be served at the end of a meal. But be warned! It’s hot and punchy bite is guaranteed to linger on your breath until the next day.

“Hmmmm... no that’s not for me”, I can hear you all say as you scrunch up your noses, particularly not on Valentine’s Day. So this got me thinking... what other salad ingredient could I immerse in the rich, velvety flavours of chocolate? The round vibrant red radish comes straight to mind, taking over the role of the faithful strawberry.

Wash and trim radishes then soak in ice water for a couple of hours before dipping into chocolate, to increase their crispness and flavour. The sharp, spicy crunch is softened by the sweet sensation of cocoa goodness. I urge you to try and I promise you will be pleasantly surprised!

The low calorie count of a radish won’t leave you feeling as guilty for surrendering to the sugar cravings. If you have a similar recipe that mixes sweet with salad, then make sure to post it on the Love My Salad website. I would love to try it!

Enjoy your salads! Louise.

Join Louise on a journey through the seasons with salad ingredients, old traditions and popular, exotic or unusual vegetables. From Paddock to Plate founder, author, food writer, radio journalist & yoga teacher.