a soft greens salad with figs, prosciutto, and marinated olives

Mother's Day is right around the corner, and this salad is a treat bound to make your momma (or anyone, really!) smile. I created this salad with my mother in mind. She has a big sweet tooth, so figs make her world go round. If you do not have fancy Turkish figs available, feel free to use dried fruit of your choice ( I recommend dried cherries or dates). You can substitute thinly sliced salami for prosciutto. I use marinated olives in this salad, and have a recipe for them here . This salad is fantastic for a dinner party, whether plated or family-style. You can find Olinda olive oil in the homemade dressing recipe below!

Yields 6 servings

About 8 oz of soft local greens (I use 2 heads hydroponic greens or butter lettuce)

3 cups finely chopped radicchio (from 1 large head)

1/2 cup thinly sliced dried Turkish figs (or finely chopped dates or dried cherries)

1/2 cup marinated olives, drained and thinly sliced

1 medium zucchini or squash, thinly cut into matchsticks

1-2 medium tomatoes, sliced into bite-size wedges, preferably heirloom

Freshly grated parmesan, to taste

Kosher salt, to taste

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Balsamic dressing (recipe below), to taste

5 slices of prosciutto di Parma or salami (I love prosciutto from Ted's Butcherblock in Charleston)

Combine greens, radicchio, Turkish figs, marinated olives, zucchini or squash, tomatoes, salt, pepper and dressing to taste. Add as much parmesan as you please. Top with extra parmesan and finish the salad with long strips of prosciutto.

Balsamic dressing- yields about 1 1/2 cups

1/4 cup balsamic (I used 2 tablespoons of a thick and sweet fig balsamic and 2 tablespoons of Lucini balsamic)

1 tablespoon Dijon

1 tablespoon honey

Kosher salt, to taste

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

3/4 cup Olinda olive oil

Combine balsamic vinegar, Dijon and honey until combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Slowly add olive oil while mixing. Mix again if it separates as it sits. Store in the refrigerator.