Vibrant Prism Burst Salad (Printable View)

Bright layers of fresh vegetables and fruits arranged on a creamy base for a colorful, crisp dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Central White Base

01 - 1 cup ricotta cheese
02 - 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
03 - 1 tsp lemon zest
04 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Red Layer

05 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 1/4 cup thinly sliced red bell pepper

→ Orange Layer

07 - 1/2 cup thinly sliced orange bell pepper
08 - 1/4 cup shredded carrots

→ Yellow Layer

09 - 1/2 cup thinly sliced yellow bell pepper
10 - 1/4 cup cooked sweet corn kernels

→ Green Layer

11 - 1/2 cup thinly sliced cucumber
12 - 1/4 cup cooked and shelled edamame
13 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh herbs (parsley, basil, or mint)

→ Blue Layer

14 - 1/3 cup blueberries
15 - 1/4 cup finely shredded purple cabbage

→ Violet Layer

16 - 1/2 cup red grapes, halved
17 - 1/4 cup thinly sliced radishes

→ Dressing

18 - 2 tbsp olive oil
19 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
20 - 1 tsp honey or agave syrup
21 - Salt and pepper, to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - Combine ricotta cheese, olive oil, lemon zest, salt, and freshly ground black pepper in a small bowl. Spread this mixture into a small circle at the center of a large serving platter.
02 - Place each color group—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet—in separate bowls for easy assembly.
03 - Starting from the central base, fan each color group outward in stripes around the platter, keeping colors distinct and orderly.
04 - Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, honey or agave syrup, salt, and pepper together until emulsified.
05 - Lightly drizzle dressing over the arranged layers or serve on the side. Garnish with fresh herbs and a sprinkle of black pepper before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's the kind of salad that makes people pause mid-conversation to admire it before they even take a bite.
  • Zero cooking required, so you can pull it together in twenty-five minutes, even on your busiest days.
  • Every color represents a different flavor and texture, so each bite feels intentional and playful rather than repetitive.
02 -
  • Assemble this salad no more than a few hours before serving—the vegetables will start to weep and blur those beautiful color lines if they sit too long.
  • Pat everything dry with paper towels before arranging; excess moisture is the enemy of a sharp, visually striking presentation.
  • The ricotta base needs to be creamy enough to spread but seasoned boldly enough to stand on its own as a flavor anchor, not just decoration.
03 -
  • Invest five minutes in sharpening your knife before you start—thin, clean slices make the difference between a salad that looks intentional and one that looks rushed.
  • Taste the ricotta base before spreading it; this is your flavor anchor, so it needs to taste good enough to eat by itself, which means it probably needs more salt and pepper than you initially think.
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