Up North Tomato and Radish Salad

Peggy Lampman | Contributor

For one or two weeks every August, my husband, Richard, and I rent a house in Emmet County, Mich. (on the Northwest side of the lower peninsula) and invite our kids to visit. Roadside stands, farmer’s markets and shops selling fish — who previously made the Great Lakes their home — pop up seemingly from nowhere. It's a pleasure buying the local items and conversing with the vendors.

The markets, in truth, stock similar items as you'd find at Ann Arbor markets; perhaps different local cheeses, a larger assortment of wild mushrooms, less fresh greens. This week I’m in a "foreign" kitchen, away from my culinary accoutrements and toys. Therefore all week I'll be preparing easy, simple meals relying primarily on these markets for inspiration.

I've never grown radishes or seen radish sprouts such as this, but that's what the farmer called them. They look like baby jalapenos but taste like a mild radish and have a lovely crunch. Blanched sweet pea pods would be a nice substitute or addition to the salad, which we served with grilled chicken and bulgher.

Yield: 4 side salads
Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

3 large tomatoes, sliced and seasoned with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Several large leaves of fresh basil, washed and patted dry
1 cup radish sprouts
Extra virgin olive oil as needed
2 tablespoon crumbled goat cheese or feta

Directions

On a large platter arrange sliced tomatoes alternating with basil leaves. Top with radish sprouts, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle cheese over salad before serving.