Heirloom Tomato, Caper Berry, Arugula Salad with a Lemony Cucumber and Radish Relish

Beatrice’s Summer Salad

  • Beatrice’s Summer Salad
  • Beatrice’s Summer Salad
  • Beatrice’s Summer Salad
  • Beatrice’s Summer Salad
  • Beatrice’s Summer Salad
  • Beatrice’s Summer Salad
  • Beatrice’s Summer Salad

NOTES

The relish takes a little planning — it takes time for it to pickle, but make extra and keep it in the fridge.

INSTRUCTIONS

Slice thinly 2 cucumbers, half of your radishes and the entire purple onion. Add to a small bowl and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Let sit, covered in lemon juice and a splash of the caper berry brine for 20 minutes or more. You can make these a day before and keep them in the fridge.

Bring relish out of fridge (if you stored it in there) and allow to come down to room temperature.

Sliced heirloom tomatoes in 1/4” thick slices, slice remaining cucumbers, radishes and add to large bowl.

Add relish, handful of arugula and caper berries. Drizzle generously with olive oil, and add 2 tbs of the juice and brine from the relish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

RECIPE

DIFFICULTY

EASY

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SERVES

4

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PREP TIME

30 MINS

Relish

  • 1 
    bunch 
    red radishes
  • 4 
     
    Persian cucumbers
  • 1 
     
    small red onion
  • 1/3  
    cup 
    Caper Berries
  • 1 
     
    lemon, juiced
  •  
     
    pinch of salt and pepper

Salad

  • 1 
    handful 
    mature arugula
  • 4 
     
    small heirloom tomatoes

INSTRUCTIONS

Slice thinly 2 cucumbers, half of your radishes and the entire purple onion. Add to a small bowl and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Let sit, covered in lemon juice and a splash of the caper berry brine for 20 minutes or more. You can make these a day before and keep them in the fridge.

Bring relish out of fridge (if you stored it in there) and allow to come down to room temperature.

Sliced heirloom tomatoes in 1/4” thick slices, slice remaining cucumbers, radishes and add to large bowl.

Add relish, handful of arugula and caper berries. Drizzle generously with olive oil, and add 2 tbs of the juice and brine from the relish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Beatrice Valenzuela and I met about 7 years ago in a community weaving class taught at Bansdall Art Center in the Loz Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles. A wonderfully diverse group of people took this early Saturday morning class, and Bea is one of the few to go on to purchase her own massive floor loom for her home (I was in it mostly for the chance to hang out with older ladies and gossip, but I did make a piece or two). Beatrice has some beautiful examples of her woven wall-hangings in her the sun-drenched home she and her husband designed themselves, complete with rare breeds of chickens and a very animated song bird in their kitchen.

Beatrice fosters a love of craft that extends beyond her weaving. She has a much sought after boutique in Echo Park (down the street from her beautiful home in the hills), where she sells imported ceramics, handmade leather moccasins, jewelry (some made by her husband Ramsey Conder), leather bags and all natural body products. The store does a stellar job of embodying Beatrice’s effortless, Los Angeles lifestyle.

Beatrice had me over for some salad just days before she was due to give birth to her second child. Personally, I cannot imagine having anyone over in such a state of life-altering anticipation. She was so chill, I was tempted to yank the pillow out from under her dress and call her bluff. But, alas, Dimitri was born this last week. Now that’s a lucky kid; congratulations Bea!

Beatrice Valenzuela in Her Own Words

Julia: You are the most relaxed woman on the verge of childbirth that I have ever met. What is your secret?

Beatrice: I try and eat well and not be under resourced. When I push too hard, it never helps me, so if I can manage to balance rest, fun and work I’m good to go!

Julia: How did you come to start your company, Beatrice Valenzuela?

Beatrice: I started with 3 styles of shoes that were very comfortable and chic: a bootie, a woven sandal and a gladiator sandal. I started selling them directly to friends. Then I founded the biannual Echo Park Craft Fair with other fantastic local artists, and sold the shoes there. The Craft Fair is now huge, and a great opportunity for local artisans to sell directly to their customers.

Julia: We met in a weaving class years ago. The thing I remember best about that class is the chicken molé you made when we had a party for Dios de los Muertos. Have you ever made a chicken molé salad?

Beatrice: That is family recipe I adore making (I have the recipe on my blog) but I never tried to make salad with it. Usually I serve an arugula, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper salad on the side. The peppery taste of the arugula is really perfect with it.