Radial Symmetry Sunburst Salad (Printable Version)

Elegant arrangement of colorful vegetables and creamy goat cheese in a vibrant, sunburst pattern.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 medium golden beet, peeled and thinly sliced
02 - 1 medium red beet, peeled and thinly sliced
03 - 1 small zucchini, thinly sliced
04 - 1 small yellow squash, thinly sliced
05 - 1 medium watermelon radish, thinly sliced
06 - 1 large carrot, peeled and thinly sliced

→ Cheese

07 - 3.5 oz goat cheese, crumbled
08 - 2 tbsp crème fraîche

→ Dressing

09 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
11 - 1 tsp honey
12 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Garnish

13 - 2 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
14 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
15 - Edible flowers (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Using a sharp knife or mandoline, slice all vegetables as thinly as possible.
02 - Place a small bowl or ramekin in the center of a large round platter to designate the focal point.
03 - Fan the sliced vegetables outward from the center in concentric, symmetrical circles, alternating colors and shapes with slight overlap to create a sunburst pattern.
04 - Remove the central bowl and fill the space with crumbled goat cheese blended with crème fraîche.
05 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl, then drizzle evenly over the arranged vegetables.
06 - Sprinkle fresh chives, toasted sesame seeds, and edible flowers if desired over the salad.
07 - Present immediately as an elegant appetizer or salad.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours in the kitchen when it actually takes just 25 minutes—the kind of elegant deception that makes you feel like a culinary artist
  • Every vegetable stays crisp and fresh, no cooking required, which means you can make this on the warmest days without heating up your kitchen
  • The colors are so vibrant they practically glow on the plate, turning a simple salad into the conversation starter of your dinner party
02 -
  • Slice everything right before serving. Even an hour in the fridge will make the vegetables weep water and lose their crispness. This is a last-minute dish, and that's perfectly fine.
  • The dressing is gentle—don't drench it. You want the vegetables to taste like vegetables first, with dressing as a supporting actor, not the star of the show.
03 -
  • A sharp mandoline saves time and creates uniform slices that make the whole arrangement feel intentional and professional. If you invest in nothing else for this dish, make it this tool.
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for exactly two minutes right before serving—they go from bland to deeply nutty in that brief window, and it's the difference between okay and unforgettable.
Go Back