Salads & Sides
Rocca Salad with Caramelised Onions
This is the fresh rocca salad I make when I want something quick, peppery and full of flavour. Rocca (also known as rocket or arugula) with cherry tomatoes, red onion and sliced green olives, tossed in a simple garlic and herb olive oil dressing, then finished with warm caramelised white onions while plating. I originally made it alongside my Air Fryer Chicken Sausages, but it stands happily on its own.
- Prep
- Coming soon
- Cook
- 10 mins
- Method
- Fresh salad with caramelised onions
- Difficulty
- Easy
Ingredients
- Rocca (rocket / arugula) leaves, as needed
- Cherry tomatoes, halved, as needed
- Red onion, sliced, to taste
- Green olives, sliced, to taste
- White onion, sliced, for caramelising
- Olive oil, as needed
- Garlic, to taste
- Chilli flakes, to taste
- Mixed herbs, to taste
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Method
- 01
Prepare the fresh salad: add the rocca leaves, cherry tomatoes, sliced red onion and sliced green olives to a large bowl.
- 02
Slice the white onion separately and keep it aside for caramelising.
- 03
When I originally made this salad, I placed the sliced white onion underneath the air fryer crisper plate while my chicken sausages cooked above. The heat cooked the onions and caramelised them beautifully while the sausages cooked. Only do this if your own air fryer is designed to safely allow food to be cooked in that position.
- 04
If your air fryer works differently, simply caramelise the sliced white onion separately in an air fryer basket, in a pan or on the stovetop until soft, browned and sweet.
- 05
Once the onions are caramelised and browned, remove them and set them aside briefly while you finish the salad.
- 06
Make the dressing: mix the olive oil with garlic, chilli flakes, mixed herbs, salt and black pepper, then taste and adjust the seasoning.
- 07
Pour the dressing over the rocca, cherry tomatoes, red onion and green olives and toss gently until everything is lightly coated.
- 08
Transfer the dressed salad to a serving plate or bowl.
- 09
Top the salad with the warm caramelised white onions.
- 10
Serve immediately, while the onions are still warm.
The white onions after caramelising underneath the air fryer crisper.
A little from me
Lackie's Notes
The warm caramelised onions add a lovely sweet contrast to the fresh, peppery rocca.
I caramelised mine underneath the air fryer crisper while another dish cooked above, and the photograph shows exactly how they looked when they came out.
Air fryer designs vary, so only use that method if your own appliance configuration safely supports cooking food in that position.
Otherwise caramelise the onions separately in a pan, on the stovetop or in an air fryer basket before adding them.
Add the warm caramelised onions right at the end while plating so they stay warm against the cool leaves.
Adjust the chilli flakes, salt and black pepper according to taste.
Serve it with
Serving Suggestion
I originally served this fresh rocca salad with my Air Fryer Chicken Sausages, with the warm caramelised onions bringing everything together. It also works beautifully alongside chicken, fish or whatever else you have coming out of the kitchen.
Made this? Show me!
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@LackieFlavors
