Seven Species (Shivat HaMinim) Salad

Grapes The Feast of Tabernacles occurs during the autumn harvest in Israel. The crops are bountiful at this time with ripe fruit and vegetables. This delicious fruit salad recipe incorporates all seven species listed in Deuteronomy 8:7–8: “For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey.”

Dates Combine fruit in a large bowl:

Dates—8-10 pitted and quartered
Figs—8-10 quartered
Grapes—1 cup seedless (or deseeded), halved
Pomegranate—seeds from 1 pomegranate
Croutons—prepared in advance, instructions below

Pour the fruit mixture over a bed of lettuce or mixed salad greens.

Olive branch Salad dressing: combine ¾ cup of olive oil and ¼ cup balsamic vinegar with salt, pepper and seasonings to taste. Shake or stir thoroughly.

Grain Crouton instructions: Wheat and barley croutons complete the list of the seven species for the salad. Start with bread containing wheat and barley flour. Cut bread slices into bite-size, square pieces and place on a baking tray or casserole dish. Bake at 400°–450°F (200°–225°C) until the bread is toasted. For seasoned croutons: combine olive oil with oregano, basil, and/or thyme. Brush the oil and herb mixture over the bread pieces before baking.

Makes four to six servings

Basket of bread Note:  If barley bread is not available, cooked barley is a good way to work in the last of the seven species.