Good day, everyone! After our elaborate Mother’s Day sweet feast and an extra couple of pounds, how about something light and versatile such as these fresh Heart of Palm Salad Skewers (Salada de Palmito no Espeto)?
Heart of palm, also known as palm heart, is a vegetable harvested from the inner core of certain palm trees such as coconut, açaí, pupunha, among others. In my home country, Brazil, heart of palm is consumed by itself as well as incorporated into various salads, of which this traditional heart of palm salad is the most popular. Also, it is often used as a filling for empanadas and empadinhas (mini pot pies). Hearts of palm are also great in bisques and soups, stews, baked rice, etc.
Palm hearts are considered a delicacy due to the labor-intensive process needed to harvest them. The Northern states of Pará and Amapá have become the largest producers and exporters of hearts of palm in Brazil since the 1980’s. Brazil used to be the highest exporter of uncultivated hearts of palm, but in the 90’s lost its position to Ecuador and its cultivated hearts of palm. France still remains the largest importer though!!! Hearts of palm are available fresh or, more usually, canned or in jars, available both online and at Latin markets.
Hearts of palm are white, cylindrical, crisp, and mildly sour. They come from the center core of a palm tree and contain fiber. Low in calories, they are especially recommended for the dietary management of obesity and constipation. If you have never tried this delicacy, it is easy to buy a can and prepare this wonderful heart of palm salad. To make it unique and fun, I decided to serve our heart of palm salad on skewers, although it is traditionally served on a plate in Brazil. Ours is more of a modern approach… After all, if Brazilians can serve meats on skewers (churrasco), why not one of its most traditional salads, right? 🙂
These heart of palm salad skewers are very versatile! They can be served as an appetizer or main dish depending on the size of the skewers, or even as a side dish for a summer barbecue.
The traditional Brazilian heart of palm salad calls for greens (often arugula or lettuce), tomatoes, red onions, and of course, hearts of palm. It is dressed with olive oil and vinegar, and seasoned with salt and pepper. Yes, it’s as simple as that! Our hearts of palm salad is similar, although with a very few tweaks, as you will see soon. 🙂
Enjoy our heart of palm salad skewers (or salada de palmito no espeto)… and have a healthy week!!!
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Have you ever tried hearts of palm?
Heart of Palm Salad Skewers (Salada de Palmito no Espeto)
Ingredients
- For the Heart of Palm Salad Skewers:
- 6 heart of palm stalks cut each stalk in half
- 8 grape tomatoes
- Arugula or spring mix leaves
- 8-16 chunks of red onion optional
- For the Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing:
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch freshly ground black pepper
- 1 dash sugar
- Fresh thymeto leaves to sprinkle
Instructions
- To prepare the salad, assemble 4 heart of palm salad skewers by inserting and alternating heart of palm chunks, grape tomatoes, salad leaves, and chunks of red onion (optional) as shown in the pictures, or as desired. Each of our skewers contains 3 heart of palm chunks, 2 grape tomatoes, salad leaves, and 2 to 4 chunks of red onion. Once skewers are assembled, chill in refrigerator for about 30 minutes, covered with a wet paper towel.
- Meanwhile, prepare the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk all the ingredients together well until obtaining a thick and homogeneous dressing. Drizzle the heart of palm salad skewers with the dressing, sprinkle with thyme leaves, and serve!
John@Kitchen Riffs
Heart of palm, I’m sorry to say, is an underutilized ingredient in my kitchen. My loss, because it’s such good stuff. And this looks so excellent! Terrific recipe — thanks.
Denise Browning
Thanks, John! I love heart of palm…It is a very versatile ingredient and quite tasty as well. I hope you can try to incorporate this in your recipes. It is low cal and contain fiber.
sallybr
(sigh)
You know, I often tell you I am going to make one of your recipes, and intentions are good, but time passes and they stay in my folders waiting, with me dreaming…(well, I did make the pumpkin brigadeiros, maybe you remember that…)
so here I go – but this time I SWEAR I’ll make this before this upcoming weekend is over.
and I am using all your readers as witnesses. HA!
too good to pass, I love love LOVE this presentation!
Denise Browning
Thanks so much, Sally! I do appreciate your interest in my recipes and I hope you can make them when you have a chance… and enjoy. My husband and I devoured all these salad skewers by ourselves. My kids did not have even the chance to taste them. 🙂 It is something quick and simple yet hearty and delicious. You won’t regret to make them. Wishing you a great day!
Chris @ The Café Sucré Farine
These look wonderful Denise. I always forget about hearts of palm and how delicious they are. I love the idea of serving your salad on skewers!
Denise Browning
Thanks, Chris! I though it would be fun to present the salad on skewers and proper for a summer barbecue.
Mi Vida en un Dulce
Oh yes, this exactly what I need after all the celebration for Mother’s Day
Denise Browning
Me too, Nydia! I do really need to shed the pounds gained but eating something delicious and fresh such as this salad on skewers.
Deb
I adore the lower-calorie salad on a skewer! Including hearts of palm instead of cheese is such a great idea! Who knew salad could be so enticing!
Denise Browning
Hi, Deb! Thank you… I am already thinking to make this again!
Kathleen
Denise,
These look so delicious! Can’t wait to try them. Thank you!
Denise Browning
It is always my pleasure, Kathleen! I hope you enjoy these salad skewers as much as my hubby and I did.
Abbe@This is How I Cook
Love Hearts of Palm. I just did a salad with it a few weeks ago! Totally good!
Denise Browning
Thanks, Abbe! I am glad that you enjoy this Brazilian vegetable.
Francesca
ohhh i love hearts of palm. These look lovely!
Denise Browning
Thanks, Francesca!
Lail | With A Spin
I don’t think I have ever tried heart of palm but it sounds great. Your salad looks terrific, Denise.
Denise Browning
Thanks, Lail! I hope you try this one day…
Purabi Naha | Cosmopolitan Currymania
I loved the versatility of these skewers. These look so fresh and yum, Denise!
Denise Browning
Purabi: Thank you!
Cassis
Definitivamente, se tem algo que um turista no Brasil precisa comer, é o palmito! Especialmente o pupunha ou jabuticabal. Eles são divinos <3
Denise, já experimentou parmegiana com palmito? Fica muitoo bom 😀
Denise Browning
Olá, Cassis!
Ainda não experimentei palmito à Parmegiana, mas adoraria. Essa é uma excelente idéia mesmo. Obrigada pela sugestão!
Obrigada pela visita. Um bom fim de semana pra você!
Monet
Hi Denise. What a lovely blog! My mom loves hear of palm, and I would love to surprise her with this salad the next time she comes over. Thank you for sharing!
Denise Browning
It is always my pleasure, Monet! I hope your mother enjoys this as much as we did. I am already looking forward to making this again, especially in the high summer. It is refreshing and wholesome!
Amira
I’ve never heard of these before…. This is a totally new ingredient for me. Thanks Denise for sharing.
Denise Browning
It is my pleasure to share new ingredients here, Amira!
Sugar et al
Palm hearts are new to me but they do sound amazing. This salad is so refreshing..I feel healthier just looking at it:-) I love the vibrant colours and flavours.
Denise Browning
Thank you, Sonali!
Raymund
Another lesson learnt, I never used heart of palm apart from stir frying it with vegetables, I guess thats the Asian way. I guess now I have a new method of preparing them, thanks for the recipe
Denise Browning
Enjoy!
Liz
I love hearts of palm…my mom introduced us to it when we were kids 🙂 And your skewers look like a terrific way to enjoy them!
Denise Browning
Thank you, Liz! I grew up eating hearts of palm in many different dishes and really having an appreciation for them.