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Category: Salads & Dressings

Tuna Pasta Salad

Tuna Pasta Salad

1/2 lb. green beans, trimmed, cut into 1″ long pieces(or use frozen green beans, thawed)

3/4 lb. rotini or other corkscrew pasta

2(6-oz.) cans solid white tuna, packed in water, drained

5 green onions, chopped

1 large tomato, seeded & chopped

1/2 C. chopped pitted black olives(preferably brine-cured)

3/4 C. mayonnaise

2 T. balsamic vinegar

1/2 tsp. celery salt

 

Cook green beans in large pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer beans to a colander and rinse. Add pasta to same pot of water and cook until tender, but still firm to bite. Pour pasta into a colander and rinse under cold water to cool. Drain well. Place tuna in a large bowl and break into small pieces. Add green onions, tomato, black olives, pasta and green beans, and mix well. Add mayonnaise, vinegar, and celery salt to a small bowl, and mix well. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add dressing to pasta salad, mix well, and serve.

 

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Warm Mushroom, Spinach & Pancetta Salad

Warm Mushroom, Spinach & Pancetta Salad

6 C. fresh Baby Spinach

2 T. EVOO

5 ½ oz. Pancetta, cubed small

10oz. mixed Wild Mushrooms, sliced

 

5 T. EVOO

1 T. Balsamic Vinegar

1 tsp. Dijon Mustard

Pinch of Sugar

Salt and Pepper

 

To make dressing, add 5 T. oil, vinegar, dijon mustard, and pinch of sugar in a small bowl and whisk together.  Season with salt and pepper.  Clean baby spinach and add to serving bowl.  heat 2 T. oil in large skillet.  Add pancetta and cook for 3-4 minutes.  Add mushrooms and cook a few minutes more, until mushrooms are tender.  Add dressing to the skillet, toss, and turn out onto spinach immediately.  Toss with spinach and serve.

 

From Delicious Lunches

 

 

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Tropical Fruit Salad

Tropical Fruit Salad

1 papaya

1 mango

1 navel orange

1 pineapple

Fresh lettuce greens

1 pint raspberries

1 pint blueberries

 

Reserved juice from strained fruit

2 T. lemon juice

2 T. honey

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. powdered ginger

1 c. vegetable oil

 

Peel papaya using a potato peeler. Cut in half and remove seeds with spoon. Discard seeds. Slice papaya lengthwise, then halve it. Repeat process with mango. Peel orange and separate into sections. Cut both ends off pineapple and cut off skin. Cut pineapple into slices, then chunks, lengthwise (chunks should be long). Combine papaya, mango, orange and pineapple in food processor; chop into tiny bits. Strain, gently pressing down on mashed fruit to remove all the juice. Reserve juice for dressing. Wash and dry lettuce greens. Arrange on platter. Place fruit on lettuce. Garnish with raspberries and blueberries.  Pour 1/2 c. reserved strained juice into container. Add lemon juice, honey, salt and ginger. Mix with spatula and pour into blender. Blend. Add oil in a very slow stream to emulsify while mixing. Pour into cruet or other serving container.

 

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Spinach Salad with Apple & Red Onion

Spinach Salad with Apple & Red Onion

1 lb. triple-washed spinach, de-stemmed

1 small Golden Delicious apple, quartered, cored, and sliced

1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced

1/4 C. olive oil

1 1/2 T. (a couple of splashes) apple cider vinegar

1 tsp. grain mustard

1 T. (a good drizzle) honey

Coarse salt and black pepper

 

Place spinach, apple, and onion in a salad bowl. Place oil, vinegar, mustard and honey in a small plastic container and fit lid on container. Shake dressing to combine, 1 minute. Pour dressing over salad, toss, and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

 

 

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SBD Greek Salad

SBD Greek Salad

8 leaves romaine lettuce, torn into bite sized pieces

1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and sliced

1 tomato, chopped

1/2 C. sliced red onion

1/2 C. crumbled reduced fat feta cheese

2 T extra virgin olive oil

2 T fresh lemon juice

1 tsp. dried oregano leaves

1/2 tsp. salt

 

Combine the lettuce, cucumber, tomato, onion, and cheese in a large bowl. Whisk together the oil, lemon juice, oregano, and salt in a small bowl. Pour over the lettuce mixture and toss until coated.

 

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Pear, Gorgonzola and Pecan Salad with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette

Pear, Gorgonzola and Pecan Salad with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette

Salad greens of your choice

Pears, washed, cut in half, cored and sliced thinly

Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled

Raisins

Pecans

2 T. freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/2 tsp. honey

1 T. balsamic vinegar

1 T. olive oil

Salt to taste

 

In a small bowl, mix together lemon and honey until honey is dissolved. Stir in vinegar, then oil, and adjust for salt. Brush pear slices with lemon juice if not serving immediately (to prevent browning). Plate greens, top with sliced pears and sprinkle with cheese, raisins and pecans. Drizzle with dressing and serve.

 

 

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Oregon Winter Pear & Greens Salad

Oregon Winter Pear & Greens Salad

Oregon Lemon Nut Dressing

1 fresh Pears, cored and sliced

1/4 lb. fresh Spinach

1/2 head torn Lettuce

Prepare lemon nut dressing and chill.  Combine pears, spinach and lettuce.  Drizzle with dressing and toss.

Lemon Nut Dressing:  Spread 1/3 C. coarsely chopped hazelnuts in a shallow pan and toast at 350 degrees 10 to 12 minutes; set aside.  In a bowl, combine 1/2 C. vegetable oil, 3 T. lemon or lime juice, 2 T. Vinegar, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. sugar, 1/4 tsp. tarragon, 1/4 tsp. lemon or lime zest, 1/8 tsp. pepper and 1/4 tsp. nutmeg; mix well.  Add hazelnuts just before serving.

 

Yield: 8 servings

Calories: 203

Fat: 18g

Fiber:

 

Cold Sesame Noodles

Cold Sesame Noodles

3 C. cooked Pasta

2 T. Tahini

1 T. Rice Vinegar

1 T. Tamari

1 T. Water

1 tsp Oriental Sesame Oil

1 Scallion (white + 2” green), finely chopped

 

In a jar mix tahini, vinegar, tamari, water and oil; shake well.  Pour dressing over noodles and allow to soak in for a while.  Toss in scallion; refrigerate overnight for best flavor.

 

Variations:  Add in one or more of the following:  1 C. cooked cubed chicken or ham, ½ C. chopped peanuts, 1 C. steamed broccoli florets, 1 C. sliced snow peas

 

From the brown bag lunch cookbook

 

 

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Lentil Salad

Lentil Salad

1/2 C. brown or green lentils

2 C. water

1 bay leaf

1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves or 1/4 tsp. dried thyme

2 plum tomatoes, chopped

1/2 C. chopped celery

1/2 C. chopped green or yellow bell pepper

3 T. low-fat vinaigrette salad dressing

1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard

 

Combine lentils in saucepan with water, bay leaf, and thyme.  Cook over medium heat 12 to 15 minutes, or until tender.  Stir occasionally.  While lentils cook, combine tomatoes, celery, pepper, salad dressing, and mustard in mixing bowl.  Drain lentils.  Discard bay leaf.  Add lentils to ingredients in bowl.  Toss gently.  Serve hot or cold.

 

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Confetti Salad

Confetti Salad

2 C. Brown Rice, cooked

1 Can Whole Kernel Corn

1/2 C. Diced Green Pepper

1/2 C. Diced Red Bell Pepper

4 Green onions, chopped

1 tsp. Dried Thyme

1/3 C. Italian Dressing

 

Mix all the ingredients together except dressing.  Just before serving, drizzle with Italian dressing and toss well.

 

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Caprial’s Tomato Salad with Roasted Shallots

Caprial’s Tomato Salad with Roasted Shallots

5 large, vine-ripened tomatoes, cut into wedges (2-3 lb.)

12 oven-roasted shallots (see above)

2 T. sherry vinegar

3 cloves garlic, chopped

6 T. extra-virgin olive oil

1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme

1 tsp. chopped fresh oregano

1 tsp. cracked black pepper

Salt to taste

 

Place tomato wedges in a bowl. Coarsely chop the roasted shallots and toss with the tomatoes. Place vinegar and garlic in a small bowl and whisk in olive oil to emulsify. Add thyme, oregano, and black pepper and mix well. Season with salt to taste. Pour over tomato and shallot mixture and allow to sit for 20 to 30 minutes before serving. This dish is best served at room temperature.

 

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Roasted Cauliflower and Carrots, with Anchovy-garlic-lemon Dressing

Roasted Cauliflower and Carrots, with Anchovy-garlic-lemon Dressing

cauliflower-salad-small1 head cauliflower (about 3 pounds, 1 1/2 kilos)

About 2/3 cup (150 ml) olive oil

Salt

2 lemons, preferably organic: 1 small halved, and cut into thin slices; and the juice from the second lemon, or more, to taste

Good pinch Maras or Aleppo pepper

2-3 sprigs thyme or oregano

3 medium carrots, thinly sliced

1 large, or 2 medium garlic cloves, sliced

3-4 anchovy fillets, drained

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

A handful torn arugula leaves

About 2 tablespoons preserved lemon cut into thin strips (optional)

2/3 cup toasted walnuts

Freshly ground pepper to taste

 

Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Divide the cauliflower into florets, cutting the tougher stems into small pieces. Place the florets and stems in a bowl and drizzle with half the olive oil, sprinkling with a little salt. Toss with your hands or with large spatulas then transfer to a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Insert the lemon slices between the florets, sprinkle with the pepper and scatter the thyme or oregano over the cauliflower. Roast for about 30 minutes, until the florets are fork-tender and start to caramelize. Discard the thyme and transfer the roasted cauliflower to a large serving bowl. Set aside the roasted lemon slices. While the cauliflower roasts warm the rest of the olive oil in a heavy skillet and sauté the carrots, tossing often for 3-4 minutes; add half the lemon juice and 1 tablespoon water and continue to sauté tossing often, until the juices are evaporated and the carrots are tender, about 8 minutes. If they need more cooking add another tablespoon of water and cook a bit longer. The carrots should be left with just olive oil. With a slotted spoon transfer the carrots to the serving bowl with the cauliflower. In the skillet add the garlic and toss a few times, with whatever oil is left, just to soften, then remove from the heat. In the bowl of a mixer or blender add the garlic, half the roasted lemon slices, the anchovies and the extra virgin olive oil and process to get a smooth paste. Taste and add the rest of the lemon slices, and more lemon juice if needed to get a dressing with a strong sharp-salty flavor. If it is too thick, add 1-2 tablespoons water.  Pour over the cauliflower and carrots, add the arugula and the preserved lemon, if you use it, and toss—preferably with your hands—then scatter the walnuts over the salad, and sprinkle with freshly ground pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Spinach-Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

Spinach-Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

strawberry1/2 C. EVOO

¼ C. Balsamic Vinegar

2 T. Honey

2 tsp. Coarse Mustard

1 T. + 1 tsp. Poppy Seeds

Salt and Pepper

4 C. Ripe Strawberries

1 ½ lb. cleaned Baby Spinach

In a bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, honey, mustard, poppy seeds and salt and pepper to taste.  Transfer to screw top jar and refrigerate for 24 hours.  Before serving, let the dressing return to room temperature and shake well. Rinse strawberries, hull and cut into sixths (or quarters, if the berries are small).  Toss spinach and strawberries in salad bowl.  Pour the room temperature dressing over the top, toss again and serve.

 

From Crowd Pleasing Potlucks

 

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Grilled Octopus Salad with Chickpeas, Wild Arugula and Preserved Lemon

Grilled Octopus Salad with Chickpeas, Wild Arugula and Preserved Lemon

6 C. water

2 C. white vinegar

1 small onion, quartered

1 bay leaf

2 T. black peppercorns

1/2 lemon, cut up

3 parsley stems

2 T. salt

 

1 small to medium-sized octopus, cooked in court-bouillon

1 C. cooked chickpeas

4 C. wild arugula, cleaned

1 C. pearl onions, peeled

1 T. butter

1/2 C. chicken stock

1 T. agave syrup

1 piquillo pepper, roasted, peeled and sliced

1/2 preserved lemon, skin only, sliced

4 T. parsley oil (blend 1/2 C. olive oil with 1/4 C. parsley leaves)

1/2 C. lemon vinaigrette (1/2 clove garlic, salt, 2 tbs lemon juice, 6 tbs olive oil)

Salt and pepper to taste

 octopus8final

Combine first 8 ingredients  for court bouillon in a pot and bring to a boil. Add octopus, reduce to simmer and cook for 15 minutes (depends on size). Remove octopus, pat dry and let it cool. Toss in olive oil and lemon juice. Meanwhile, melt some butter in a small pan and add the pearl onions. Season with salt and pepper and sauté until they start to color. Add chicken stock and cover, cook until tender and liquid has evaporated. Remove cover and add the agave syrup and glaze the onions until golden brown. Set aside.  Place the chickpeas, arugula, piquillo peppers in a bowl and dress with the lemon vinaigrette. Arrange on a platter. Garnish with the sweet onions and drizzle some parsley oil. Grind some fresh black pepper over the salad. Grill the octopus chunks (preferably over charcoals, otherwise improvise). Don’t overdo-it or they will turn tough. Arrange the octopus chunks over the salad with thin slices of preserved lemon. Enjoy!

 

 

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Mixed Sweet Bell Pepper & California Avocado Salad

Mixed Sweet Bell Pepper & California Avocado Salad

6 small red bell peppers

6 small green bell peppers

2 T. chopped walnuts

2 T. olive oil

1/4 C. sherry vinegar

1/2 C. chopped fresh basil

1 10 oz. package frozen corn

12 Boston lettuce leaves

1 California avocado, peeled, sliced

18 hard breadsticks

Salt, to taste

Black pepper, to taste

 

Over flame on gas stove or barbecue (or under broiler of oven) ‘blister’ bell peppers until the skin is dark and blistered.  While still warm put in plastic bags and seal tightly.  Leave for approximately 15 minutes (this will help with peeling the peppers).  Peel and seed the peppers, cut into small strips and reserve approximately 3 oz.  of each (red and green) for each serving of salad. In a bowl mix walnuts, olive oil, sherry wine vinegar, basil and cooled strips of red and green bell peppers.  Add corn to the mixture in bowl, mixing well. To serve, place bell pepper and corn mixture over lettuce leaves and top with fanned avocado slices.  Serve with bread sticks to the side.

 

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Orzo Salad with Marinated Mushrooms and Edamame

Orzo Salad with Marinated Mushrooms and Edamame

orzo1/2 C. white wine vinegar

1 T. brown sugar

1 T. fresh thyme leaves

2 1/2 T. olive oil

1 T. dry sherry

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. dry mustard

1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 bay leaf

7 C. quartered mushrooms (about 1 lb.)

2 C. frozen blanched shelled edamame (green soybeans), thawed

1 C. chopped red bell pepper

2 C. cooked orzo (about 1 C. uncooked rice-shaped pasta)

 

Combine the first 10 ingredients in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 10 minutes. Stir in mushrooms, edamame, and bell pepper; cook 1 minute. Place mushroom mixture in a large bowl; cool to room temperature. Discard bay leaf. Add pasta, and toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

 

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Kolhrabi Cucumber Enoki Salad with Orange Sesame Dressing

Kolhrabi Cucumber Enoki Salad with Orange Sesame Dressing

1 1/2 C. kolhrabi cubes, small dice

1 1/2 C. cucumber cubes, small dice

1 T. red bell pepper, minced

1 T. yellow bell pepper, minced

12 oz. Orange Sesame Dressing

1 T. extra virgin olive oil

Sea salt & freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

6 C. of baby greens

6 viola helen flowers (or other edible flowers)

1 sprig of garlic flowers (or use 3 Tbs. fresh chopped chives)

1/2 C. enoki mushrooms

1 1/2 medium tomatoes, cut in 12 wedges (or use strips of red and yellow bell pepper)

 

In a medium sized bowl, mix the kohlrabi, cucumber and the red and yellow bell peppers with the dressing and the olive oil. Season mixture to taste with salt and pepper.  On 6 salad plates arrange a bed of the baby greens. Scoop one sixth of the kohlrabi mix over the greens. Garnish tops with the enoki mushrooms, a viola flower and several of the garlic flowers. Place two tomato wedges on the side of each plate.

 

Mango and Hearts of Palm Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

Mango and Hearts of Palm Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

1/4 C. fresh lime juice

4 tsp. Dijon mustard

1 large mango, peeled, pitted, and cut into 1/2-inch wedges

1/2 small red onion, finely chopped

1 (14 1/2 oz.) can hearts of palm, drained, halved lengthwise, and cut into 1-inch pieces

Salt and pepper

1 head Boston lettuce, washed and dried (about 8 oz.)

 

In a small bowl, whisk lime juice and Dijon. Set vinaigrette aside. In a medium bowl, toss mango, onion, hearts of palm, and half the vinaigrette; season with salt and pepper. Evenly divide lettuce among four plates; top with mango mixture. Season with salt and pepper, and drizzle with remaining vinaigrette.

 

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Winter Fruit Salad with Walnuts & Goat Cheese

Winter Fruit Salad with Walnuts & Goat Cheese

2 head Endive

2 bunches Watercress, rinsed and stemmed

1 C. mixed Salad Greens

1 Red apple, cored and cut into 1” pieces

1 Granny Smith Apple, cored and cut into 1” pieces

1 Bosc Pear, cored and cut into 1” pieces

1 T. Dijon Mustard

1 T. White Wine Vinegar

1 tsp. Lemon Juice

½ C. EVOO

½ C. Walnut Halves, lightly toasted

2 oz. fresh Goat Cheese, crumbled

Salt and Pepper

 

Tear endive leaves in half and place in large bowl.  Add water cress, salad greens, apples and bear and toss to combine.  To make dressing, whisk mustard, vinegar and lemon juice together in small bowl.  Slowly add oil, whisking constantly, until vinaigrette thickens.  Toss about 1/3 C. dressing with salad and heap onto serving platter.  Sprinkle with walnuts and goat cheese.  Drizzle remaining dressing over the top, if desired.

 

Note: to toast walnuts, spread on baking sheet and heat in 350 oven until golden brown and fragrant, about 5 minutes.  Shake the pan once or twice for even toasting.  Slide nuts off baking sheet as soon as they reach desired color to stop cooking.  Let them cool.

 

from The Diabetes Menu Cookbook

 

Yield: 6 servings

Calories: 312 calories

Fat: 27g

Fiber: 5g

 

Warm Spinach and Arugula Salad

Warm Spinach and Arugula Salad

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

 

4 slices thick-cut bacon

 

3 shallots, thinly sliced

 

2 cloves garlic, chopped

 

3 tablespoons sherry vinegar

 

1 pinch of sugar

 

2 pounds triple washed spinach, stems removed (I used a combination of baby spinach and arugula)

 

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

 

Freshly grated nutmeg, to taste

 

4 hard-boiled eggs, quartered lengthwise (I crumbled my hard boiled eggs)

 

Parmigiano-Reggiano, for topping

 

I added a handful of fresh pecans and fresh crumbled mushrooms

 

salad 

 

Cook bacon over a medium-high skillet and brown until crispy. Remove bacon from the pan and pour off most of the bacon grease. Add olive oil, shallots and garlic to the same pan. Cook 3 to 4 minutes then deglaze the pan with vinegar and pinch of sugar. Turn spinach into pan and wilt down a bit but do not fully cook the spinach, just give it a few turns with tongs. Season the greens with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Place spinach on a serving dish and top with eggs, shavings of cheese and reserved bacon, toss and plate. I threw in some fresh pecans and mushrooms too!

 

Cauliflower and Brussels Sprouts Salad with Mustard-Caper Butter

Cauliflower and Brussels Sprouts Salad with Mustard-Caper Butter

sprout2 garlic cloves

Sea salt

6 T. butter, softened

2 tsp. Dijon mustard

1/4 C. drained small capers, rinsed

Grated zest of 1 lemon

3 T. chopped marjoram

Black pepper

1 lb. Brussels sprouts

1 small head (1/2 lb.) white cauliflower

1 small head (1/2 lb.) Romanesco (green) cauliflower

 

To make the mustard-caper butter, lb. the garlic with a half-tsp. salt in a mortar until smooth. Stir the garlic into the butter with the mustard, capers, lemon zest and marjoram. Season to taste with pepper. (The butter can be made a day ahead and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before serving.) Trim the base off the Brussels sprouts, then slice them in half or, if large, into quarters. Cut the cauliflower into bite-sized pieces. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt. Add the Brussels sprouts and cook for 3 minutes. Then add the other vegetables and continue to cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Drain, shake off any excess water, and then toss with the mustard-caper butter. Taste for salt, season with pepper and toss again.

 

 

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Yellow Heirloom Tomato Insalata Caprese on Grilled Garlic Toasts

Yellow Heirloom Tomato Insalata Caprese on Grilled Garlic Toasts

tomato1/2 loaf bread, sliced 3/4 inch thick  (something with a nice crust and a soft middle, like a country French bread)

Olive oil

1 garlic clove, sliced in half lengthwise (through the stem end)

1 bunch fresh basil, some leaves whole, stripped from the stem and some very thinly sliced into a chiffonade

1 large ball of buffalo mozzarella, sliced

3 yellow heirloom tomatoes, sliced

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 tsp. or so good balsamic vinegar

 

First make the garlic toasts.  Heat a cast iron grill pan over high heat for 5 minutes, until it’s super freaking hot.  Mean while brush both sides of the bread slices with the olive oil.  Place the bread slices in the grill pan and press down slightly.  Grill the bread for about two minutes per side, until the edges get crusty and there are light grill marks.  Remove the bread from the pan and rub one side of each slice with the garlic.  Continue doing this until all the bread is grilled. To assemble, place the grilled bread on a serving dish or platter. Top each slice with several whole basil leaves (putting the basil down first prevents the bread from getting soggy), then slices of mozzarella, and finally slices of tomato.  The number of slices you use depends on how big the toasts are.  Using the same brush you used to brush oil on the bread, brush the tops of the tomatoes with some more oil and then season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.  You could drizzle it with the oil, rather than brushing, but I find I have more control using a brush.  Next spoon a little of the balsamic vinegar over the tomato and then finally scatter with the sliced basil. Serve warm or at room temperature.

 

 

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Spinach Arugula Salad and Warm Bacon-Shallot Vinaigrette

Spinach Arugula Salad and Warm Bacon-Shallot Vinaigrette

1 pound bacon lardons

1/2 cup shallots, peeled and thinly sliced lengthwise

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

10 ounces baby spinach, stems removed, cleaned and dried

2 ounces arugula, stems removed, cleaned and dried

Kosher salt to taste

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon good balsamic vinegar

4 eggs, poached or hard-cooked

Freshly ground pepper to taste

4 slices of a good French baguette, lightly toasted

 

Place the lardons in a sauté pan that will hold them snugly in one layer. Fill the pan with enough cold water to just cover the lardons. Cook the bacon over high heat until the water has boiled off and the fat has begun to render. Then turn the heat to medium low and continue cooking until the lardons are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside (good idea to taste them to make sure). Place the shallots in a sauté pan with the olive oil over high heat and cook until the shallots begin to sweat, then reduce the heat to medium low and continue cooking until the shallots just begin to brown. In the meantime, combine the spinach and arugula in a large bowl that will facilitate tossing. Sprinkle the greens with kosher salt to taste about five minutes before you complete the salad. When you’re ready to serve, turn the shallots and bacon up to high; they should be very hot. Sprinkle the shallots over the greens. Pour the lardons and their fat over the greens (use only as much fat as you need to coat all the greens; reserve the remaining fat for another use). Toss the greens until they’re nicely coated with the fat. Season the salad with the red wine vinegar and the balsamic to taste. Divide the salad into four pasta bowls, top with a poached egg or chopped hard-boiled egg, and serve with a slice of a good baguette that’s been brushed with olive oil or extra bacon fat.

 

 

 

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Edamame, Slow-roasted Tomatoes, Mozzarella, and Fennel Salad

Edamame, Slow-roasted Tomatoes, Mozzarella, and Fennel Salad

salad1 ½ cups edamame, cooked and cooled

½ cup slow roasted cherry tomatoes (I roasted each punnet of cherry tomatoes with 1 tbsp olive oil and ½ T. kosher salt for 3 hours at 225F)

1 blob of fresh mozzarella (about 4oz), torn

½ cup fennel, finely chopped

A handful of small basil leaves

1 tsp. good extra virgin olive oil

1 T. red wine vinegar

Zest and juice of 1 lemon

A small pinch of good salt

A large pinch of red pepper flakes

 

Combine the salad ingredients, whisk the dressing ingredients, and toss together.

 

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Spring Roll Salad with Roasted Shallot Peanut Sauce and Tamarind Dipping Sauce

Spring Roll Salad with Roasted Shallot Peanut Sauce and Tamarind Dipping Sauce

3/4 lb. fresh shiitake mushrooms

2 T. extra virgin olive oil

2 T. shoyu

4 oz. (4 C. loosely packed) fettucine-style rice noodles

2 carrots, sliced into matchsticks (1 C.)

2 T. chopped fresh mint

2 T. chopped fresh cilantro

2 T. chopped fresh chives

Roasted Shallot Peanut Sauce (recipe follows)

Tamarind Dipping sauce (recipe follows)

1/2 C. dry-roasted peanuts, chopped, for garnish

 

Preheat the oven to 375.

Cut the stems off the shiitakes and discard them (or save them for stock). Thinly slice the caps; you should have 5 C.. Toss the shiitakes in a bowl with the olive oil and shoyu. Then spread them out on a parchment-covered baking sheet and transfer it to the oven. Roast, stirring twice, until the mushrooms are shrunken, browned, and fairly crisp, about 40 minutes. Place the mushrooms in a small bowl and set it aside. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Remove the pot from the heat, add the noodles, and let them sit until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain, and rinse the noodles for at least 30 seconds under cold water to prevent sticking. Toss the noodles in a bowl with the carrots and herbs. Mound a portion of noodles on each plate, and drizzle the dipping sauce and the peanut sauce over the top. Sprinkle with the mushrooms and peanuts.

 

Roasted Shallot Peanut Sauce

 

3 medium shallots, unpeeled

1 C. unsweetened coconut milk

1/2 C. smooth peanut butter

3 T. natural sugar, preferably maple sugar or evaporated cane sugar

1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

1 T. shoyu

2 T. plus 1 tsp. fresh lime juice

 

Preheat the oven to 375 F. Place the shallots on a parchment-covered baking sheet and roast until they are very tender and the juices have started to ooze out, 30 to 35 minutes. Let the shallots cool slightly, and then squeeze the pulp out of the skins. Place the shallot pulp and all the remaining ingredients in a food processor or blender, and blend until smooth. The sauce will keep, covered and refrigerated for up to a week. Warm before serving. Makes 2 C..

 

Tamarind Dipping Sauce

 

2 T. natural sugar, preferably maple sugar or evaporated cane juice

6 T. water

1 T. fresh lime juice

1 T. tamarind concentrate

1 T. shoyu

1 tsp. chopped fresh cilantro

1 garlic clove, minced

1 tsp. finely slivered seeded red serrano or ThaI bird chile

 

Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan, and warm over medium heat until the sngar dissolves. Remove the pan from the heat and mix in the lime juice, tamarind concentrate, and shoyu, stirring until smooth. Let the mixture cool slightly, and then stir in the cilantro, garlic, and chile. The sauce should be tangy and slightly sour. The sauces will keep, covered and refrigerated, for up to 5 days. Makes 1/2 C..

 

 

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Green Goddess Dip

Green Goddess Dip

8215b1872c9db996_Green-Goddess-Dip_xxxlarge_2x1 cup chopped avocado (about 1 avocado)
3 or 4 anchovy fillets or 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons anchovy paste
2 small garlic cloves, chopped
2 scallions, chopped
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 cup firmly packed basil, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped tarragon leaves
Extra-virgin olive oil, for making dressing, optional

Add the avocado, anchovies, garlic, scallions, white wine vinegar, lemon juice, and Greek yogurt to a food processor or blender; process until relatively smooth. Add the basil, parsley, and tarragon; process until smooth. If too thick, thin it out with a glug of olive oil. Serve with crudités as a dip or thin out with olive oil to make a salad dressing. For dressing, add olive oil 1/4 cup at a time, processing constantly until the desired consistency is reached. Toss with salad greens.

Olive Garden Italian Dressing

Olive Garden Italian Dressing

unnamedBUJO88CU1/2 C. mayonnaise
1/3 C. white vinegar
1 tsp. vegetable oil
2 T. corn syrup
2 T. Parmesan cheese, grated
2 T. Romano cheese, grated
1 clove garlic, minced (or 1/4 tsp. garlic salt)
1/2 tsp. each Italian seasoning and parsley flakes
1 T. lemon juice

Mix all ingredients in blender until well mixed. If too tart, add a little extra sugar.

5 Minute Blender Tomatillo Avocado Ranch Dressing

5 Minute Blender Tomatillo Avocado Ranch Dressing

avoranch1 tomatillo, husk removed and roughly chopped
1 small jalapeno, seeds removed and roughly chopped
1 avocado, peeled and pitted
1/3 cup cilantro, packed
2 garlic cloves, peeled
2 tablespoons lime juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons dry parsley
1 teaspoons dry chives
1/2 teaspoons dry dill
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1/2 cup real mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
Hot sauce (optional)
Milk (optional)

Add all of the ingredients to a blender or food processor and “chop” then puree until smooth, scraping sides down as needed. Add milk, a tablespoon at a time to reach desired consistency. Taste and add additional salt, pepper and/or hot sauce to taste (I always add more salt). Chill before serving.

One-Bowl Chicken Souvlaki

One-Bowl Chicken Souvlaki

4 C. s781101967_jtwqP-Mhredded cooked chicken
2 large cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and cut into ½” cubes (3 C.)
2 scallions, white and light green parts, chopped (1/4 C.)
8 Kalamata Olives, pitted
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved or 2 large ripe tomatoes, chopped (2 C.)
1/2 C. plain yogurt
1/2 C. crumbled feta
1 tsp. oregano (optional)
Fresh ground black pepper
1/4 C. chopped parsley or mint
Pita bread

Combine chicken, cucumbers, scallions, olives and tomatoes in bowl. Mix up feta and yogurt — you can do this by hand if you like chunkier dressing or in a food processor if you like it smooth. Mix in the oregano, if using. Pour dressing over chicken mixture and stir just to coat. Sprinkle with pepper and parsley and serve with crisped wedges of pita bread.

Dilled Crab Salad

Dilled Crab Salad

16 ounces flaked crabmeat
3 C. fresh sugar snap peas, halved widthwise
2 medium cucumbers, sliced
1 medium sweet red pepper, julienned
1/2 C. thinly sliced red onion
1/2 C. snipped fresh dill
1/3 C. prepared ranch dressing
1/3 C. sour cream
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Boston lettuce

In a bowl, combine the crab, peas, cucumbers, red pepper, onion and dill. Combine the dressing, sour cream and lemon juice; mix well. Pour over crab mixture and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. Serve on a bed of lettuce.

Roasted Endive Salad with Prosciutto, Figs and Pistachios

Roasted Endive Salad with Prosciutto, Figs and Pistachios

roastedendivesalad6 heads of endive (green, red or both)
1/4 cup olive oil (an infused oil, such as roasted garlic olive oil, works great here)
2 slices prosciutto
1 cup dried figs, sliced as thinly as possible
1/2 cup pistachio nuts, shells removed
1/4 cup organic honey

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Wash the endive and remove any unsightly outer leaves. Slice each endive head in half from the stem to the tip. Arrange the endive cut side up on the foil-lined baking sheet. Coat the endive generously with olive oil. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes, or until the outer edges are golden brown. Meanwhile, fry the prosciutto in a skillet until crispy. Drain onto paper towels, then crumble the prosciutto and set it aside. When the endive is done roasting, arrange three pieces on a plate alongside a handful of sliced dried figs and pistachio nuts. Drizzle a spoonful of honey over the plate, then sprinkle the endive with about 1/4th of the crumbled prosciutto.

Mozzarella with Herbs

Mozzarella with Herbs

Mozzarella with Herbs

 

8 oz. part-skim mozzarella cheese, cut into bite sized pieces (2 C.)

2 T. extra-virgin olive oil

1 T. chopped fresh basil

1 T. chopped fresh oregano

1 T. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

kosher salt

fresh-ground pepper

 

In a medium bowl, combine mozzarella cheese, olive oil, basil, oregano, and parsley. Cover and chill for 2-4 hours. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes and season with salt and pepper.

 

Yield: 8 servings

Calories: 103

Fat: 8g

Fiber: 0g

 

 

Tomato-Mozzarella Salad

 

Prepare as above, except add 4 C. roma tomato wedges and 2 T. balsamic vinegar. Serve on a bed of 6 C. fresh spinach. 6 servings, 169 calories, 11g fat, 2g fiber

Fresh Mushroom Three Bean Salad

Fresh Mushroom Three Bean Salad

10 oz. fresh white mushrooms, quartered (about 3 C.)
1 (7 oz.) jar roasted red peppers, drained, cut in strips
1 (15 oz.) can cannellini (white kidney) beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 oz.) can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 ribs celery, sliced (1 C.)
½ C. coarsely shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
¾ C. homemade or prepared fat-free Italian salad dressing
¼ C. chopped fresh parsley

In a large bowl combine mushrooms, peppers, the three kinds of beans, celery and ¼ C. of the cheese. Add dressing and parsley; toss to coat well. Stir in parsley. Serve topped with remaining cheese.

Yield: 4 servings
Calories: 148
Fat: 5g
Fiber:

Tomato Dandelion Salad

Tomato Dandelion Salad

½ medium sized onion cut in half and sliced thin
2 T. light vinegar, (apple cider, rice, or white wine)
1 C. hot water
2 large red ripe tomatoes
3 C. chopped young dandelion greens
2 T. fresh basil cut into large pieces

1½ T. balsamic vinegar
¼ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. coarse cracked black pepper
extra virgin olive oil to taste
Optional 1 oz. crumpled Chèvre goat cheese

Thinly slice onion and place in a small bowl. Pour 2 T. light vinegar and 1 C. hot water over onions and marinate while making rest of salad. Whisk together dressing ingredients adding oil at end a little at a time. Rinse and chop dandelion greens. Slice tomatoes and place on greens. Chop dandelion greens, place in basket of a salad spinner, rinse and spin dry. Toss dandelion greens with 2/3 of the dressing. Cut tomatoes in half crosswise and squeeze out juice. Cut into quarters, remove inner pulp and slice. Place on greens. Squeeze dry marinated onions and lay on top of sliced tomatoes and greens. Drizzle the rest of the dressing over tomatoes, onion and top with basil and goat cheese if desired.

Creamy Avocado Ranch Dressing

Creamy Avocado Ranch Dressing

Crisp lettuces like iceberg and romaine are a perfect match for this creamy dressing. Shaved red onion, grape tomatoes, and crumbled bacon make excellent garnishes for greens tossed with this dressing. Use 1 to 2 tsp. this dressing per 4 C. greens, serving two.

1 avocado, halved and pitted
1 tsp. lime juice
½ tsp. hot sauce
½ C. buttermilk
¼ C. mayonnaise
1 tsp. minced red onion
1 tsp. minced fresh cilantro
1 garlic clove, minced
½ tsp. sugar
¾ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper

Puree avocado, lime juice, and hot sauce in food processor until avocado is broken down, about 30 seconds. Add remaining ingredients and process until dressing is completely smooth. (Dressing can be refrigerated for up to 1 week.)

Italian Tossed Salad

Italian Tossed Salad

2 quarts (about 1/2 lb.) torn bite-size pieces escarole leaves
1 quart (about 1/4 lb.) dandelion leaves, tough stems removed
1 red onion (about 6 oz.), thinly sliced
1/2 C. canned lupini beans or garbanzos, drained
1/2 C. thinly sliced prepared peeled roasted red peppers
1/2 C. canned pepperoncini chilies, stemmed, seeded, and sliced
1/2 C. canned red cherry peppers, stemmed, seeded, and sliced (keep small ones whole)
1/3 C. minced fresh basil leaves
1/3 C. minced parsley
2 cloves garlic, minced
About 1 T. extra-virgin olive oil
About 1 T. balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper
1/2 C. large ripe green olives, drained
1/4 C. salt-cured black olives

In a large shallow salad bowl, combine escarole, dandelion leaves, onion, lupini beans, roasted red peppers, pepperoncini chilies, red cherry peppers, basil, parsley, and garlic. Mix gently with just enough oil to coat greens; add vinegar, salt, and pepper to taste. Garnish with green and black olives.

Cook’s Illustrated Fool Proof Vinaigrette

Cook’s Illustrated Fool Proof Vinaigrette

After making and testing hundreds of vinaigrettes both straight and on salads, we’ve arrived at a few conclusions. To start, ratios: For most green salads, a ratio of 4 parts oil to 1 part vinegar works best. We might alter this ratio when the vinegar is unusually mild (like rice wine vinegar), when citrus juices are used, or when the dressing is heavily flavored by another ingredient that needs a good kick (such as tomatoes). And salads like Chef’s Salad benefit from an acidic dressing that cuts through the richness of the meat and cheese. Second, extra-virgin olive oil is our top choice for most vinaigrettes, except those that have strong Asian flavors. Third, we’ve found that simply shaking all the vinaigrette ingredients together in a jar with a sealed lid in the easiest method of making the dressing; there is no extra bowl or whisk to wash and you can store what is left over in the same jar. Most vinaigrettes last about a week in the refrigerator. Just bring the dressing to room temperature and shake vigorously to recombine before serving.

1 tsp. Wine Vinegar
1 ½ tsp. minced Shallot
½ tsp. Mayo
½ tsp. Dijon
1/8 tsp. Salt
Pepper
3 tsp. EVOO

Combine Vinegar, Shallot, Mayo, Mustard, Salt and Pepper to taste in small bowl. Whisk until milky in appearance and no lumps remain. Place oil in small measuring C. so it is easy to pour. Whisking constantly, very slowly drizzle oil into vinegar. If pools of oil gather on the surface as you whisk, stop adding oil and whisk until combined, then resume whisking oil in a slow stream. Vinaigrette should be glossy and lightly thickened, with no pools of oil on the surface. (Or use the jar shaking method) Store refrigerated up to 2 weeks.

Lemon Vinaigrette (For mild greens): substitute fresh lemon juice for vinegar, omit shallot and add ¼ tsp. finely grated lemon zest and a pinch of sugar with salt and pepper.

Balsamic-Mustard Vinaigrette (For assertive greens): substitute balsamic vinegar for wine vinegar, increase mustard to 2 tsp. and add ½ tsp. fresh chopped thyme along with salt and pepper.

Nuttier Vinaigrette: Replace half the EVOO with walnut oil

Herb Vinaigrette: Add 1 tsp. minced parsley or chives and ½ tsp. minced fresh thyme, tarragon, marjoram, or oregano just before using.

Melon and Goat Cheese Salad with Agrodolce Dressing

Melon and Goat Cheese Salad with Agrodolce Dressing

3/4 C. walnut halves
1 ripe cantaloupe (about 3 lb.)
6 C. tender watercress sprigs (about 6 oz.) or bite-size pieces frisée, rinsed and crisped
2 C. huckleberries or blueberries, rinsed
Agrodolce dressing
8 to 10 oz. fresh chèvre (goat cheese)
Fresh-ground pepper

Place walnuts in a 9-inch square or round pan and bake in a 350° regular or convection oven, shaking pan once, until golden brown under skins, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, cut peel off melon; scoop out and discard seeds. Cut melon into 1/2-inch-thick crescents. On a large platter or on dinner or salad plates, arrange watercress, melon slices, and berries. Shortly before serving, drizzle about half the agrodolce dressing over fruit on platter or 1 to 2 T. over each serving. Cut chèvre into slices or break into chunks and distribute over salad. Sprinkle with toasted walnuts and pepper to taste. Offer remaining dressing to add to taste.

Purple Flash Spinach Salad

Purple Flash Spinach Salad

Notes: Other purple-blue flowers you can use include borage, chive, and sage. Rinse and drain flowers. Pull petals from dianthus, and blossoms from rosemary and lavender.

1/3 C. slivered almonds
2 T. extra-virgin olive oil
1 T. red wine vinegar
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
2 quarts (6 to 8 oz.) baby spinach leaves, rinsed and drained
2 T. rosemary blossoms
1 C. purple or pink dianthus petals
1 1/2 T. chopped fresh lavender blossoms or 2 1/4 tsp. dried lavender
Salt and pepper

In an 8- to 10-inch frying pan over medium heat, shake or stir almonds until golden, about 3 minutes. Pour from pan into a wide shallow bowl. To bowl, add oil, vinegar, 1 T. water, and mustard; mix. Add spinach, rosemary blossoms, dianthus petals, and lavender. Mix and season with salt and pepper to taste.