Category Archives: salad

Batman’s Best Caesar Dressing – allrecipes.com

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1 1/2 cups olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons anchovy paste
1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
4 cloves garlic, crushed
3 tablespoons sour cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

In a food processor or blender, combine the olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, anchovy paste, mustard, garlic, sour cream and Parmesan cheese. Process until smooth. Pour into a glass container, seal, and refrigerate until ready to use.

dmv notes: very tasty, I cut the recipe in half using 2/3 c. olive oil and less parm.

Basil Green Goddess Dressing — Ina

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1 cup good mayonnaise
1 cup chopped scallions, white and green parts (6 to 7 scallions)
1 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
2 teaspoons chopped garlic (2 cloves)
2 teaspoons anchovy paste
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup sour cream

Place the mayonnaise, scallions, basil, lemon juice, garlic, anchovy paste, salt and pepper in a blender and blend until smooth. Add the sour cream and process just until blended. (If not using immediately, refrigerate the dressing until ready to serve.)

Salad with Warm Goat Cheese — Ina

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1 (11-ounce) log plain or herbed Montrachet
2 extra-large egg whites, beaten with 1 tablespoon water
Fresh white bread crumbs
For the dressing:
2 tablespoons good cider vinegar
2 tablespoons good Champagne vinegar
Pinch sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 extra-large egg yolk
1 cup good olive oil
Enough mixed salad greens for 6 servings
Olive oil and unsalted butter, for frying

Slice the Montrachet into 12 (1/2-inch-thick) slices. (The easiest way to slice goat cheese is to use a length of dental floss.) Dip each slice into the beaten egg whites, then the bread crumbs, being sure the cheese is thoroughly coated. Place the slices on a rack and chill them for at least 15 minutes.

For the dressing, place the vinegars, sugar, salt, pepper, and egg yolk in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and blend for 1 minute. With the motor running, slowly pour the olive oil through the feed tube until the vinaigrette is thickened. Season, to taste.

Toss the salad greens with enough dressing to moisten, then divide them among 6 plates.

Melt 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a saute pan over medium-high heat until just under smoking. Cook the goat cheese rounds quickly on both sides until browned on the outside but not melted inside. Top each salad with 2 warm rounds and serve.

Classic Chicken and Grape Salad

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Always a hit! Serves 8-10

INGREDIENTS

  • 3 1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, poached and cooled to room temperature.
  • 5 ribs celery, coarsely chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups seedless green grapes, cut in half
  • 1 1/2 t. dried thyme
  • 1 1/2 t garlic powder
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 3 cups (or less, as needed) Hellmann’s mayonnaise use much less
  • slivered almonds

DIRECTIONS

  • Use un-chicken, cut up (Cut the chicken breasts in 3/4 – 1″ chunks)

  • Toss the un-chicken, celery, and grapes together in a large bowl. Season with the thyme, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Bind the salad with the mayonnaise. You want to use enough to make the salad moist and creamy.

  • Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.

Source: Nantucket Open House Cookbook

Arugula, Watermelon and Feta Salad Ina Garten

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For the vinaigrette:
1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
1/4 cup minced shallots (1 large)
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 cup good olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
6 cups baby arugula, washed and spun dry
1/8th seedless watermelon, rind removed, and cut in 1-inch cubes
12 ounces good feta cheese, 1/2-inch diced
1 cup (4 ounces) whole fresh mint leaves, julienned
Directions
Whisk together the orange juice, lemon juice, shallots, honey, salt, and pepper. Slowly pour in the olive oil, whisking constantly, to form an emulsion. If not using within an hour, store the vinaigrette covered in the refrigerator.

Place the arugula, watermelon, feta, and mint in a large bowl. Drizzle with enough vinaigrette to coat the greens lightly and toss well. Taste for seasonings and serve immediately.

Notes:  I did not measure anything except the dressing.  I substituted baby lettuces for the arugula, used less feta and played around with the vinaigrette using 3 tbsp olive oil, 3 tbsp oj and I tbsp lemon juice with the other listed ingredients.

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Orange Pecan Wild Rice Ina Garten

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1 cup wild rice
1 1/4 cups veggie stock
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
kosher salt
1 cup green seedless grape, halved
1/2 cup scallion, sliced in rounds, white and light green parts (2 scallions)
1 cup pecan halves, toasted and coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Place the rice, chicken stock, 1 1/4 cups water, 1 tablespoon butter, and 1 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cover the pot and lower the heat to simmer ( she pulls the pan halfway off the burner) and cook for about 1 hour, until the rice is tender and the grains begin to burst open. Stir the rice occasionally while it’s cooking, scraping the bottom of the pan to prevent it from sticking. Turn off the heat, and allow the rice to steam for about 5 minutes.

Stir the remaining tablespoon of butter into the rice, then add the grapes, scallions, pecans, orange zest, orange juice, 1 teaspoon salt and the pepper and toss. Taste for seasonings and serve hot.

Ridiculously Easy Southwestern Coleslaw

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southwestern-coleslaw

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1/2 medium cabbage
2 carrots
1-2 hot chile peppers, thinly sliced or chopped
5-6 tablespoons salsa verde
1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons vegan mayo or lite silken tofu
1/2 teaspoon agave nectar (or other sweetener)
1/4 teaspoon cumin

salt to taste

  1. Remove and discard the core of the cabbage, and cut cabbage in half. Use a food processor fitted with a shredding disk to shred the cabbage and carrots. Place in a serving bowl along with the sliced chile pepper.
  2. Whisk all remaining ingredients together until smooth. (If you’re using silken tofu, you may need to blend it in a small blender or food processor.) Add the dressing to the cabbage and mix well. Add salt to taste. Cover and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Check seasonings before serving and add more salsa, lime juice, cumin, or salt if necessary.

Dad’s Creamy Marinated Cucumbers

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  • 2 large cucumbers (about 2 pounds), peeled (if desired) and sliced
  • 1 large red (or other sweet) onion (about ½ pound), peeled, halved vertically, thinly sliced
  • ½ cup top quality mayonnaise
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon white pepper

Mix everything in a large bowl and allow to sit in the refrigerator for several hours.

Bonus tip: There will be extra dressing, as the cucumbers release a lot of their water. This dressing can be saved and refrigerated for use as a dressing for salad greens.

Serves 6.

Fresh Corn Salad (4-6 servings)

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The fresh corn salad is from the Barefoot Contessa Cookbook.

5 ears of corn, shucked
1/2 cup small diced red onion
3 tbsp cider vinegar
3 tbs good olive oil
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup julienned basil leaves or use chopped chives

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the corn for 3 minutes until the starchiness is just gone. Drain and immerse it in ice water to stop the cooking and to set the color. When the corn is cool, cut the kernels off the cob, cutting close to the cob.

Toss the kernels in a large bowl with the red onions, vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Just before serving, toss in the fresh basil. Taste for seasonings and serve cold or at room temperature.

Beatrice’s notes: The first time I made the salad, I cut the kernels off the cob and then sauted in a pan.  The second time I grilled the corn instead of boiling, then cut the kernels off the cob.  Both were good but I liked the grilled flavour better.  The second time I made the salad I added diced red pepper and substituted chives for the basil.  I liked this better than basil.  I think thyme would also be good.

DMV notes: I used two ears of corn, cooked for 3-4 min, cooled kernels removed. Divided other ingredients by 1/3. Used chives. Very quick, easy and TASTY.

Enjoy!