Tag Archives: salads

Orzo salad, Phyllis Keating

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Makes 1 quart

1/2 cup hazelnuts
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1/2cup golden raisins
1cup orzo
1lime, juiced
2tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2tablespoons champagne vinegar
Kosher salt
1/4cup sesame oil
2 tablespoons good olive oil, plus more for coating the orzo
6 scallions
Small handful of chives
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 ounces fresh goat cheese
1/4 teaspoon flaky sea salt

Heat the oven to 350° F. Scatter the hazelnuts across a baking sheet, then put in the oven for 10 minutes. Take them out and allow them to cool, then remove the skins. Leave the nuts whole, or roughly chop them — however you prefer. Set aside.

Bring the red wine vinegar and 1/2 cup of water to a healthy simmer. Add the raisins and turn down the heat to low. Cover, then cook for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow the raisins to sit in the vinegar solution for an additional 20 minutes. Drain the raisins and set them aside.Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil, then add enough kosher salt to make the water taste like the sea. Add the orzo to the pot and cook until al dente (for me, this was consistently 2 minutes less than the bag recommended). Drain the orzo, transfer to a bowl, and stir in a bit of olive oil — just enough so that the pasta doesn’t stick.

Allow the orzo to cool for 20 to 30 minutes.Make the dressing: Add the lime juice, rice wine vinegar, and champagne vinegar to a small bowl. Whisk in a little pinch of kosher salt. Add the sesame oil and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Whisk the dressing to emulsify the oil, then set aside.Clean and thinly slice the whites and light greens of the scallions. Mince the chives.Stir the red pepper flakes into the orzo. Add the hazelnuts, raisins, scallions, and chives. Fold in the dressing. Stir in the sea salt. Using a fork, break up the goat cheese, then crumble it into the bowl and lightly fold to combine. Serve chilled or at room temperature. Author’s Note: If you are eating the salad fresh, I think 1/2 cup of dressing is sufficient. I usually save the remaining 1/4 cup for just before serving, especially if I make the salad ahead of time. But add the dressing bit by bit, then stop when it tastes right to you.

Kale Caesar Salad with Roasted Garlic Dressing

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1 bunch dinosaur or laminate kale
1/4 cup croutons
1 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup roasted garlic caesar dressing

Remove the stalks from the center of kale
Pile leaves on top of one another and roll together into a cigar. Cut kale into thin ribbons.

Dressing (makes 3/4 cup)
6-10 cloves of roasted garlic
olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon (1/4 cup)
1 tbsp capers
2 anchovy fillets
1/2 tsp salt

Puree the garlic & lemon juice, mustard salt and  1/3 cup olive oil. Taste and add more oil as necessary to get the consistency you like. Store in airtight container (good for up to 2 weeks)

In large bowl toss kale together with dressing. Add parmesan cheese and toss again. Divide among four plates. Top with breadcrumbs and cheese if you like.

Celery and Parmesan Salad, Ina Garten

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1/2 cup good olive oil
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice (3 lemons)
2 tablespoons minced shallots
1 teaspoon celery seed
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 teaspoon anchovy paste
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
5 cups thinly sliced celery hearts, tender leaves included, sliced on an angle (about 12 stalks)
4-ounce chunk aged Parmesan cheese
2/3 cup toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped
Whole flat-leaf parsley leaves

At least 1 hour before you plan to serve the salad, whisk together the olive oil, lemon zest, 1/4 cup of lemon juice, the shallots, celery seed, celery salt, anchovy paste, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Place the celery in a mixing bowl and toss it with the remaining 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. (Even though these ingredients are in the dressing, believe me-this step makes a difference.) Add enough dressing to moisten well. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour to allow the celery to crisp and the flavors to develop.

When ready to serve, arrange the celery on a platter, shave the Parmesan onto the celery with a vegetable peeler, then sprinkle with walnuts, parsley leaves, salt, and pepper and serve immediately.

Autumn Arugula Salad with Caramelized Squash, Spiced Pecans and Pomegranate Ginger Vinaigrette

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2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 acorn squash, sliced in 1/2-inch thick rounds and seeds removed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepped
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1/2 cup whole pecans, chopped
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
6 cups baby arugula
1 avocado, sliced
1 pomegranate, arils removed
1 seedless cucumber, sliced

pomegranate ginger vinaigrette
1/3 cup pomegranate juice
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
1 garlic clove, freshly grated
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/3 cup olive oil

YIELD: SERVES 2 TO 4

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add coconut oil. Cover the squash slices with salt and pepper, then add them to the skillet and cook until golden, about 5 minutes per side. If desired, you can add the brown sugar to help the squash caramelize. Heat a small saucepan over low heat and add the pecans. Toast until they are slightly golden and fragrant, stirring and shaking the pan as they toast, for about 5 minutes. Toss them with the pumpkin pie spice.

Add the arugula to a large bowl with a pinch of salt and pepper. Add in the avocado, pomegranate arils, cucumber, pecans and squash pieces. Cover in the pomegranate dressing.

pomegranate ginger vinaigrette
Combine pome juice, vinegar, ginger, garlic, salt and pepper in a large bowl and whisk together. Stream in the olive oil while constantly whisking until the dressing comes together. Store in the fridge for up to one week.

http://www.howsweeteats.com/

Spicy Vegan Dragon Noodle Salad Recipe, Isa Chandra Moskowitz

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Servings:4

8 ounces pad thai rice noodles
1 cup cucumbers, thinly sliced
1 cup radishes, thinly sliced
8 cups crisp salad greens
For the Peanut Dragon Dressing
1/2 cup smooth natural peanut butter
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1/3 cup water
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
1 tablespoon agave nectar
1 tablespoon Sriracha
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon salt, or as needed
To garnish
fresh cilantro
4 tablespoons toasted or black sesame seeds

For the Peanut Dragon Dressing:  Place all of the ingredients in a small blender or food processor and blend until very smooth.

Keep tightly sealed and refrigerated until ready to use. It will keep for up to 5 days
For the noodle salad:

Prepare the noodles according to package directions. It’s very important not to overcook them! Often the package says to boil water, then turn it off and let the noodles steep for about 8 minutes. Set a timer to be safe.

Once soft, immediately drain and run cold water over them until cool.
In a very large mixing bowl, toss noodles, radishes and cucumber with most of the dressing, setting aside a little bit for drizzling.

Place a bed of greens on each plate and top with noodles. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, top with a little cilantro, and 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.

Grilled Portobellos mushrooms with tomato and fresh mozzarella salad Giada

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3 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for greasing grill pan
4 large portobello mushrooms (about 5 inches in diameter), stemmed
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 small to medium sized vine ripened tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
8 ounces fresh water-packed mozzarella, drained, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

Prepare the grill (medium-high heat).

Drizzle 3 tablespoons of olive oil over both sides of the mushrooms. Sprinkle the mushrooms with salt and pepper. Drizzle olive oil on grill pan to prevent mushrooms from sticking. Grill until the mushrooms are heated through and tender, about 5 minutes per side.

Meanwhile, whisk the extra-virgin olive oil and garlic in a medium bowl to blend. Add the tomatoes, cheese, and basil and toss to coat. Season the tomato salad, to taste, with salt and pepper.

Place 1 hot grilled mushroom gill side up on each of 4 plates. Sprinkle with more salt and pepper. Spoon the tomato salad atop the mushrooms, drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil to finish, about 1 tablespoon 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

Israeli Couscous and Tuna Salad, Ina Garten

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2 cups Israeli couscous (10 to 12 ounces)
2 (7-ounce) cans or jars Italian tuna, drained and flaked
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup good olive oil
3 tablespoons capers, drained
1/2 cup pitted, oil-cured black olives, coarsely chopped (3 ounces)
1/2 cup jarred roasted red peppers, medium-diced (4 ounces)
2 teaspoons minced garlic (2 cloves)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup chopped scallions (6-8 scallions)
1/4 cup julienned fresh basil leaves, lightly packed
Juice of 1/2 lemon

Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a medium-size saucepan. Add the couscous and reduce the heat to very low. Cover the pot and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, until the couscous is just tender. (I pull the pot halfway off the heat.) Drain in a colander.

Meanwhile, combine the tuna, lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, capers, olives, red peppers, garlic, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper in a large bowl. Pour the hot couscous into the mixture and stir well. Cover and set aside for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Just before serving, stir in the scallions, basil, juice of the 1/2 lemon, and 1 more teaspoon of salt. Taste for seasonings and serve warm or at room temperature