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Dressing

Dinner, Dressing, Japanese, Lactose Free, Recipes, Rice Dishes, Salad, Vegan, Vegetarian, Veggies

Sushi Salad

July 23, 2024

Rice is without a doubt my favorite food (followed by eggs). It’s easy to prepare, versatile, and such a beautiful grain to show off in a salad such as this one. Short grain brown rice works well for this salad. Its hearty texture stands up nicely to the other components and dressing. If brown rice is not your thing, substitute short or medium grain white rice.

The assortment of green ingredients above contributes to this stunning rice bowl. Feel free to switch up with whatever you may have available in your refrigerator. Chopped red cabbage, sautéed carrots, peas, corn, steamed broccoli or roasted veggies would all be tasty additions.

Light miso paste has a slightly sweet and delicate flavor which makes it ideal for dressings.

With slightly earthy notes and a subtle nutty flavor, short grain brown rice is the perfect foil for velvety avocados, crispy cucumbers, edamame, spinach and the umami rich miso dressing.

Serving soy sauce eggs with the salad is a must for me. It brings the entire dish together and makes for a hearty lunch. The various textures and shades of green turn these humble ingredients into a striking and delicious meal. Oishii!

Sushi Salad

Recipe by Kiyo
Servings

4

servings

Recipe adapted from Hetty McKinnon

Ingredients

  • Miso Dressing
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons light miso paste

  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil (Kadoya recommended)

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons mirin

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar

  • 2 teaspoons roasted sesame seeds (white, black, or both)

  • Rice Salad
  • 4 cups cooked short grain brown rice, room temperature (or substitute with short or medium grain white rice)

  • 1 cup boiled edamame beans, cooled

  • 2 small Japanese cucumbers sliced into thin half moons

  • 2 small avocados, diced into large pieces

  • 2 handfuls baby spinach leaves

  • Kizami (shredded) nori for topping (or a toasted nori sheet cut into thin strips)

  • Kosher salt

  • Freshly ground black pepper

  • 4 soy sauce eggs for serving (optional but recommended)

Directions

  • Whisk together the miso paste, sesame oil, mirin, sugar, and 2-3 tablespoons of water until well combined. Stir in sesame seeds. Set aside or refrigerate until ready to serve if making in advance.
  • In a large bowl, combine the cooled rice, edamame, cucumber, avocado, and baby spinach and toss together gently. Transfer salad to 4 bowls, drizzle over some of the miso dressing. Place halved soy sauce eggs in each bowl and season eggs with salt and black pepper. Sprinkle nori strips over the top just before serving. Serve with extra dressing on the side.

Notes

  • Miso dressing can be made up to 5 days in advance of serving
Dinner, Dressing, Italian, Recipes, Salad, Side Dishes, Summertime Meal

Italian Style Iceberg Salad

July 17, 2024

Crispy iceberg lettuce, tangy pepperoncini, savory bits of salami and provolone cheese are the perfect combination for a delicious summery salad. It’s one that you can make ahead for company or pack up for your beachside picnic.

A little bit of mayonnaise is the special touch that makes this dressing extra luscious.

If you prep all the ingredients, which only takes 20 minutes, you can quickly assemble the salad just before you are ready to serve it.

This salad reminds me of how much I love iceberg lettuce. The crunchy layers of leaves are what makes this salad stand out. Add some pleasantly salty salami, cheese, olives, thinly sliced red onion for a little kick and dressing with a hint of oregano for one of the best salads ever.

Italian Style Iceberg Salad

Recipe by Kiyo
Servings

4

servings

Ingredients

  • Dressing
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

  • 3 tablespoons champagne or white wine vinegar

  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1/8 – 1/4 teaspoon finely grated garlic

  • Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper

  • Salad
  • 1 small head iceberg lettuce

  • 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced into rings

  • 2 ounces provolone cheese, thinly sliced into strips

  • 1 ounce salami, thinly sliced into strips

  • Few sprigs of Italian parsley

  • 6- 8 pepperoncini, halved if large

  • Mixed pitted olives (optional)

Directions

  • Whisk oil, vinegar, mayonnaise, sugar, oregano, and garlic in a small bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Chill dressing in the refrigerator for a few hours.
  • Cut lettuce in half through stem end. Tear apart into large pieces. Arrange on a platter and scatter onion, cheese, salami and Italian parsley leaves over. Arrange pepperoncini and olives (if using) around the edge of the salad. Drizzle with some of the dressing and top with additional black pepper.

Notes

  • Dressing can be made up to 5 days in advance.
Dinner, Dressing, Recipes, Salad, Side Dishes, Summertime Meal

Sesame Caesar Salad

May 31, 2024

Replacing mayonnaise with tahini in Andy Baraghani’s take on Caesar salad is pure genius. Once you taste the dressing you will always keep a jar of tahini on hand. It has a wide range of uses in many recipes which may surprise you: gochujang sesame noodles, tofu ramen with cucumbers, Glory Bowl salad, beef kofta with tahini sauce.

The other ingredient that makes this salad especially interesting and so refreshing is the Asian pear. With its crisp apple-like texture and mildly sweet flavor, the Asian pear adds a welcoming crunchy note to this salad. Like other pears, it will brown once sliced so it’s best to cut it just before serving.

This crunchy and savory salad pairs well with any type of sandwich, my favorite being salami and cheese.

Sesame Caesar Salad

Recipe by Kiyo
Servings

4

servings

Recipe adapted from Andy Baraghani/Bon Appetit

Ingredients

  • 2 oil-packed anchovy fillets, finely minced

  • 1 small garlic clove, finely grated

  • 1 lemon, halved

  • 3 tablespoons well-stirred tahini

  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable, canola, or grapeseed oil

  • 3 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan, plus more for serving

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 romaine hearts, trimmed, leaves separated or 4 heads Little Gem lettuce

  • 1 Asian pear, halved, cored, thinly sliced

  • 1 teaspoon roasted sesame seeds

Directions

  • Place finely minced anchovies and grated garlic in a large bowl. Squeeze in juice from half of the lemon (about 2 tablespoons). Whisk in tahini, mustard, and 2 tablespoons water. Gradually whisk in oil until dressing is thick and glossy. Whisk in 3 tablespoons Parmesan; season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Add lettuce, tearing any large leaves to bowl with dressing, along with pear slices. Toss until leaves are coated.
  • Transfer salad to a low serving bowl and top with more Parmesan and sesame seeds. Finely grate zest of remaining lemon half over the salad.

Notes

  • To make this vegetarian, swap out the anchovies for 1 teaspoon of rinsed, drained, and finely chopped capers.
Dinner, Dressing, Lactose Free, Recipes, Rice Dishes, Salad, Side Dishes, Summertime Meal, Vegan, Vegetarian, Veggies

Refreshing Rice Noodle Salad

May 10, 2024

This refreshing, crunchy, rice noodle salad covers all the bases. It’s the perfect meal for those warm days when cooking over a hot stove is out of the question. A tangle of rice noodles and crispy vegetables makes a delightful summer salad.

A mandoline comes in handy for cutting the cucumber and carrot into thin strips. Not to worry if you don’t have one. A good chef’s knife can do exactly the same task.

The dressing is zesty from the fresh lime juice with a hint of sweetness and punch from the Fresno pepper and lemongrass. It’s perfect for springy rice noodles and crispy vegetables showered with lots of fresh herbs.

I serve the salad with sesame tofu. It is one of my favorite summertime meals and because both the salad and tofu can be prepared in advance, it’s a breeze to make for a crowd.

Refreshing Rice Noodle Salad

Recipe by Kiyo
Servings

4

servings

Ingredients

  • Salad
  • 7 ounces rice noodles (such as Eden Bifun)

  • 1 large Japanese cucumber with soft core and seeds removed, cut into thin strips (use a mandoline if you have one)

  • 1 medium carrot, julienned

  • 2 cups Napa cabbage, thinly sliced

  • 1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves

  • 1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons cilantro leaves

  • 1/3 cup salted roasted peanuts, chopped

  • Fresno pepper rings for serving

  • Lime wedges for serving

  • Dressing
  • 1/4 cup unseasoned rice vinegar

  • 1/2 cup fresh squeezed lime juice

  • 4 teaspoons soy sauce

  • 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon granulated sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic, finely grated

  • 4 teaspoons lemongrass, finely minced

  • 2 teaspoons Fresno pepper, finely minced (cut the rest of the pepper into thin slices to garnish noodles)

Directions

  • Soften rice noodles according to package directions. Drain well and place in a low-sided serving bowl. Cover and chill.
  • Stir all of the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl until sugar has dissolved. Dressing can be made a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator.
  • Toss cabbage, carrot and cucumber strips and 1/3 cup each of torn herbs together. Place vegetables on chilled rice noodles. Drizzle some of the dressing over the noodles and vegetables and mix together gently with two forks or tongs, just enough to coat the noodles. Sprinkle peanuts over the top of the salad along with reserved 2 tablespoons each of torn mint and cilantro. Place lime wedges and Fresno pepper slices around the rim of the dish. Serve with extra dressing on the side.
Dinner, Dressing, Lactose Free, Recipes, Salad, Side Dishes, Vegetarian

Green Goddess Dressing

March 25, 2024

Here’s a lactose free green goddess dressing for those of us who are unable to digest lactose. Green Valley lactose free yogurt comes in handy for all sorts of recipes such as bread, cake and even popsicles. If regular dairy products suit you, go ahead and use your favorite brand of yogurt. Using a good mayonnaise is essential in this recipe as is seeking out the freshest herbs you can find.

This is one of the easiest and tastiest dressings you can make. It definitely falls into the rich category of dressings given that its main ingredient is mayonnaise, so I make it for special occasions or when I have a produce drawer full of crispy romaine hearts.

For a stunning salad, arrange steamed diced beets and avocado over green goddess dressing.

A green goddess dressed salad with a side of sourdough bread makes a splendid meal.

Green Goddess Dressing

Recipe by Kiyo
Servings

1 1/2 c

servings

Adapted from NYT Cooking

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons drained capers

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise

  • 1/3 cup full fat plain lactose free yogurt (or regular yogurt)

  • 1 cup coarsely chopped flat leaf parsley

  • 1/2 cup roughly chopped basil

  • 1/8 teaspoon finely grated garlic

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, divided

  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped tarragon

  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives

  • kosher salt

  • freshly ground black pepper

Directions

  • In a food processor (or use an immersion blender) combine the capers, mayonnaise, yogurt, parsley, basil, grated garlic and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Process until smooth and uniformly green. Transfer to a lidded jar, and stir in the tarragon, chives, a few dashes of kosher salt, and a few grinds of black pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed with salt, pepper and reserved 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice.

Notes

  • Store dressing in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Bread, Dressing, Lactose Free, Recipes, Sandwiches, Sauces, Vegetarian

Tarragon Aioli

December 29, 2023

I’ve been a fan of fresh tarragon ever since I started making béarnaise sauce for our filet mignon dinners. An aromatic herb with a very subtle and delicate licorice flavor, adding tarragon elevates an assortment of sauces and dishes.

This recipe is a snap to make and it will take your sandwich to the next level. Using prepared mayonnaise means you can whip up this tarragon aioli in less than 10 minutes. Slather it on grilled or toasted sourdough bread and layer on sliced tomatoes, or use it for BLT and chicken sandwiches, sliced hard boiled eggs or a dip for asparagus.

My favorite way to use tarragon aioli is on our homemade sourdough bread topped with juicy tomatoes. Grilling the bread with a bit of olive oil elevates the flavor and makes for a scrumptious open-faced sandwich.

Be generous with the aioli! You want your sandwich to be well seasoned.

Tarragon Aioli

Recipe by Kiyo
Servings

1/2 cup

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise

  • 1 medium garlic clove, finely grated (microplane works great)

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped tarragon

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh squeezed lemon juice

  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest

  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  • In a small bowl mix together the mayonnaise, garlic, tarragon, lemon juice and lemon zest. Add a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Serve right away or keep refrigerated for up to 5 days.

Notes

  • Here on Maui tarragon can be found at Whole Foods
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