Browsing Category

Salad

Dinner, Lactose Free, Recipes, Salad, Sauces, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian, Veggies

Asian Kale Salad

March 26, 2014

Asian Kale Salad with OnigiriThere is beautiful kale everywhere! I went to a farmers market upcountry in Kula and was surprised to see that so many of the vendors were selling some variety or other of kale.  That being said, I came home with a big bunch of kale along with some other delightful vegetables.

Tuscan KaleI am partial to Tuscan kale (also known as Dinosaur kale and Lacinto kale).  Their tall, slender, deep blue-green color is gorgeous and their hearty leaves retain their texture once cooked.  It’s just perfect for a tasty side dish.

Chopped Tuscan Kale

Asian Dressing for Kale SaladKorean chili pepper flakes are a mainstay in my pantry.  They have a vibrant red color, a bit of heat but not too much, and a hint of sweetness.  I am very happy with the quality of the Korean chili flakes I purchase from Whole Spice.

Asian Kale Salad with Onigiri

 Asian Kale

2 servings

Ingredients

1 pound Tuscan kale, ribs removed, leaves coarsely chopped

1 teaspoon canola oil

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon minced ginger

3 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon water

1 teaspoon sesame oil

1 teaspoon Korean chili flakes

2 teaspoons roasted sesame seeds

Preparation

Blanch kale in boiling salted water for 3 minutes.  Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the kale from cooking further.  Pat dry between paper towels.  Gently fluff the kale and place in a  small serving dish.

In a small skillet heat 1 teaspoon canola oil over medium low heat.  Add garlic, and sauté, stirring often for about 3 minutes.  Turn down the heat if necessary so the garlic doesn’t burn and turn bitter.  Remove from the heat and stir in the ginger, soy sauce, water, sesame oil, Korean chili pepper flakes and sesame seeds.  Stir to combine.  Drizzle sauce over kale before serving.

Fruit, Gardening, Lactose Free, Recipes, Salad, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian, Veggies

Lilikoi Vinaigrette

March 19, 2014

Lilikoi VinaigretteNow that the weather has turned a bit cooler, we have been enjoying Manoa and butter lettuce from the garden. During the summer it is impossible to grow lettuce in Kihei, it’s just too hot.  We also planted radishes that turned out to be a tasty addition to our salads.

Garden Radishes

Lilikoi Flower in BloomOur new lilikoi (the most fragrant of tropical fruits) are doing well.  Their vigorous vines quickly claimed the fence as their home with their tendrils grabbing on to anything within reach.  We even caught one reaching up to the sky and fastening itself to a mango branch.  Our first season of growing lilikoi yielded a small, healthy, crop of fruit that we quickly used to make the best jelly ever.  Lilikoi vinaigrette came to mind when I was picking those tender lettuce leaves from the garden.  So with the few fruits left on the vines, the juice was frozen in small containers and will be enjoyed throughout the next few months.

Lilikoi Tendril

Fresh Lilikoi from the GardenLilikoi makes everything better.

Collecting Lilikoi JuicePress the pulp to extract the precious juice.

Lilikoi Shells and Juice

Garden Salad with FetaManoa and butter lettuce with cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes, avocado and feta.

Garden Salad with Lilikoi Vinaigrette and Whole Grain Bread

Lilikoi Vinaigrette

Makes about 3/4 cup

1/2 cup fresh lilikoi juice

1/4 cup canola oil

2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons rice vinegar (not seasoned)

2 teaspoons honey

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon finely minced shallot

kosher salt and pepper

Preparation

Combine all ingredients in a jar, shake well.

 

Japanese, Lactose Free, Recipes, Salad, Vegetarian, Veggies

Miso Carrot & Sesame Dressing

March 13, 2014

Miso Dressing with Watercress SaladThis quick salad dressing tastes so good I can eat it alone by the spoonful.  The mellow white miso with its savory flavor is lightly sweetened with grated carrot and honey.  Fresh ginger gives the dressing a little kick and roasted sesame seeds add crunch. Serve with peppery, crisp, watercress. Very refreshing!

Grated Carrot & Ginger

Miso Carrot & Sesame DressingThe original recipe mentions the dressing can be made up to two days in advance of serving, however, I’ve kept it for up to four days and it was just fine.

Miso Dressing with Watercress Salad

Miso, Carrot & Sesame Dressing

Adapted from Bon Appetit

Makes about 1 1/2 cups

Ingredients

1/2 cup (scant) white miso

5 tablespoons canola oil

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup (packed) finely grated peeled carrot

2 tablespoons finely grated ginger

3 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar

2 1/2 teaspoons sesame oil

2 1/2 teaspoons honey

4 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds

Preparation

Place all ingredients in a jar and shake vigorously or alternatively place in a bowl and whisk until combined.

*If the dressing seems too thick add a teaspoon or so of water to thin it out.

 

Dinner, Potato Salad, Recipes, Salad, Side Dishes

Eggy Potato Salad with Pickles

January 6, 2014

Eggy Potato Salad with Sweet Pickles“Will Drive For Food. ” That’s one of my mottos!  And that’s also the title of the article where I found this tasty potato salad recipe.  The May 2012 issue of Bon Appétit caught my attention because I for one, will definitely travel for food.  Anytime. In this particular article, the authors, Jenny Rosenstrach and Andy Ward, write of stopping at Sally Bell’s Kitchen in Richmond, Virginia, picking up their famous lunch boxes for their drive from New York to South Carolina.  Jenny and Andy describe the lunch boxes as consisting of a Smithfield-ham and iceberg sandwich, a deviled egg, a frosted cupcake, and best of all, eggy potato salad topped with a sweet pickle chip. Doesn’t that sound like the perfect afternoon road trip meal?

Hard Boiled Eggs for Potato SaladThe recipe calls for using only the egg yolks however I couldn’t waste those lovely egg whites so I included half of them in the salad.  The others we ate on the spot, sprinkled with salt and pepper. Yum!

Yukon Gold Potatoes for Eggy Potato SaladYukon Gold or red potatoes work well in this salad. I found some nice Yukon Golds so that’s what I used.

Crushed PotatoesThe potatoes are coarsely smashed instead of cubed.  This makes for a very creamy sort of potato salad.

Pickle JuiceThe pickle juice adds a sweet and tart flavor to the dressing.

Potato Salad Dressing

Eggy Potato Salad with Sweet Pickles

 Eggy Potato Salad with Pickles

Adapted from Bon Appétit May 2012

Serves 6 as a side dish

Ingredients

2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled

1 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/3 cup mayonnaise

3 tablespoons sweet pickle juice plus  8 – 10 sweet-pickle chips

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

3/4 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/8 – 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

4 large hard-boiled eggs, separated, egg yolks smashed finely plus two egg whites finely chopped

1 tablespoon finely chopped red or Maui onion

1 tablespoon chopped flat leaf parsley

Paprika

Preparation

Place potatoes in a large pot.  Add water to cover by 2 inches, add 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium and cook until potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife, about 20 minutes or so.  Drain.  Place potatoes in a large bowl and let cool slightly.

Whisk mayonnaise, pickle juice, Dijon, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and pepper in a small bowl.

Using a large wooden spoon, coarsely smash potatoes, leaving some larger pieces mixed with some well mashed pieces.

Add dressing, egg yolks, egg whites to potatoes and a toss to coat. Add onion and parsley, gently mix to incorporate. Season to taste with salt and pepper.  Cover and chill before serving.

Divide potato salad among small plates or bowls, dust with paprika and top with a sliced dill pickle chip or two.

 

Italian, Recipes, Salad

Chopped Salad with Radicchio & Chickpeas

November 3, 2013

Chopped SaladI have this salad at least once a week, it’s that good.  One of the primary ingredients is also one of my favorites: radicchio. Its color adds a beautiful splash to salads and I enjoy its slightly bitter flavor.  The combination of the crunchy lettuce, hearty beans, savory bits of cheese and salami and a zesty oregano infused dressing is superb. Beautiful RadicchioRadicchio keeps well for a week or so and can be freshened up in a bath of ice water if needed.

Chopped Salad IngredientsPeppered salami?  Why not!

Chopped Salad

Chopped Salad with Radicchio & Chickpeas

Chopped Salad with Radicchio & Chickpeas

Adapted from Nancy Silverton’s Mozza cookbook

2 generous servings

Ingredients

Vinaigrette

(Updated 1/02/14 – a bit more vinegar and less olive oil from original post)

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1 garlic clove, crushed

1 small garlic clove, grated

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

Salad

1/2 head iceberg lettuce, thinly sliced

1/2 head radicchio, thinly sliced

1/2 pint cherry tomatoes cut in halves

3/4 cup chick peas, rinsed and drained

1/4 small red or white onion, sliced into thin slivers

1 1/2 ounces (about 8 slices) peppered salami

1/8 pound provolone or cheese of your choice, cut into 1/8 inch slices

1/8 cup sliced pepperoncini

Preparation

Whisk together the vinegar, lemon juice, oregano, garlic, salt and pepper in a medium bowl.  Drizzle in the olive oil, whisking to form an emulsified vinaigrette.  Taste and adjust seasonings adding extra salt, pepper and lemon juiced if you prefer a more tart dressing.

Combine shredded lettuce, radicchio, tomatoes, chick peas, onion, salami, cheese, and pepperoncini in  a salad bowl.  Drizzle vinaigrette, tablespoon by tablespoon over the salad tossing gently to combine and evenly coat all ingredients.

 

Recipes, Salad, Side Dishes, Vegetarian, Veggies

Arugula Herb Salad with Feta & Olives

October 10, 2013

Herb Arugula saladThis is one of my favorite salads.  It’s full of fresh herbs, peppery arugula, tangy feta, and briny capers and olives.  Thanks to the San Francisco Chronicle for posting their recipe “Cypriot Village Salad.”

Herb salad ingredientsI’ve made this three times in the last month and haven’t tired of it yet.  After chopping up the herbs and tomatoes, it’s really just a matter of tossing everything together then enjoying it with a slice of crusty sourdough, whole grain bread or a hearty sandwich.

Herb salad and sandwich

Arugula Herb Salad with Feta & Olives

Adapted from the San Francisco Chronicle

2 generous servings

Ingredients

2 mini or 1/2 medium cucumber, cut in half lengthwise then cut into 1/3 inch thick slices

1 small garlic clove, finely chopped

2 small tomatoes, cut into bite-size pieces

2 green onions, thinly sliced

1 1/2 tablespoons chopped dill

2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

2 tablespoons chopped mint

1 tablespoon capers

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

juice of 1/2 small lemon

3 ounces feta cheese, cut into small chunks

1/4 cup assorted pitted olives

1 bunch arugula, about 2 ounces

salt and pepper

Preparation

Toss together the cucumber, garlic, tomatoes, green onions, dill, cilantro, mint and capers in a large bowl.  Dress with the olive oil, vinegar and lemon juice. Just before serving, add the feta, olives and arugula.  Toss and season with salt and pepper.

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox

Join other followers: