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Salad

Dinner, Eggs, Lactose Free, Recipes, Salad

Salad Lyonnaise

December 9, 2015

Salad Lyonnaise I first met the salad of my dreams at Fringale  (a wonderful French bistro in San Francisco) many years ago. That dream salad is Salad Lyonnaise, a perfect combination of delicate bitter greens, salty, crispy bacon, tart dressing and a perfectly poached egg.  It’s a simple but stunning salad.

Frisee

Lardons  Our local Safeway now carries Hempler’s bacon; thick, meaty, and perfect for this recipe.  The toasted baguette’s purpose, besides being delicious on their own, is to ensure that every bit of runny egg yolk does not go to waste.

Salad Lyonnaise

Salad Lyonnaise
 
Author:
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • 3½ ounces washed frisee, dark green leaves discarded or use for a mixed green salad
  • 4 ounces extra thick bacon, cut into lardons
  • 4 - 6 baguette slices toasted, lightly drizzled with olive oil and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt (Maldon is a good choice)
  • 1 small shallot, finely chopped
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1½ teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • salt & pepper
Preparation
  1. Place the washed frisee in a large salad bowl. Cover and chill while you fry the bacon.
  2. Cook bacon until evenly browned and crisp. Remove to a paper towel lined plate.
  3. Discard most of the fat, leaving a tablespoon in the pan. Sauté shallots for a few minutes until softened.
  4. Poach the eggs for 4 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  5. Whisk Dijon mustard, sherry vinegar and olive oil until combined. Season with a bit of salt and freshly ground pepper. Add shallots to the dressing.
  6. Add the bacon to the frisee and pour a few tablespoons of the dressing over the salad tossing so that all of the greens are well dressed. Add more dressing if needed. I usually have a bit leftover. Divide frisee into two bowls. Top with poached egg and toasted baguette. Shower with freshly ground black pepper before serving.

 

Dinner, Lactose Free, Recipes, Rice Dishes, Salad, Side Dishes, Tofu, Vegan, Vegetarian, Veggies

Glory Bowl Salad

July 18, 2015

Glory Bowl SaladI bumped into a friend of ours, Lisa Tamaki, with whom I have a shared interest in cooking as well as home canning.  She told me about a new salad recipe she thought I would enjoy.  The dressing has nutritional yeast in it, one of my favorite foods. Lisa’s enthusiasm about the “Glory Bowl Salad” (named for a top ski bowl in Canada) made me eager to try it out right away. Thank you, thank you!

Cucumber, Carrot, Edamame, Snap Peas, Red CabbageThe original recipe comes from Shelley Adams who once owned Whitewater Ski Resort in Canada.  This salad is one of her most requested recipes.  Rachel also posted Sami’s version of this delicious salad.  I followed her suggestion of seasoning the tofu with sesame oil and soy sauce before baking and it adds a wonderful flavor to the tofu. You can use almost any vegetables you want to in this salad.  I opted for colorful red cabbage, crunchy snap peas, cucumbers, carrots and edamame.  Don’t skip the toasted almonds.  They are super in this salad.  The dressing has a fantastic umami flavor due to the generous amount of nutritional yeast and soy sauce, so good you’ll be looking for things to pour it on once your salad is long gone.

TofuXpressI use my TofuXpress often.  It presses out the water quickly.   No more wasting paper towels!

Extra Firm Tofu

Baked TofuIt’s best to serve the baked tofu once cooled, however, you may bake it in advance and refrigerate it until ready to use.  The texture won’t be quite the same (it softens once refrigerated) but it will still taste delicious. Just bring it to room temperature before serving.

Glory Bowl Salad

Glory Bowl Salad

Adapted from Whitewater Cooks & The Conscious Dietician blog

Two generous salad bowl servings and 1 cup dressing

Ingredients

Salad Bowl:

1 cup short or medium grain brown rice

1/3 cup toasted slivered almonds (bake in toaster oven at 300° for about 5 minutes – watch so they do not burn)

1 package (14 ounce) extra firm tofu (Wildwood recommended) water pressed out

2 teaspoons sesame oil

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 ounces sliced cucumber

1 ounce shredded carrot

1/3 cup cooked edamame

3 ounces snap peas

1 ounce shredded red cabbage

roasted black sesame seeds – optional

Dressing:

1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

3 tablespoons water

3 tablespoons soy sauce

3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 clove garlic, crushed

1 1/2 tablespoons tahini paste

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup canola oil

freshly ground black pepper

Cook brown rice according to package directions.  Set aside.

Toast slivered almonds for a few minutes to crisp up.

Press out water from tofu using the TofuXpress or a clean dish towel or paper towels (weighted down).  Cut tofu into rectangles about 1/2 inch thick.  Combine sesame oil and soy sauce in a small bowl. Brush mixture over tofu slices, or toss to coat well.  Place tofu on a foil lined baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 25 minutes (I use my toaster oven).

Using an immersion blender combine nutritional yeast, water, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, garlic, tahini paste, extra virgin olive oil, and canola oil.  Or whisk by hand until all of the ingredients are well incorporated. Season to taste with freshly ground black pepper.

Assemble your salad by placing the rice on the bottom of your bowl, adding the vegetables and tofu over the rice. Drizzle a generous amount of the dressing over the salad.  Sprinkle toasted almonds and roasted sesame seeds over the top and serve with extra dressing.

 

 

Eggs, Lactose Free, Potato Salad, Recipes, Salad, Side Dishes

Potato Salad with 7-Minute Eggs & Mustard Vinaigrette

July 2, 2015

Potato Salad with 7-Minute Eggs & Mustard VinaigretteThere must be a million different potato salads out there in recipe land.  This one, with perfectly boiled eggs caught my attention immediately. It is truly a meal in itself.

Upland CressOur local Whole Foods market carries this delicious Upland Cress.  You snip off just the amount you want to use and store the remainder in the crisper section of your refrigerator.  Because it is sold with its roots still attached, it stays nice and fresh for up to a week.  The tender leaves are delicious in any type of salad.  I especially love tossing them into vinegar based potato salads just before I serve them.

Whole Grain MustardMy sister Mie gave us this crock of whole grain mustard from France.  Lately I’ve been using spoonfuls in this potato salad.

Potato Salad with 7-Minute Eggs & Mustard Vinaigrette

Potato Salad with 7-Minute Eggs & Mustard Vinaigrette

Adapted from Bon Appetit magazine

4 generous servings

1 1/2 pounds baby gold potatoes, scrubbed

2 large eggs

3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons whole grain mustard

1 teaspoon honey

1/3 cup olive oil

kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup flat leaf parsley, chopped

handful of Upland Cress (optional)

1 1/2 tablespoon chopped dill pickles

1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives

Preparation

Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with water.  Bring to a boil, then simmer until tender, about 15 – 20 minutes. The cooking time will depend on the size of your potatoes.  Transfer cooked potatoes to a plate to cool.

Place eggs in a small pot, cover with water and bring to a boil over high heat.  As soon as the water boils, turn the heat down to medium and simmer the eggs for 7 minutes (set the timer).  Drain cooked eggs and cool in a bowl of ice water. Peel eggs and set aside.

Whisk vinegar, mustard, and honey in a small bowl.  Whisking constantly, gradually add oil and whisk until emulsified.  Season with salt and pepper.

Halve potatoes and place in a large bowl.  Season with kosher salt and pepper.  Add parsley and a generous amount of dressing. Toss to coat potatoes well.  Add Upland Cress if using, and lightly toss again. Transfer potato salad to a platter.  Halve reserved eggs and tuck in between the potatoes.  Season eggs with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Drizzle salad with some of the reserved vinaigrette.  Top with pickles and chives.

*If you are not serving the salad right away, hold back on adding the Upland Cress, eggs, pickles, and chives until just before you serve the salad.  You will have extra dressing.  I use it over salad greens or bean salads.

 

 

 

Dinner, Lactose Free, Potato Salad, Recipes, Salad, Side Dishes

German Potato Salad

June 14, 2015

German Potato Salad I have yet to find any type of potato salad I don’t like.  This, however, is one of my favorites.  It features a slightly tart vinegar dressing, and that magic ingredient: bacon!  I stash a bit of the dressing on the side and toss it over the potatoes as they soak up the delicious sauce.  One thing to remember is to make plenty so that you’ll have leftovers. It compliments many dishes and makes the best snack.

Red OnionTo mellow the sharp taste and bring out the sweetness of the red onions, I sautéed them for 5 minutes in a few teaspoons of bacon fat before adding them to the salad.

Celery, Parsley, Red Onion, DillA little fresh dill and parsley give the salad a fresh flavor that is subtle and not overwhelmingly “herby.”

Crispy Bacon BitsIs there such a thing as lean bacon?  I look for bacon that has nicely balanced meat to fat ratio.  This guarantees tasty bits of goodness in each spoonful of potato salad.

German Potato Salad

German Potato Salad

Serves 6 – 8

Ingredients

3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/3-inch thick slices

6 ounces bacon, chopped

3/4 cup diced red onion

1/3 cup thinly sliced celery

2 teaspoons fresh dill, finely chopped

2 teaspoons fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

3 tablespoons water

3 teaspoons sugar

1 tablespoon whole grain mustard

1/3 cup canola oil

salt and pepper

Preparation

Place potatoes in large pot of salted water and bring to a boil.  Turn heat down to medium and simmer until just done, about 6 minutes.  Check the potatoes often to make sure they do not over cook. Drain potatoes and transfer to a large wide bowl.  Season generously with kosher salt and pepper.  I use a flexible spatula to gently toss the potatoes being careful so they don’t fall apart.

Cook the bacon in a large skillet until crisp.  Drain on paper towels.  Remove all but 2 -3 teaspoons of bacon drippings from the skillet.  Over medium heat, cook the onions in the drippings for about 5 minutes, stirring often.  Do not brown the onions.  Transfer the onions, bacon, and celery to the bowl of potatoes.  Scatter dill and parsley over potatoes.

Combine the apple cider vinegar, water and sugar stirring until the sugar has dissolved.  Whisk in the mustard.  Pour vinegar mixture in skillet and warm over medium heat for a few minutes.  Transfer to a bowl and whisk in the canola oil.  Pour some of the dressing over the potatoes, tossing gently to combine.  Season with salt and pepper. The potatoes will absorb quite a bit of the dressing.  Add more dressing before serving.

Lactose Free, Recipes, Rice Dishes, Salad, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian, Veggies

Haricots Verts and Freekeh with Minty Tahini Dressing

April 11, 2015

Haricots Verts & Freekeh with Minty Tahini DressingFreekeh, an unusual grain with a novel name!  The first time it caught my attention was in Berkeley at the Pasta Store.  I like cooking with many different types of grains.  They make interesting side dishes, and in this case, a great salad.  The name Freekeh is a process which means “to rub” in Arabic.  The wheat is harvested when young and green then roasted, dried and rubbed. It has a subtle smokey flavor and a pleasant, chewy texture.  It’s delicious.

Freekeh

Cooked Freekeh Freekeh looks a bit like bulgur once it is cooked.  In fact, if you can’t find freekeh, you could substitute bulgur but freekeh has a chewier texture and more interesting flavor.

Madagascar Pink RiceI included Madagascar pink rice in my salad.  I love the color and texture it added to the salad. This beautiful rice cooks in just 20 minutes.

Haricots Verts

Dill, Cilantro, ParsleyFresh herbs are scattered over the salad just before serving.

Minty Tahini DressingI am a big fan of any dressing that contains tahini and lemon juice!

Haricots Verts & Freekeh with Minty Tahini DressingThis salad is so good I made it three times in a one week period.  I packed it up for my work lunch and tossed the beans, freekeh, rice and walnuts with the dressing just before I sat down to eat.

Haricots Verts & Freekeh with Minty Tahini Dressing

Haricots Verts and Freekeh with Minty Tahini Dressing

Adapted from Bon Appetit

Serves 2

Ingredients

1/4 cup cracked or uncracked freekeh, rinsed

1 cup Madagascar pink rice (optional)

6 ounces haricots verts, trimmed

1 very small garlic clove, finely grated (I used my microplane zester)

2 – 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons tahini

1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh mint (or 1/2 teaspoon dried mint)

1/2 teaspoon pure maple syrup

2 tablespoons coarsely chopped walnuts (I baked them in the toaster oven for 5 minutes)

a few sprigs of dill, cilantro, flat leaf parsley

crushed red pepper flakes

Preparation

Cook freekeh in a medium saucepan of salted simmering water until al dente, 12 – 15 minutes (uncracked freekeh will take longer to cook, 30 minutes or so).  Drain and rinse under cold water; set aside. You will not use all the freekeh for the salad.

Cook Madagascar pink rice if using, following directions on package.  (I make 1 cup of rice at a time and serve leftover rice with mock chicken tofu the following day).

Cook haricots verts in a medium pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes (very thin haricots verts may take just 2 minutes to cook).  Drain and transfer to a large bowl of ice water; let cool. Drain and pat dry.

Whisk garlic, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, oil, tahini, mint, maple syrup, and 1 tablespoon water in a medium bowl; season with salt. Taste, add more lemon juice if desired.

In a large bowl, stir together 1/4 cup each, cooked freekeh and pink rice if using (use more freekeh if you skip the pink rice). Add green beans and toss with enough dressing to coat everything nicely.  Season with salt.  Divide on to two plates, top with toasted walnuts, small sprigs of dill, tender leaves of cilantro and parsley.  Sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes over the salad and serve.

 

 

 

Recipes, Salad, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian, Veggies

Vinegar-Roasted Beets

November 2, 2014

Vinegar Roasted Beets SaladI’ve always loved roasted beets.  I was looking for something a little different from what I have done in the past. These beets are infused with a tangy-sweet flavor after being roasted in vinegar with fresh herbs.  They emerge from the oven perfectly seasoned and add beautiful color to any salad.  The beets are moist, tender, and as Chef Jaime Malone says “they are dressed from within.”

Golden BeetsMana Foods had some pretty golden beets, so with this recipe in mind, I brought a few home and popped them in the oven.

Beets in Vinegar with Herbs & GarlicSo simple.  Rice vinegar, water, salt, a bit of sugar and some herbs and garlic.  It takes just 5 minutes hands on time while the remainder is spent in the oven (I used my toaster oven).

Vinegar Roasted Beets SaladYou could eat the beets alone, with a drizzle of good olive oil and some Maldon sea salt and pepper.  I made a big salad with some homegrown tomatoes and crunchy cucumbers, sprinkled a bit of feta cheese over the salad, and used my favorite dressing.

Vinegar Roasted Beets Salad

Vinegar-Roasted Beets

Food & Wine Magazine

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups rice vinegar (unseasoned)

1 1/4 cups water

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1 1/2 pounds small beets

2 thyme sprigs

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 bay leaf

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 425°.  In a large, deep oven proof baking dish, whisk the vinegar with the water, sugar and kosher salt.  Add the beets, thyme, garlic and bay leaf. Cover the baking dish with heavy-duty foil and roast for about 50 – 60 minutes, until tender, turning halfway through the cooking time.  Remove the beets from the baking dish,  and let cool completely, then peel and slice into rounds or wedges.

*If you have a toaster oven that will accommodate the baking dish, by all means use it.  There’s no need to pre-heat the toaster oven.

 

 

 

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