Escarole Salad with Grana-Dijon Dressing
This salad is packed with bold flavor, drizzled with a Grana-Dijon dressing.
Ingredients:
½ head escarole, tip and tail trimmed, sliced lengthwise and then thinly sliced crosswise
1 head radicchio, thinly sliced
½ cup thinly sliced radish
Juice of 1 lemon
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
¼ cup grated Grana-style cheese, plus more for garnish
½ cup olive oil
Fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Combine the escarole and radicchio in a large salad bowl. Toss in sliced radishes.
2. In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the lemon juice, mustard, grated Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and black pepper. Shake well to combine. Pour over the salad and toss.
3. Grate more Parmesan on top and serve.
Radish & Escarole Salad
This crunchy side is enhanced by a rich, briny vinaigrette comprised of salty anchovies.
Ingredients:
3 anchovies
1½ tablespoon red wine vinegar
5 tablespoons olive oil
1 bunch radishes
½ large head escarole
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. To make the vinaigrette, chop the anchovies finely and put them in a medium bowl. Add the vinegar, a good pinch of salt and several grinds of pepper and whisk to combine. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil, whisking constantly to emulsify the dressing. Set aside.
2. Scrub the radishes under running water and trim off the tops and tails. Slice them into thin matchsticks (you should have about 1 cup julienned radish). Put in a large salad bowl.
3. Clean and dry the escarole and slice it into 1/2-inch ribbons (you should have about 5 cups). Add to the salad bowl.
4. Toss about two-thirds of the dressing with the salad, taste and add more if you like. Serve immediately.
Kale & Brussels Sprouts Salad with Maple-Mustard Vinaigrette
This hearty salad is accented by apples, dried cranberries and a tart Meyer lemon dressing.
Ingredients:
3 cups shaved Brussels sprouts
2 cups thinly chopped Lacinato kale
1 apple, finely diced
2 small avocados (or 1 large) diced
½ cup shaved almonds
½ cup dried cranberries
Dressing:
4 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Juice of 2 small Meyer lemons
2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
Method:
1. Add salad ingredients to a large bowl.
2. Prepare dressing by mixing together mustard, olive oil, lemons, and maple syrup together with a fork until smooth.
3. Drizzle dressing over salad ingredients, and toss together until evenly coated.
Carrot Salad with Tahini-Lemon Dressing & Crisped Chickpeas
This crunchy, crisp, and utterly refreshing salad from Smitten Kitchen is a longtime favorite in our kitchen!
Ingredients:
1¾ cups cooked chickpeas, or 1 15-ounce can, drained and patted dry on paper towels
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ teaspoon coarse sea salt
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
1 pound carrots, peeled and coarsely grated
2 cups coarsely chopped parsley
¼ cup shelled, salted pistachios, coarsely chopped
Tahini-Lemon Dressing (see recipe)
Method:
1. Heat oven to 425°. Toss chickpeas with the tablespoon of olive oil, salt and cumin until they’re all coated. Spread them on a baking sheet or pan and roast them in the oven until they’re browned and crisp. (This can take anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the size and firmness of your chickpeas.) Toss them occasionally to make sure they’re toasting evenly. Set aside until needed.
2. Place grated carrots in a large bowl and toss with parsley. Mix in â…” of the dressing, adding more if desired. Add more salt and pepper if needed. Sprinkle with a large handful of chickpeas and pistachios and dig in.
Buttermilk Ranch Potato Salad
Tossed with a plethora of fresh herbs including cilantro, dill and chives, this potato salad is incredibly fresh-tasting.
Ingredients:
3 pounds baby red potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces
â…“ cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
â…“ cup coarsely chopped fresh chives
â…“ cup coarsely chopped fresh dill
¾ cup well-shaken buttermilk
½ cup plain Greek yogurt
â…“ cup mayonnaise
â…“ cup finely-chopped scallions (green parts only)
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
Black pepper
Method:
1. Place 1½ to 2 inches of water in the bottom of a large pot. Place a steamer basket in the pot and add the cut potatoes to the basket. Bring the water to a boil over high heat and then reduce the heat to medium-high. Cover and steam the potatoes until knife-tender, stirring once or twice to ensure the potatoes in the center are evenly cooked, 25 to 30 minutes.
2. Transfer the potatoes to a large bowl. Let cool at least 30 minutes before dressing; the potatoes should be room temperature. Meanwhile, make the dressing.
3. Place the cilantro, dill, and chives in a medium bowl and stir to combine. Remove 3 tablespoons of the mixture to a small bowl and set aside for garnish.
4. Add the buttermilk, yogurt, mayonnaise, scallions, garlic and 1 teaspoon salt to the medium bowl of herbs. Season with pepper and whisk to combine. Refrigerate the dressing until the potatoes are ready.
5. Pour the buttermilk dressing onto the potatoes and fold it in gently until the potatoes are fully dressed. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Transfer to a large serving bowl. Scatter the reserved herb mixture on top.
Honey-Roasted Pear Salad with Thyme-Apple Verjus Vinaigrette
This salad is a stunner!
Ingredients:
1 bunch fresh thyme sprigs
4 ripe but firm Bosc pears (about 2 ½ pounds), halved, cored
¼ cup honey
6 cups mixed spring greens, such as this week’s Wrinkled Crinkled Cress, Claytonia and salad mix
6 ounces blue cheese, sliced or coarsely crumbled
½ cup hazelnuts, toasted, coarsely chopped
Dressing:
â…“ cup apple verjus
â…“ cup olive oil
1 large shallot, finely chopped
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
Method:
1. To prepare the dressing, whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl to blend. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper.
2. Preheat the oven to 400°. Scatter thyme sprigs on a rimmed baking sheet. Place the pear halves cut side down on a work surface. Starting ½ -inch from stem and leaving the pear half intact, cut each lengthwise into scant ⅓- to 1/2 -inch-wide slices. Press pear gently to fan slices; place atop thyme sprigs. Drizzle pears with honey; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until pears are tender, about 15 minutes. Let stand on a baking sheet at least 30 minutes and up to 3 hours.
3. Combine the greens in a large bowl. Add a drizzle dressing and toss to coat, adding more to taste. Divide the salad among plates and place a pear half on top of the greens. Garnish salads with cheese; sprinkle with nuts.
Fall Salad with Roasted Squash, Apples & Candied Squash Seeds
Topped with a maple-mustard vinaigrette and candied squash seeds, this salad would pair nicely alongside this week’s antipasti bites.
Ingredients:
8 cups fall salad mix, or a mix of your favorite greens
1 apple, cut into large matchsticks
1½ cups cubed and roasted winter squash of your choice, such as Robin’s Koginut
¼ cup thinly-sliced red onion
â…“ cup crumbled feta cheese
½ cup candied squash seeds (see recipe)
Dressing:
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Whisk all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl until combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
2. In a large bowl, toss the greens with half of the vinaigrette. Arrange the apple slices, squash, red onions, feta, and candied seeds on top of the greens. Drizzle with the remaining vinaigrette and serve.
Pink Radicchio Salad with Red Pears
This winter salad is incredibly crisp and colorful.
Ingredients:
1 head pink Rosalba radicchio, halved, cored, and cut into 1 1/2-inch-wide strips
1 red D’Anjou pear, cored and thinly sliced
For dressing:
½ cup high-quality olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 clove garlic, crushed
Fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Place the radicchio in a large bowl.
2. To prepare vinaigrette: Whisk olive oil, balsamic vinegar and garlic together, seasoning with fresh ground pepper to taste.
3. Drizzle about half of the vinaigrette over the salad and toss to incorporate, then add more as desired. Top salad with the pear slices. Add more fresh ground pepper over if needed.
Variations: Feel free toss in a few handfuls of arugula, toasted pecans and even crumbled blue cheese into this salad to make it a main course dish.
Cara Cara Orange & Sunflower Shoot Salad
This crisp, citrus-kissed salad is both bold in flavor and beautiful in presentation.
Ingredients
- 1 Cara Cara orange
- ½ pound sunflower shoots
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 fennel bulbs, quartered, cored and thinly sliced, plus a handful of the fronds
Vinaigrette
- 1 shallot, peeled and minced
- â…“ cup freshly squeezed juice from a Cara Cara orange
- â…“ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ¾ cup olive oil
- Sea salt salt and fresh ground pepper
Method
- Spread the salad greens out on a large, round serving platter to make a bed.
- Using a sharp paring knife, cut the tops and bottoms off the orange. Stand oranges up and slice to remove the peel and membrane. Then, slice oranges crosswise into thin wheels.
- Arrange the orange on top of the salad greens, overlapping the slices slightly. Then layer on the fennel slices. Scatter the onion slices on top of the salad.
- Drizzle vinaigrette over the salad and then season with ground pepper if desired.
Lemon-Garlic Kale Salad
Tossed with a sweet-tart citrus dressing, this salad is fresh and bright and pairs nicely with just about any main dish.
Ingredients:
1 large bunch Lacinato kale, greens removed from thick stems, washed and patted dry
1 cup slivered almonds
â…“ cup lemon juice
1½ cups olive oil
4 garlic cloves, peeled and left whole
Sea salt
Method:
1. In a small skillet, toast almonds until golden brown and fragrant. Set aside to cool.
2. In a bowl, combine the lemon juice and 1 heaping teaspoon salt. Slowly whisk in the olive oil. Using the flat side of a knife, crush the garlic cloves and add to the dressing, setting aside to steep.
3. Working in batches, cut the kale into thin ribbons and place in a large bowl. Sprinkle with the almonds. Remove and discard garlic cloves from dressing. Pour half the dressing over the salad and toss. Taste for both dressing and salt, adding more as needed. Serve within 1 hour.