Green Bean Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette
Tossed with a Dijon mustard and sherry vinaigrette, these beans boast bright, zesty flavor.
Ingredients:
1½ pounds green beans, trimmed
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
½ cup toasted almonds, sliced
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Boil a large pot of water. Add 1 tablespoon salt and the green beans and cook until very tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain and run under cold water to cool. Transfer to a serving bowl.
2. Whisk together the mustard, vinegar, oil, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Drizzle over the green beans.
3. Sprinkle with the almonds and serve.
Charred Green Bean Salad
This simple, satisfying salad courtesy of chef Michael Symon always gets rave reviews!
Ingredients:
1 pound green beans, ends trimmed
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 clove garlic, peeled and grated
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons fresh oregano, finely chopped
â…“ cup olive oil
â…“ cup crumbled feta cheese
¼ cup sliced toasted almonds
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Prepare a grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the hot coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only to medium-high heat.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the green beans and cook at a rapid boil until tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the green beans to an ice bath, then dry on a kitchen towel.
3. Add the green beans to a grill basket and place over indirect heat to char them slightly, about 5 minutes. You do not have to cover the grill. When they reach the char level you are looking for, transfer them to a serving platter.
4. Whisk together the lemon juice, garlic, mustard and oregano in a medium bowl. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking constantly, then season with salt and pepper. Pour the oregano vinaigrette over the green beans while still warm, then sprinkle with the feta and almonds. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Salade Niçoise
A classic from the esteemed Julia Child, this colorful salad can be customized to your liking.
Ingredients:
¾ pound green beans, trimmed
1 pound baby red potatoes
½ shallot, chopped
2 heirloom tomatoes, chopped, or 1 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced in halves
4 cups salad greens
2 (6-7 ounce) cans tuna
½ cup Nicoise olives
3 hard-boiled eggs
3 tablespoons chopped herbs, such as parsley, oregano and French tarragon
2-3 teaspoons capers, drained and rinsed
Niçoise vinaigrette (see recipe)
Method:
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season with salt. Add the green beans and cook for 2 minutes. Lift out with tongs and rinse with very cold water.
2. Return the water to a boil. Add the potatoes. Cook for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a small knife. Drain and transfer to a bowl.
3. As soon as the potatoes are cool enough to handle, peel if desired and slice thickly. Add ½ cup of the vinaigrette and the shallot. With a rubber spatula, gently toss the warm potatoes with the Niçoise vinaigrette; set aside to cool. In another bowl, toss the beans with 2 tablespoons of the vinaigrette to coat them. In a third bowl, toss the tomatoes with 2 tablespoons of the vinaigrette to coat them.
4. On a large platter, arrange the lettuce. Add the potatoes, beans, and tomatoes. Top with tuna, and olives. Spoon some of the remaining dressing over the salad and sprinkle with the herbs and capers. Peel the eggs, pat them dry, and halve them. Garnish with peeled, hard-boiled eggs.
Variations: This recipe can be modified with an array of seasonal produce, it is especially wonderful with radishes or sweet peppers! You can also try substituting the canned tuna with seared Ahi steaks, or even grilled salmon.
Garden Greens with Chopped Eggs
This fresh salad is a lovely use for beautiful summer greens.
Ingredients:
4 cups mixed summer greens, washed and patted dry
½ pound green beans, trimmed
½ pound sugar snap peas, trimmed
4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and chopped
4 anchovy fillets, minced
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons sour cream
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup fresh tarragon leaves
1 cup fresh parsley leaves
Edible flowers, for garnish
Method:
1. Prepare an ice-water bath. Working in batches, blanch green beans in a pot of generously salted boiling water until bright and crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Transfer to the ice bath and let cool; remove. Return water in the pot to a boil, and blanch snow peas, in batches, about 1 minute. Transfer to ice bath until cool; remove peas, and cut in half.
2. Whisk together the anchovies, lemon juice and sour cream in a bowl. Slowly add oil in a steady stream, whisking until combined. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Divide the lettuce greens, green beans and peas among four plates, and top each with chopped eggs and herbs. Drizzle with dressing, season with salt and pepper, and serve garnished with edible flowers.
Smoked Salmon Salad with Shaved Fennel
Tossed with our mustard vinaigrette, this salad beautifully balances tender smoked salmon with shaved fennel.
Ingredients:
4 cups mixed summer greens
6-8 ounces smoked salmon
1 tablespoon French tarragon, finely chopped
F&L mustard vinaigrette
2 bulbs fennel, sliced very thin
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
2 teaspoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 teaspoons olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Toss fennel, lemon zest, and lemon juice together in a medium-sized bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
2. In a small bowl, combine the French tarragon with about 1 cup of F&L mustard vinaigrette; whisk to combine and set aside.
3. In a large serving bowl, combine the summer greens with the smoked salmon and then toss with the mustard-tarragon vinaigrette. Top with the fennel-lemon mixture; season to taste to with additional salt and pepper and serve.
Summery Orzo & Corona Bean Salad with Arugula
This orzo salad is always a hit; feel free to swap your favorite summer produce in!
Ingredients:
1 cup orzo pasta, cooked according to package directions
1 cup canned Corona beans, drained and rinsed
½ cup canned artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped
¼ cup each orange and red bell pepper, seeded and diced
2 cups arugula greens
3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
3 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
3.tablespoons chives, snipped
¼ cup golden raisins
¼ cup currants, plumped in hot water and drained
Dressing:
¼ cup plus 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
¼ cup white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons finely minced garlic
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar and garlic, seasoning to taste with salt and pepper. Toss the cooked orzo and beans with the dressing. Let cool.
2. Add the remaining salad ingredients, tossing lightly to distribute evenly. Refrigerate until ready to serve. (This can be prepped up to a day in advance, though wait to add the arugula until just before serving.)
Baby Beet & Carrot Salad with Herbed Crème Fraîche Dressing
This beautiful salad utilizes both the bright baby beets and tender greens.
Ingredients:
Dressing:
2 green onions, minced
1 teaspoon finely minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
1 teaspoon lemon zest plus 2 tablespoons juice
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon coarse sea salt, plus more to taste
½ cup crème fraîche
2 tablespoons minced dill
2 tablespoons minced parsley
1 pound baby beets with greens (about 1-inch thick)
1 pound slender young carrots with greens (about 1/2-inch thick)1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon minced parsley
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. For the dressing: Whisk to combine green onion, garlic, and lemon zest and juice, onion and garlic powder, and sea salt in a small mixing bowl. Set aside to marinate for a few minutes. Fold in the crème fraîche, followed by the fresh herbs. Taste and add sea salt as needed. Cover and set in fridge to chill. Just before serving, whisk in 1 to 2 tablespoons water to thin dressing as needed.
2. Preheat oven to 425°. Trim all but ¼-inch of beet and carrot greens (reserve beet greens), and thoroughly scrub vegetables. Set unpeeled beets in a small, 2-inch-deep baking pan. Add ½ inch of cold water and cover tightly with foil. Slide into oven and roast until beets are fork-tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Uncover beets, drain hot water, and set beets aside until cool enough to handle. Slice off beet tops and remove skin under cold running water, either with fingertips or a peeler. (Skin will come off very easily.) Quarter beets and sprinkle with sea salt.
3. Halve carrots and cut on the bias into 4-inch spears. Toss with olive oil and a pinch each sea salt and pepper. Scatter on a rimmed baking sheet and slide into oven to roast alongside beets 10 to 15 minutes, or until carrots just begin to curl up and the edges turn golden.
4. While vegetables cook, rinse and dry beet greens, and arrange leaves on a serving platter. Tuck beets and carrots into the greens. Spoon on the dressing, and finish with a few twists of pepper and minced parsley. Serve immediately.
Smoked Salmon Salad with Spring Greens & Preserved Lemon Vinaigrette
Tossed with a Meyer lemon vinaigrette, this salad exudes the light, refreshing flavors of the season.
Ingredients:
1 smoked salmon fillet, chopped into bite-size pieces
4 cups mixed greens, such as Mesclun and spinach greens
Preserved lemon vinaigrette (see recipe)
2 tablespoons freshly-chopped parsley
Olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Chopped tender herbs, such as chives, lovage and French tarragon
Method:
1. On a large serving platter, arrange the salad greens, then top with the smoked salmon and parsley.
2. Toss with desired amount of dressing, then taste for seasoning and add sea salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with freshly-chopped tender herbs of your choosing.
Spring Salad with Deviled Duck Egg Vinaigrette
This salad puts both egg yolks and whites to delicious use.
Ingredients:
2 hard-boiled duck egg whites, sliced
½ pound asparagus, roasted or grilled
6 cups mixed spring lettuce greens, such as sunflower and pea shoots, plus arugula
1 cup cherry tomatoes
Vinaigrette:
2 hard-boiled duck egg yolks
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
¼ teaspoon paprika
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. To make the vinaigrette: In a food processor or blender, purée egg yolks, vinegar, mustard, paprika, salt and pepper until well combined. With the processor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until all the oil is incorporated.
2. In a large serving bowl, toss together egg whites, asparagus, spring greens and tomatoes. Toss with the vinaigrette and season to taste with more pepper as desired.
Fall Green Salad with Apples, Blue Cheese & Dried Cranberries
This beautiful salad is light and fresh, a perfect pairing for fall’s heartier pastas, risottos and soups.
Ingredients:
4 cups salad greens, washed and patted dry
1 cup radicchio, cored and thinly sliced
1 apple, cored and diced
½ cup crumbled blue cheese
¾ cup walnuts
¼ dried cranberries
F&L apple cider-honey vinaigrette
Fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In large bowl combine the greens, radicchio and apple slices. Drizzle about ¼ cup of the vinaigrette over the salad and toss to incorporate, then add more as desired. Top salad with crumbled blue cheese, walnuts and dried cranberries. Add fresh ground pepper over if needed.