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.
Spicy Heirloom Tomatoes
Topped with sweet corn and a pinch of cayenne pepper, these juicy tomatoes make a wonderful salad.
Ingredients:
3-4 heirloom tomatoes
½ cup fresh corn kernels
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup fresh lime juice
Pinch of cayenne pepper or paprika
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Cotija cheese
Method:
1. Rinse and slice tomatoes, arrange them on a plate. Take a serrated knife and run it gently down the ear of corn. Sprinkle the corn on top of the tomatoes.
2. Drizzle with a little olive oil, squeeze of citrus, top with sea salt, fresh ground pepper and a little cayenne pepper for a kick. Top with crumbled cotija cheese.
Braised Turnips & Carrots
Simmered in rich chicken stock, this dish is finished with lemon juice and thyme for fresh appeal.
Ingredients:
½ pound purple top turnips, green tops removed
½ pound carrots, green tops removed
1 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 peeled shallots
1 cup chicken stock
Juice from ½ lemon
3 tablespoons fresh thyme
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Wash and scrub both the turnip and carrots, then cut into 1-inch-long pieces.
2. Heat butter and oil over medium-high heat in a large sauce pan, then and add shallots, turnips and carrots. Sauté for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until vegetables begin to caramelize.
3. Add chicken stock, and a dash each of salt and pepper. Cover with a lid and turn heat down to low. Let simmer for another 10 minutes, or until stock has mostly been absorbed by veggies. Add lemon juice and fresh thyme, then season to taste with more salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm.
Cucumber Melon Salad with Feta
A true homage to summer, this salad from The Splendid Table is cool, crisp and juicy.
Ingredients:
2 medium cucumbers, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
1½ cups ripe summer melon, seeded and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed
¼ cup mint leaves, torn
1 heaping tablespoon finely-chopped scallion tops
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon high-quality olive oil
¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Sprinkle the cucumber with salt, roll up the pieces in a double thickness of paper towel and let rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Unwrap and pat dry.
2. Rub a serving bowl with the garlic. Add the cucumber, melon, mint, scallions, vinegar and 1 tablespoon of oil. Gently combine. Season to taste with more oil or vinegar, salt and pepper.
3. Top with the crumbled cheese and eat immediately.
Black Radish Cream
Substitute this zingy spread for horseradish in your favorite recipes.
Ingredients:
1 cup coarsely-grated black radish*
1 cup sour cream or crème fraîche
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons fresh oregano or chives, chopped
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Combine all ingredients. Check for seasoning and add salt and pepper as desired. Chill before serving.
*To grate the radish, first trim the radishes from their green tops, and then wash and scrub their tough outer skin. Then, using the large holes of a standard cheese grater, grate the radish flesh on a paper towel-lined plate. Use paper towel to then squeeze any excess moisture from grated radish, then incorporate as described above.
Pepper, Fennel & Onion Relish
Jimmy Nardello peppers lends themselves perfectly to this classic trio—an excellent condiment-style topping for sandwiches, scrambled eggs or even crostini!
Ingredients:
4 Jimmy Nardello peppers, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 fennel bulbs, trimmed and coarsely chopped
1 red onion, or 2-3 Tropea onions, or a combination of the two, peeled and chopped
¼ cup olive oil
Sea salt
Method:
1. Preheat broiler.
2. Toss together all ingredients with ½ teaspoon salt in a large shallow baking pan. Broil 4 inches from heat until vegetables begin to soften, about 10 minutes. Turn over and stir, then broil 8 to 10 minutes more. Serve sprinkled with fennel fronds.
Black Radish Salad with Cabbage & Cara Cara Oranges
An excellent side salad to this week’s flavorful stir-fry!
Ingredients:
4 cups green cabbage, finely chopped
â…” cup black radishes, julienned (use less if you prefer your salad less spicy)
1 Cara Cara orange, peeled and sliced into small chunks
¾ cup edamame, shelled (thawed if frozen)
½ cup honey-roasted sliced almonds
Dressing:
¼ cup vegetable oil
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
Method:
1. To prepare the salad, chop the cabbage, place in a large bowl and add the julienned radish, orange slices, edamame and almonds.
2. Whisk together the dressing ingredients and toss with the salad, serving immediately.
Roasted Tomatillo Salsa
Great served with chips, or mixed into rice, this awesome salsa also makes excellent sauce for enchiladas!
Ingredients:
1 pound tomatillos, husks removed
3-4 garlic cloves, unpeeled
1 small yellow or white onion, peeled and quartered
1 jalapeño pepper
¾ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
½ cup chopped cilantro leaves
Juice of 1 lime
¼ cup chopped green onion
Olive oil
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 500°. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside.
2. After husking the tomatillos, rinse them well in cool water (they can be sticky). Cut the stems and hard portions (if any) off the tomatillos and cut any very large ones in half.
3. Combine the tomatillos, unpeeled garlic, onion, and the jalapeno on the lined baking sheet. Spritz with extra virgin olive oil until lightly coated and toss the ingredients with your hands to make sure they are all well-coated.
4. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes. If the vegetables have not charred, turn the broiler on to high and cook for 3-5 more minutes or until the skins of the peppers and tomatillos begin to turn black. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
5. When the vegetables have cooled, carefully squeeze the skin of the roasted garlic, releasing the soft, roasted garlic clove, into the jar of a blender or work bowl of a food processor. Add the remaining roasted vegetables and then add the salt, pepper, and lime juice. Process until the desired consistency is reached and then transfer to a serving dish.
Rosemary Roasted Potatoes
Easy to prep ahead, these fragrant potatoes are excellent served at room temperature.
Ingredients:
1½ pounds purple Viking potatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
2 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary leaves
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 400°.
2. Cut the potatoes in half or quarters and place in a bowl with the olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic and rosemary; toss until the potatoes are well coated. Transfer potatoes onto a baking sheet and spread out in an even layer; roast in the oven for at least 1 hour, or until browned and crisp. Flip twice with a spatula during cooking to ensure even browning.
3. Remove the potatoes from the oven and season to taste. Cover and chill, bring to room temperature again before serving.
Cucumber Bird’s Eye Smash
A spicy, herbaceous cocktail crafted with this week’s fiery hot sauce.
Ingredients:
½ cucumber, washed and cut into bite-sized chunks
4-6 basil leaves
Dash of simple syrup
1.5 ounces dry gin
Juice of 1 lime
Dash of Cucumber Bird’s Eye hot sauce
Method:
1. Muddle the basil leaves and cucumber chunks in a cocktail shaker along with about a half tablespoon of simple syrup. Add the gin, lime juice, and a few drops of the hot sauce and shake with ice. Strain into a glass over fresh ice and enjoy!