Category: Salad

Dairy-free · Fish · Grains · Salad

Chickpea, farro and shrimp bowl

Belinda

Bright, flavor-packed Mediterranean chickpea and farro salad with fresh veggies, herbs and a zippy citrus and olive oil dressing. You can add shrimp as instructed here or serve vegan. Lemon chicken is another great option to add.

2 1/2 cup/345 g cooked farro (you’ll start with 1 cup dry and cook according to package, see recipe notes)
2 cups/330 g cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed (canned chickpeas are fine)
10 oz/283.495 g cherry tomatoes, halved (I used different color tomatoes)
1 English cucumber, diced
2 green onions, trimmed and chopped (both white and green parts)
1 large handful fresh parsley, chopped
15 mint leaves, chopped

For the shrimp
1 lb/453.592 g large shrimp, peeled and deviened
Kosher salt
Black pepper
Extra virgin olive oil (I used Greek Early Harvest)

For the salad dressing
Juice of 1 lemon
5 tbsp/ approx 75 ml extra virgin olive oil
Kosher salt
Black pepper
2 tsp/202 g dried oregano
1/2 tsp/ 1.01 g ground cumin (I roast my own)
1/2 tsp/1.03 g sumac

In a small bowl or mason jar, add the dressing ingredients (lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, oregano, cumin, and sumac.) Whisk well, or close the mason jar and shake until well-combined.

In a large salad bowl, combine cooked farro with the chickpeas and remaining salad ingredients (cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, green onion, parsley, and mint leaves).

Pour the majority of the dressing on top of the salad, toss to combine (leave a bit of the dressing, like 3 tbsp or so for the shrimp.) Set aside to allow flavors to meld.

To make the shrimp. Place the uncooked shrimp in a bowl, pat dry with some paper towels. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil and toss to coat.
Heat a skillet or griddle over high heat. Add the shrimp and cook on one side till they start to turn pink, turn over and cook on both sides (4 to 5 minutes in total.) Turn heat off and add the remaining 3 tbsp of dressing to the hot shrimp, toss to coat.

To serve, transfer the farro salad to a serving platter or individual serving bowls. Add shrimp on top.

Cook’s Tip for How to Cook Farro: You can cook farro a couple days in advance and keep in the fridge in a tight-lid glass container. Start with 1 cup dry farro combined with 3 cups of water and a good pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to medium-low. Cover and cook for about 30 minutes. Cooked farro will keep a pleasantly chewy bite.

Dairy-free · Gluten Free · Holiday Food · Salad · Vegan · Vegetable-related

Shaved carrots, charred dates and blood orange salad

Belinda

Crunchy tender carrots tossed in a tangy-sweet dressing meet soft and blackened dates for literally everything you want in one bite.

1½ lb. purple or orange carrots, trimmed, scrubbed, shaved on a mandoline or very thinly sliced into rounds
Kosher salt
3 large blood oranges
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
2 Tbsp. unseasoned rice vinegar
10 Medjool dates
Tarragon leaves (for serving)
Toasted pepitas or pistachios to scatter

Place carrots in a large bowl, season generously with salt, and toss to coat. Let sit at least 10 minutes and up to 1 hour to soften slightly. Pour off any liquid that collects in bowl.

Dressing: Meanwhile, cut peel and white pith from oranges. Working your way around, cut citrus flesh off cores in lobes. Cut each lobe into large pieces and place in a medium bowl; set aside. Squeeze cores over a small bowl to extract any juice (you want 2 Tbsp.; discard or drink any extra). Discard cores. Whisk oil, lime juice, and vinegar into orange juice; season with salt.

Pour half of dressing over the carrots and let sit, tossing occasionally, until ready to serve. Set remaining dressing aside.

Heat a small skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high. Cook the dates, turning occasionally, until blackened in spots, about 3 minutes. Let cool; remove pits.

Just before serving, pour off excess liquid from carrots and discard (carrots will have softened by now). Drizzle reserved dressing over carrots and toss to coat. Tear dates into bite-size pieces; add to carrots along with the reserved oranges and toss to combine. Taste and season with more salt if needed. Top with tarragon and toasted nuts if using.

Do Ahead: Carrots can be tossed with dressing 1 day ahead. Cover and chill carrots and remaining dressing separately.

Appetizer Vegetarian · Do-ahead · Grains · Holiday Food · Salad · Vegetable sides · Vegetable-related

Farro and green olive salad

Belinda

This salad recipe from Heidi Swanson has so many olives that there’s a piece in every single bite.
Each bite holds a bit of chewy farro, toasty walnut, fresh scallion, and briny green olive. Swanson’s dressing is a little sweet and a little spicy, and, put together, it’s an explosion of flavor and texture that’s unbeatable.

1 1/4 cups farro (1/2 pound)
Fine sea salt
1 cup walnuts (3 1/2 ounces)
2 1/2 cups pitted green olives, preferably Castelvetrano, chopped
4 scallions, white and light green parts only, finely chopped
1/3 cup snipped chives
2 tbsp golden raisins
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp honey
Shaved Pecorino cheese, for serving

Preheat the oven to 375°.
In a medium saucepan, combine the farro with 4 cups of water (or chicken broth, for more flavor) and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil and simmer, partially covered, until the farro is tender, about 20 minutes. Drain the farro and spread it on a baking sheet to cool.

Step 2
Meanwhile, place the walnuts in a pie plate and toast for 5 to 7 minutes, until lightly golden and fragrant. Let cool, then coarsely chop.

Step 3
In a large bowl, combine the farro, walnuts, olives, scallions, chives, raisins, crushed red pepper, olive oil, lemon juice and honey and season with salt. Toss well. Transfer the salad to a platter, garnish with the cheese and serve.

Make Ahead
The salad can be refrigerated overnight. Bring the salad to room temperature before serving.

Appetizer Vegetarian · Dairy-free · Salad · Vegan

Tropical fusion salad with spicy tortilla ribbons

Belinda

Recipe from magazine “Taste of Home”
Such a lovely combination on a hot summers day

2 cups cubed peeled papaya
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 medium ripe avocado, peeled and cubed
1 cup frozen corn, thawed or fresh corn, shucked
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
1/4 cup orange juice
2 Serrano peppers, seeded and chopped (I only use 1)
2 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp cider vinegar
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp ground ancho chili pepper, divided
1/4 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 corn tortillas (6 inches), cut into 1/4-inch strips
Cooking spray

Preheat the oven to 350°.
In a large bowl, combine the papaya, beans, avocado, corn, raisins, cilantro, orange juice, peppers, lime juice, vinegar, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon chili pepper, sugar and salt.
Place the tortilla strips on a greased baking sheet; spritz with cooking spray. Sprinkle with remaining chili pepper. Bake 8-10 minutes or until crisp. Top salad with tortilla strips.

Appetizer Vegetarian · Asian flavors · Dairy-free · Gluten Free · Salad · Vegan

10 minute tofu-avocado salad

Belinda

This tofu avocado salad is a no-cook, vegan, healthy recipe with an Asian dressing that can be customized to your liking. Perfect in hot weather! Recipe from food blog, “The Woks of Life”

Serves 2, but can easily be doubled

7 oz silken tofu (200g, or about half a package)
1 ripe avocado, but not “mushy” (I would get 2 avocados incase you mess up slicing it evenly)
2 cloves crushed garlic
1 tsp grated fresh ginger
2 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tsp toasted sesame oil
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp Chinese black vinegar (can substitute rice wine vinegar, lime juice, yuzu, etc.)
1/4 tsp white pepper
2 tsp water
salt (to taste; you may not need any)
1 scallion (finely chopped)
1/4 cup toasted slivered almonds, coarsely chopped (optional)

Start by thinly slicing your silken tofu unto small squares. Also, cut your avocado in half. Thinly slice it crosswise so you get pieces similarly sized to the tofu slices. (See picture)

Arrange alternating slices of the tofu and avocado on a serving platter.

In a small bowl, combine the minced garlic and ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, vinegar, white pepper, water and salt to taste. Mix well to combine and drizzle over the tofu and avocado.

Garnish with the chopped scallions (and slivered almonds, if using) and serve

Appetizer Vegetarian · lentils · Salad

Quinoa, lentil and feta salad

Belinda1 Comment

This lovely recipe is a little different and is from the BBC Good Food website. Try playing with it a bit, by adding chopped Kalamata olives or fresh corn or capers or…

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7oz (200g) quinoa
1 tsp olive oil
1 shallot or ½ onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp fresh tarragon, roughly chopped
14oz (400g) can Puy or green lentils rinsed and drained or a 14oz vacuum-package of lentils
¼ cucumber, lightly peeled and diced
4oz(100g) feta cheese, crumbled
6 scallions, thinly sliced
zest and juice 1 orange
1 tbsp red or white wine vinegar

Cook the quinoa in a large pan of boiling water for 10-15 mins until tender, drain well, then set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a small pan, then cook the shallot or onion for a few mins until softened. Add the tarragon, stir well, then remove from the heat.

Stir the softened shallot and tarragon into the cooled quinoa along with the lentils, cucumber, feta, spring onions, orange zest and juice and vinegar. Toss well together and chill until ready to serve.

Appetizers · Poultry · Salad

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Belinda

Recipe from blog “Just a taste”
I love Caesar salad and I love pasta, so what’s not to like about this?

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Serves 8-10

FOR THE DRESSING:
2 tsp Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
3/4 cup good quality mayonnaise
2 tsp minced fresh garlic
1 tsp anchovy paste
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

FOR THE PASTA SALAD:
8 oz. uncooked pasta, such as rotini or penne
2 hearts of Romaine
Shredded rotisserie chicken or chopped cooked chicken breasts or thighs
Croutons (optional)
Parmesan cheese, for serving

MAKE THE DRESSING:
In a medium bowl, whisk together the Dijon mustard, lemon juice, Worcestershire, mayonnaise, minced garlic and anchovy paste until well combined. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and 1/4 teaspoon pepper then set the dressing aside while you make the salad.

MAKE THE PASTA SALAD:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain the pasta and transfer it to a large serving bowl.

Cut the Romaine hearts into 1-inch pieces then add them and your protein of choice to the bowl with the pasta.

Add the prepared dressing and toss to combine. Add the croutons (optional) and garnish with Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately or refrigerate, covered, until ready to serve.

Appetizer Vegetarian · Appetizers · Fruit · Gluten Free · Salad

Fig caprese salad

Belinda

Recipe from Bon Appetite magazine
It’s not about the number of steps or ingredients in a dish. If you shop smart, buying peak-season produce and quality protein, you don’t have to do much at all (like with this easy salad recipe).

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8 oz fresh mozzarella or burrata cheese
8 oz sweet, ripe fresh figs, cut into quarters
Torn basil leaves (for serving)
Coarsely ground black pepper
Flaky sea salt
Olive oil (for drizzling)

Tear mozzarella into medium pieces and arrange on a platter.
Tuck figs around cheese and scatter basil over top.
Season with pepper and lots of salt.
Drizzle generously with a good quality olive oil.

Salad

Epic summer salad

Belinda

Perfect for BBQs and buffets, this is an assembly job of gorgeous ingredients – no cooking required.
Recipe from Good Food Magazine

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A 14-15oz tin of black beans, drained
2 large handfuls baby spinach leaves, roughly chopped
1lb heritage tomatoes, chopped into large chunks
½ cucumber, halved lengthways, seeds scooped out and sliced on an angle
1 mango, peeled and chopped into chunks
1 large red onion, halved and finely sliced
6-8 radishes, sliced
2 avocados, peeled and sliced
4oz feta, crumbled
A handful of herbs (reserved from the dressing)

For the dressing
large bunch mint
small bunch cilantro
small bunch basil
1 fat green chili, deseeded and chopped
1 garlic clove
100ml extra virgin olive oil or rapeseed oil
2 limes zested and juiced
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
2 tsp honey

Make the dressing by blending all of the ingredients in a food processor (or very finely chop them), saving a few herb leaves for the salad. You can make the dressing up to 24 hrs before serving.

Scatter the beans and spinach over a large platter.
Arrange the tomatoes, cucumber, mango, onion and radishes on top and gently toss together with your hands.
Top the salad with the avocados, feta and herbs, and serve the dressing on the side.

Appetizer Vegetarian · Gluten Free · Salad

Salad of tomatoes, nectarines and labneh with chermoula

Belinda

Fruits (peaches, nectarines, mangoes) are great with tomatoes, especially when there is lemon or lime juice or fish sauce in the mix.
Lovely recipe from Diana Henry.

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SERVES 6
16oz Greek yogurt
1 garlic clove, grated to a purée
2 large just-ripe nectarines
14oz tomatoes, different shades of red if possible
A good sized bunch cilantro
1½ tbsp white balsamic vinegar
3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

For the chermoula
1/2″ cube of ginger, 
peeled and grated
¼ tsp sweet paprika
1 medium-sized red chili, deseeded and finely chopped
Finely grated zest and juice 
of ½ lemon (you might want 
more juice)
2 garlic cloves, grated to a purée
A good bunch cilantro, 
stalks discarded, leaves 
finely chopped
1 tbsp finely chopped 
flat-leaf parsley
6 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Make the labneh the day before you want to serve 
the dish. Line a sieve with 
a piece of cheesecloth 
(or a new J-cloth) and set 
it over a bowl. Put the yogurt in the cloth and refrigerate for 24 hours.
The yogurt will lose moisture, leaving you with 
a cheese-like substance. Help it along by giving it 
a squeeze every so often.
Remove the drained yogurt from the cloth. Season with salt and pepper and add the garlic. Store in a container that you can cover.

Mix together the chermoula ingredients in a bowl 
with some seasoning. 
Taste for balance.

Halve and stone the nectarines and cut each half into four or five slices.

Quarter the larger tomatoes 
(or cut into six or eight, depending on their size) and halve the smaller ones. Remove the leaves from the coriander (leave them whole) and discard the stalks.
Toss the tomatoes and the nectarines in a bowl with the balsamic and extra-virgin olive oil and season.
Arrange them on a serving plate and dot chunks of the labneh in among the sliced fruit, scattering with the cilantro leaves.
Spoon over the chermoula and serve.