COLESLAW

Ingredients:

 

3 c green cabbage, shredded

1/2 t salt

1 shallot, minced

3 T white vinegar, divided

 

1/4 c greek yogurt

1/4 c kewpie mayonnaise

pinch MSG

pinch celery seed

 

1 c shredded carrot, about 1 large 

 

 

Method:

Toss the cabbage with the salt in a large bowl, and let sit, squeezing occasionally, for half an hour.  

 

Toss the shallot with 1 T vinegar.  

 

Meanwhile, mix the remaining 2 T vinegar with the rest of the dressing ingredients in a serving bowl. 

 

Squeeze the cabbage, drain thoroughly.  Drain the shallot and toss it, the cabbage, and the carrot, in the bowl with the dressing. 

SHRIMP WITH ZUCCHINI, TOMATOES & PESTO DRESSING

Serves 4

 

Ingredients:

4 T butter 

2 zucchini, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/2" slices

 

12 oz cherry tomatoes

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 t Italian seasoning, without salt

 

1 lb medium (size 26-30) shrimp, peeled and cleaned

 

Basil Pesto Dressing:

2 T basil pesto

1 T lemon juice

2 T olive oil

Pinch salt & black pepper 

 

4 T Italian Breadcrumb Topping

Method:

 

Preheat oven to 400°F, with roasting pan inside.

 

Once at temperature, remove roasting pan from oven and add butter.  Return to oven to melt.

 

Once butter is melted, toss zucchini slices in it, lightly salt zucchini, and roast in oven for 20 minutes.

 

Remove pan from oven, add garlic, cherry tomatoes and Italian seasoning.  Toss well and turn zucchini.  Return pan to oven and roast 10 more minutes.  

 

Meanwhile, whisk basil pesto dressing together in a small bowl, and taste for seasoning. Set aside 

 

Remove pan from oven, toss shrimp in butter and nestle them into the vegetables, in one layer if possible.

 

Roast 10 minutes, then check for done-ness and shift shrimp around if necessary.  Roast until all shrimp are just cooked through, toss, taste for seasoning and serve.

 

Serve over quinoa, and topped with basil pesto dressing and breadcrumbs.

SUGARPINE DRIVE-IN CORN AND MELON CHILI CRISP SALAD

Inspired by a salad at Sugarpine Drive-In

"Curried Corn and Melon:

Salad of fresh Hermiston watermelon & honeydew with arugula, cucumber and watermelon radish, dressed in chili crisp and lime vinaigrette and served on a base of curry coconut-creamed corn, crispy corn dust."

Ingredients:

Curried Coconut Corn:

4 ears corn, kernels removed from cob

1 c lite coconut milk

1/4 t salt

1 t lime juice

1/2 t curry powder, or 1/16 t each turmeric, ginger, coriander, cumin

Chili Crisp Vinaigrette:

1 T chili crisp

1 t black vinegar

1 t lime juice

1 t soy sauce

1/4 t sugar

1/4 t sesame oil

2 t shallot oil

2 c cut cucumbers

2 or 3 radishes, shaved

3 c balled or cut watermelon and honeydew melon

2 c arugula

corn nuts for garnish

Methodology:

Simmer all corn ingredients together until liquid has mostly evaporated.  Taste for seasoning and set aside.

Whisk vinaigrette ingredients together.

Place 1/2 of corn in the bottom of a large salad bowl.  Assemble remaining salad ingredients on this corn base, top with corn nuts and vinaigrette, and serve.

KALE & BRUSSELS SPROUTS SALAD

Adapted from Bon Appétit, November 2011

Ingredients:

2 T lemon juice

1 T Dijon mustard

1 t minced shallot

1/2 small garlic clove, minced or grated

1/8 t kosher salt, plus more for seasoning

Freshly ground black pepper

1/4 c extra virgin olive oil, divided

1 bunch Lacinato kale, center rib discarded, leaves shredded

6 oz. Brussels sprouts, trimmed, finely shredded with a mandoline

1/4 c almonds with skins

1/2 c finely grated pecorino

Methodology:

Combine lemon juice, mustard, shallot, garlic, salt, and a pinch of pepper in a small bowl.  Set aside to allow shallot and garlic to mellow.

Measure 1/4 c oil into a cup.  Spoon 1 T oil from cup into small skillet; heat oil over medium-high heat.  Add almonds to skillet and stir frequently until golden brown in spots, about 2 minutes.  Transfer nuts to a paper towel-lined plate.  Sprinkle almonds lightly with salt.  Set aside to cool.  When almonds are cool, chop roughly.

Slowly whisk remaining oil into lemon-mustard mixture.  Season dressing to taste. Whisk in 1/4 c cheese.  

Mix kale and Brussels sprouts in your salad bowl.  Add dressing and cheese to kale mixture; toss to coat.  Season with salt and pepper.  Garnish with almonds. 

Variations:

1. If your Brussels sprouts are very small, they will be a beast to shred.  Pulse the kale and Brussels sprouts in a food processor until they’re a consistency you like instead!
2. Replace the toasted almonds with pecans, and add some chopped dried cranberries or currants.

GERMAN POTATO SALAD

From epicurious, now behind a paywall

Serves 6

Ingredients:

2 1/4 lb medium yukon gold or red potatoes

6 bacon slices, chopped (optional)

1/2 c finely chopped red onion

1/2 c red wine vinegar

1/2 c water

2 t coarse-ground mustard

2 t sugar

2 t salt

1/2 t black pepper

1/4 c fresh dill, chopped

Methodology:

Boil the potatoes until done, then cool until you can peel and slice them into 1/4" slices.

Sauté bacon in a medium saucepan until brown.  Remove, reserving 2 1/2 T grease in pan.  Discard remaining grease.  Sauté onion for 2 minutes, or until translucent.  Whisk in remaining ingredients, aside from dill.  Simmer until reduced to 2/3 c, about 4 minutes.  Remove from heat.

Add potatoes and toss to coat with dressing.  Let stand 3 minutes.  Add dill and bacon, season to taste and toss again.  Serve warm.

LENTIL, BACON AND FRISÉE SALAD

Ingredients:

For the salad:
4 slices bacon*, sliced crosswise into lardon-like pieces
½ c. onion, finely diced

1 carrot, diced

1 celery stalk, diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 c. French or Puy lentils
2 heads frisée (baby chicory)

For the vinaigrette:

3 T olive oil
3 T red wine or sherry vinegar
1 shallot, finely sliced
1 T Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste

Methodology:

Cover lentils with water and simmer gently until crisp-tender, then drain, 15-20 minutes.

Meanwhile, fry bacon until crisp and remove from pan, reserving 2 T fat.

Sauté onion, celery, carrot and garlic in bacon fat over low heat until soft.

Combine lentils, garlic and onion. Season to taste.

Toss frisee with half of vinaigrette.

Place frisee on plate, top with 1/2 c. lentils, bacon pieces, and drizzle with remaining vinaigrette.

_____

*can be replaced with shiitake bacon, then add 2 T additional olive oil to fry vegetables.

BEET SALAD WITH FETA

 Adapted from Cook's Illustrated

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lb beets, trimmed and quartered

1 1/4 c water

1/4 t salt

3 T white vinegar

1 T packed brown sugar

1 shallot, sliced thin

Grated zest of one lemon

1/8 lb feta

1 T chopped dill

1 t chopped thyme

Black pepper

Methodology:

Place the beets in a single layer in the bottom of a heavy dutch oven, pour in the water and salt, and bring to simmer over high heat.  Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook until beets are tender, ~45 minutes.

Transfer beets to bowl filled with cold water, keeping cooking liquid in pot.  Bring liquid to boil, and cook down until pan is almost dry.  Add vinegar and sugar, and cook, stirring constantly, until liquid thickens and a a rubber spatula leaves a trail when dragged through glaze.  Add shallot and stir to heat through.  Remove from heat. 

Once beets are cool enough to touch, peel and drain them, and cut into 1/2" wedges.  Add to a large bowl, top with the remaining ingredients, and pour over the glaze.  Stir to combine.

DELICATA SQUASH & RADICCHIO SALAD

Adapted from A Modern Way to Eat, by Anna Jones


Ingredients:

3 delicata squash, halved, seeded and cut into 1/2" half-moons
Olive oil
1 head radicchio
1/4 pomegranate, seeded
4 sprigs fresh mint

Dressing:
2 medjool dates, pitted
2 T balsamic vinegar
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 T olive oil

Top with:
3/4 t za'atar
Crumbled feta (optional)


Methodology:

Preheat oven to 425°F / 220°C.

Toss delicata slices on a half sheet-pan with just enough olive oil, about 1 T.  Rub with your hands to cover, and then arrange in rows in a single layer, each half-moon pointing in the same direction (this makes them easier to flip).  Season with salt and roast in the oven for 10 minutes.  Using tongs, flip the slices and roast for another 15 minutes.  Flip once more, rotating pan, and roast for another 10-15 minutes, or until both sides are caramelized, and the inside of each slice is creamy and soft.

Meanwhile, mash the dates with the vinegar in a salad bowl.  (If the dates are too hard, place them and the vinegar in an oven-safe ramekin and roast with the squash for 5 minutes.  Remove, let cool, and then mash.)  Add the lemon juice and slowly whisk in the oil, so that an emulsion forms.  Pour into a small bowl and reserve.

Shred the radicchio and mint leaves, and toss in the salad bowl with the pomegranate seeds and half of the dressing.  Once the squash is finished roasting, add it to the bowl with the rest of the dressing and toss well.  Sprinkle with the za'atar and serve.


Roasted Squash Seeds:

Delicata squash seeds
Olive oil
Salt

Preheat oven to 330°F / 165°C.

Separate the seeds from the stringy membrane, discarding any dark or malformed seeds.  Rinse and drain well.  Spread on a foil-covered baking sheet, drizzle lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.  Roast for 10 minutes, then stir.  Continue roasting until seeds are golden-brown and toasted, 5-10 minutes.  Cool and store in an air-tight jar.

CILANTRO SALAD

Adapted from 101 Cookbooks


Ingredients:

Shallot oil:
1 1/2c neutral oil
10-20 shallots, sliced in 1/8" rounds

Salad:
1 bunch cilantro, very fresh, chopped
3 sprigs of mint (optional), sliced
3 sprigs of Thai basil (optional), sliced
1/8 head red cabbage, finely shaved

Dressing:
1/4 t. soy sauce
1/2 t. fish sauce
1/2 t. lime juice
1/2 t. rice syrup (or sugar)
2 T. shallot oil

To finish:
1/4 c. peanuts, toasted and smashed
Toasted, ground sesame seeds


Methodology:

Fry the shallots in the oil over medium heat, until they are toasted and deeply golden, 15-20 minutes.  Watch them carefully toward the end, as they scorch quickly.  Drain the shallots on paper towels and strain the oil into a jar.  Store the oil in the fridge.

Combine the salad ingredients in a bowl.  Whisk the dressing and toss with the salad to combine.  Top with peanuts and ground sesame seeds.