salad – Kacey Tess

Watermelon Radish Salad

Ingredient list

Salad:

2 watermelon radishes sliced thinly with a mandolin

1 pear sliced thinly

1 nectarine cut into small slivers

1 fennel bulb cut thinly

2 cucumbers cut into matchsticks

1 tbsp fresh thyme chopped finely

Dressing:

1/4 C champagne vinegar

1 tbsp honey

1 tbsp dried shallots

1 tsp mustard

Salt and pepper to taste

1/3 C extra virgin olive oil

Method:

Combine all salad ingredients and set aside

Combine all ingredients for dressing minus the olive oil in a food processor, gradually poor in olive oil

Combine dressing and salad, enjoy!

This is a salad that will get better with time, so great the next day.

Bibb lettuce salad

Ingredient list:

1/2 small red onion sliced thinly

1/2 C vinegar (I used white wine but white, red wine or rice would be okay also)

1 head of Bibb lettuce ripped into small pieces (I love the living kind)

2 vine ripened tomatoes sliced (I used orange)

1/2 English cucumber slices thinly

1/2 lemon (juice)

2 tbsp olive oil

Sea salt

Black pepper

Method:

Place onions in a small bowl and cover with vinegar. Let onions pickle as you assemble the salad.

Place lettuce, tomatoes + cucumbers in a large bowl

Add lemon juice and olive oil on salad, toss

Top with onions

Sprinkle with salt and pepper

Enjoy!

Thai Quinoa-Broccoli Salad

Ingredient List:

Salad:

1 C quinoa

2 C water or stock

1 head of broccoli chopped into bite size pieces

1/4 C carrots cut into thin peices

1/4 C red onion chopped

1 bunch of cilantro chopped finely

Dressing:

2 tbsp Tamari or soy sauce

2 tbsp rice vinegar

1 lime (juice + zest)

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp peanut butter

Method:

Cook quinoa according to package

(for additional flavor add 1 tsp Better than Bullion to cooking water)

Let cool

In a bowl whisk together Tamari, vinegar,

lime, oil + peanut butter

Mix quinoa with all other veggies

Pour dressing over quinoa mixture

Enjoy!

Shaved Brussel Sprout & Pomegranate Salad

What you’ll need:

2 C Brussel sprouts cleaned and trimmed (I used purple)

(To save time you could substitute 1/2 head purple cababage)

1/2 small red onion sliced thinly

1 pomegranate (seeded)

1/4 C parmesan cheese (optional)

1/2 lemon (juice)

1 tsp honey

1 tsp stone ground mustard

2 tsp olive oil

Sprinke of sea salt

What you’ll do:

Slice the red onion and soak in cold water while you are preparing the brussel sprouts (soaking the onion helps to mellow the flavor a bit)

Seed the pomegranate

In a small bowl combine the lemon, honey, mustard, salt and oil. Set aside

Clean and trim the brussel sprouts

Using a madoline shave the brussel sprouts, as this can take a bit of time with brussel sprouts you can alternativley use purple cabbage to save some time

Combine brussel sprouts, onion, pomegranate and cheese in a large bowl

Add the dressing and mix thouroughly

Enjoy!!

Taco salad with fried egg

I used leftovers from my precious post “veggie burritos” to help make this salad and I loved it! All I needed besides the leftovers was an egg and an orange bell pepper

I used a wheat tortilla then topped it with the guacamole I made yesterday

Then I placed a couple of scoops of the black bean mixture

I then added diced cherry tomatoes and orange bell pepper

I topped that with a cilantro-tomatillo dressing

Then I fried an egg, seasoned it with salt and pepper and places it on the salad

I garnished it with a piece of cilantro and then enjoyed it!! I love when I can get two dinners out of one.

Green papaya salad on soba noodles

What you’ll need:
1 batch of Thai chili dressing (see previous blog post)

2 bunches of soba noodles
1/2 green papaya cut into matchstick pieces
1 C string beans cut into but size pieces
7-8 yellow cherry tomatoes halved
1 bunch green onions chopped (white/light green part only)
1/2 Tbsp coriander
1 Tsp red pepper flakes
2 Tsp black sesame seeds
Sriracha (optional)

What you’ll do:

Bring a large pot if water to a boil
Add soba noodles
Boil for 6 minutes
Drain and place in bowl
Add 1/2 chili dressing
Mix thoroughly
Cover and place in fridge

Mix papaya, onions, string beans, tomatoes, coriander, red pepper and 1 Tsp of black seasame seeds together

Pour remainder of the chili dressing on the mixture
Mix thoroughly
Place in fridge until chilled (15-20 min)

Place soba noodles on a plate
Top with papaya mixture
Garnish with Sriracha and remaining seasame seeds

Enjoy!!!

Rosemary polenta with turmeric white beans

What you’ll need:

1 C uncooked polenta
3 C water
1 vegetable bullion cube
1 small fresh package of rosemary
1 can white beans drained and rinsed
2 cloves if garlic chopped
1/2 jar of marinated red bell peppers
1/2 Tsp red pepper flakes
1 Tsp turmeric
1 Tsp coriander
Sea salt to taste
2 celery stalks chopped
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 bunch of young broccoli (opt)
1 bunch of green onions chopped (light part only)

What you’ll do:
Cook polenta according to directions on package, mine were quick so I brought 3 cups of water to a boil added to bullion and polenta, reduced the heat and wisked frequently for about 5 minutes

Add rosemary and remove from heat

Keep covered and set aside

In a large skillet add olive oil, red pepper flakes and garlic

Let cook for about 1-2 minutes

Add celery cook another 2 minute

Add beans and red pepper, cook until beans are heated through

Add 1 C of water and mash mixture

Add turmeric, coriander and sea salt to taste

Add cleaned, cut young broccoli

Let simmer covered until thickened a few minutes

Spoon the polenta mixture on a plate and cover with white bean mixture

Add broccoli and green onions

I also did a micro radish greens salad with cherry tomatoes and a homemade dressing of red wine vinegar, lemon juice, agave nectar and sea salt.

Enjoy!!!

Brussel sprout quinoa salad

What you’ll need:

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 bunch of brussel sprouts with the stems cut off and halved

1 head of broccoli cut into bite size pieces

1 cup of quinoa cooked

1/4 C dried cranberries

10 yellow tomatoes halved

Sea salt

Black pepper

1 lemon

1 Tsp honey

What you’ll do:

Cook the quinoa according to the directions

Place in a bowl

Heat olive oil over medium in a medium skillet

Add brussel sprouts and juice from 1 lemon and the rhine(remove before serving)

Add sea salt and pepper to taste

Cook for about 5 minutes and add broccoli

Cook for another 2-3 minutes

Add to bile with quinoa

Add cherry tomatoes

Add dried cranberries

Add honey

Mix thoroughly

Enjoy!!!

Greek Salad

What you’ll need:

Mixed greens
1/4 red onion sliced
Marinated artichoke hearts (3-4)
Olives (green, kalamata, ect)
Marinated peppers
Marinated white beans
1 tomato chopped

Dressing:
1/4 Cup Red wine vinegar
1/2 lemon (juiced)
1 TBSP olive oil
Sea salt to taste
Ground black pepper to taste

What you do:
Combine all salad ingredients

Combine all dressing ingredients

Pour on salad and enjoy!!!!!

Greek salad with roasted chickpeas

What you’ll need:
1 head of romaine lettuce
1/2 red onion cut into thin slices
large green olives
1 large avocado cubed
1 cucumber chopped
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
Olive oil
Sea salt

What to do:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees
Line a baking sheet and spread the chickpeas out evenly (for added flavor you can soak the chick peas in white vinegar for an hour before you lay them on the baking sheet)
Lightly coat the chickpeas with olive oil
Sprinkle sea salt on the chickpeas
Bake for 40 minutes until golden brown
Set aside

Wash and tear romaine lettuce into small pieces
Place in a large mixing bowl
Add olives, cucumbers, onions, avocado and chickpeas
Add your favorite greek or balsamic vinaigrette dressing
(The recipe for the dressing I use is below)
Mix thoroughly and enjoy!

If you are wanting to add more protein to this meal grilled or baked salmon would be a great addition on top of this salad.

Balsamic Vinaigrette:
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
3/4 cup olive oil
Juice from 1/2 of a lemon
1 tsp sea salt
1 black pepper
Place all ingredients in jar with a screw top lid and shake until combined.