We all know that summer and corn go hand in hand, but throw in pickled onions, feta, and avocado and you’ve got the perfect partnership of salty cheese, creamy avocado, and sweet slightly charred corn. This salad was inspired by Esquites, Mexican corn on the cob that is slathered with a creamy sauce, Cotija cheese, lime juice, and chili powder. For this recipe, the kernels are charred in a cast iron pan, tossed together with a zippy creamy sauce, and finished with feta cheese, avocado, pickled onions, and, for crunch, toasted pumpkin seeds. This corn salad is easy to throw together, can be made ahead of time, and I guarantee, will be enjoyed by all.
Read moresummer panzanella salad
Summertime means easy breezy salads as mains loaded with lots of veggies. Traditionally, panzanella is a Tuscan bread salad which utilizes stale day old bread and overly ripe tomatoes. The juicy tomatoes and dressing revitalize the bread, giving it a second life and adding bulk to the salad. This iteration is a mix-up of a Tuscan bread salad and antipasto and is loaded with summery tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, olives, artichoke hearts, roasted and raw peppers for a nice contrast of textures, and creamy mozzarella. Make this salad in advance and tote it to the park, beach, or pool for full on picnic season success.
Read moregreek grain salad
Whether you are entertaining for a crowd or your immediate crew, quick and easy grain salads should definitely be on the menu. They are great to have in the fridge for easy lunches, picnics, or pool side bites. The crunchy and salty flavor profile of a Greek salad is typically a crowd pleaser. To add some nutritional milage to this crunch fest, incorporate protein from fiber-filled chickpeas, and hearty whole grain farro. If you opt to make this in advance and enjoy at a later point in time, combine all the ingredients except the romaine. When you are ready to eat, top your grain mixture with chopped romaine and toss with your dressing. For those of you who are gluten-free, whole grain sorghum is a good alternative to farro.
Read moresummer salad series + escarole, fava bean, and pecorino
My first encounter with a salad similar to this one was at West Village restaurant, Via Carota. I was surprised by the simplicity of it all, yet how flavorful and bright it managed to be. Escarole typically starts popping up at the farmers market in early summer. Aside from white bean and escarole soup, this hearty green typically does not get much of a shining role. For those of you not familiar with this vegetable, escarole is slightly bitter and substantial and looks like lettuce with curly leaves. The dense quality makes it a fantastic addition to soups and stews. In the summer months, when hearty and hot soups are a mere memory, escarole can serve as the leading component in fortifying and filling entrée-sized salads.
Read moresummer salad series: peach, corn, and arugula salad with crispy chickpeas
It is hard to believe that it is already August. Once the 4th of July rolls through, summer always seems to jump into hyper speed. Good thing that my favorite season is just at summer's coattails - fall! Before we enter "pumpkin spice land", let's savor all of late summer's bounty. This salad captures just that and features peaches, corn, and sun gold tomatoes tossed together with peppery arugula, crispy crunchy chickpeas, toasted almonds, and creamy tart feta. It's perfect for a hot summer night or a simple poolside lunch.
Read moresummer salad series: wedge salad with yogurt ranch dressing and smoked paprika almonds
Summer salad season has commenced, and warm weather cooking is focused on easy fare with minimal heat and prep. My body always craves crunchy and fresh foods when the temperature rise, and I certainly try and avoid lengthy time in the kitchen. A classic wedge salad typically features iceberg lettuce, blue cheese dressing, and bacon - tasty but not very nutritious. For a more virtuous spin on the classic wedge, consider this salad which features yogurt ranch dressing and crunchy romaine lettuce along with other vegetables -all topped with smokey almonds.
Read moresummer salad series - farro salad with peas and asparagus
Spring and summer time meals are all about optimizing convenience. Minimal time prepping and cooking, maximum time enjoying the outdoors - Aperol Spritz or Rosé in hand. Grain salads are always my go-to vehicle for utilizing seasonal produce and making a meal earlier in the day (i.e. nap time) and enjoying it for dinner or lunch the next day. This grain salad formula is adaptable to what you have on hand or what you can snag at the greenmarket. If you can’t find or want asparagus or peas, try string beans, radish, grilled zucchini, fresh or oven roasted tomatoes or even corn. The options are yours! If you are gluten-free swap in brown rice in place of the farro and if you are dairy-free, consider kite hill ricotta as a vegan cheese alternative.
Read moresummer salad series: arugula, farro, and dark cherry salad
It's the peak of summer, and produce is at an all time high - along with the temperature. Summer salads are the perfect way to maximize your nutritional intake with fresh and crunchy foods and minimize your oven usage. When making salads as mains, I always try to ensure that protein, fat, and fiber are utilized to provide satiation, optimal nutrition, and a range of textures and flavors. For this summertime salad, toasted pecans, feta, and farro are the sources of protein. Farro, along with all the vegetables and cherries, contain fiber, and the nuts, cheese, and olive oil provide fat to keep you full and to assist in the absorption of the fat soluble vitamins. Keep cool and calm with this peppery arugula, farro, and dark cherry summertime salad.
Read morewild salmon + arugula fennel salad with tarragon yogurt dressing
In the midst of summer, the last thing you want to do is blast your oven for long periods of time. Summertime dietary habits transition to lighter, easier fare, but ensuring that you are getting an optimal balance of nutrients is key. Summer salads loaded with crunchy green goodness and protein are an ideal way to stay nourished and fortified while keeping cool and calm in the kitchen.
Read moresummer reset - mexican chopped salad
It's summer time and we all want to look and feel our best. For the next two weeks, I will be featuring simple, nourishing recipes to help you reset for the summer season. Whether your plans include travel, hanging at the beach, or just enjoying the great outdoors, these recipes will be sure to make you feel clean and refreshed without sacrificing flavor and seasonality. First up - a Mexican style chopped salad with creamy cashew lime dressing.
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