This is a great summer recipe because it’s light, cool and refreshing. Be liberal with your use of the fresh mint and cilantro…it brings a ton of flavor to the salad!

I’ve made this salad with different types of rice noodles, and rice sticks work as well as rice vermicelli. Whatever type of rice noodles you use, cook them according to the directions on the package (soaking the noodles in hot water like the recipe states didn’t cook them enough). After the noodles are cooked and drained, I like to toss them with some of the dressing. Then I layer the chicken, shredded carrots, fresh herbs and chopped peanuts on top of the noodles and drizzle with more dressing. Sometimes I add a dash or two of soy sauce for a little extra flavor. Enjoy!

Five-Spice Chicken Noodle Salad
-recipe from Sunset Magazine (June 2010)

Like a cross between a noodle bowl and a salad, this dish is low in fat and has a kick. Yield:  Serves 4

2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 teaspoons Chinese five-spice powder
1 teaspoon sugar
4 boned, skinned chicken breast halves
1 package (6 oz.) rice vermicelli
1 cup coarsely shredded carrots
1/2 cup cilantro
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
1/4 cup crushed peanuts
Chile Lime Dressing (recipe below)

1. Heat grill to medium (350° to 450°).

2. Mix soy sauce, oil, five-spice powder, and sugar in a shallow dish. Turn chicken in marinade and let stand 5 to 10 minutes.

3. Heat a large pot of water to boiling.

4. Drain chicken, discarding marinade. Oil cooking grate, using tongs and a wad of oiled paper towels. Grill chicken, covered, turning once, until cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes.

5. Add vermicelli to pot of water and turn off heat. Let stand until soft, 5 to 10 minutes; drain.

6. Divide noodles among dinner bowls. Thickly slice chicken, set on noodles, and top with carrots, herbs, and peanuts. Serve with dressing.

Chile Lime Dressing
-recipe from Sunset Magazine (June 2010)

This recipe goes with Five-Spice Chicken Noodle Salad. Yield:  Makes 1 cup.

1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup unseasoned rice vinegar
1/4 cup Vietnamese or Thai fish sauce
6 tablespoons lime juice
1 to 2 tablespoons minced red or green jalapeño chile

Mix 1/2 cup hot water and the sugar in a small bowl until sugar dissolves. Stir in remaining ingredients.

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Tags: Asian, carrots, Chicken, Chinese five-spice, cilantro, fish sauce, jalapeno, lime juice, mint, peanuts, rice vermicelli, rice vinegar, Salad, soy sauce

Feta Wheat-Berry Salad, which is basically a Greek salad with the addition of wheat berries, is one of my favorite summer recipes. Wheat berries are whole kernels of wheat without the hull, are an excellent source of fiber, and have a chewy texture when cooked. My folks went through a health food kick when I was growing up so Mom snuck wheat berries into a variety of foods (homemade bread, casseroles, hot cereal, etc.).

I pretty much follow the recipe for the salad except for reducing the amount of red onions to 1/4 cup, substituting 1/2 cup fresh red bell peppers for the roasted peppers, and increasing the olives to 1/3 cup (I use kalamata olives). For the veggies, I chop them into small pieces (instead of julienning), and I usually just use Italian parsley (not a blend of herbs). I always let the cooked wheat berries cool before making the salad. Enjoy!

Feta Wheat-Berry Salad
-recipe from Gourmet Magazine

Yield: Serves 4 to 6

1 cup wheat, spelt, or rye berries (available at natural foods stores)
1/2 cup diced Feta (about 2 ounces)
1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion (I use 1/4 cup)
1/2 cup julienne strips of seedless cucumber
5 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup julienne strips of drained bottled roasted red pepper (I use 1/2 cup fresh red bell pepper)
1/4 cup mixed minced fresh herbs such as parsley, mint, and dill plus herb sprigs for garnish
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, or to taste
1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar
1 tablespoon chopped pitted brine-cured black olives (I use 1/3 cup chopped Kalamata olives)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 garlic clove, minced
dried hot red pepper flakes to taste

In a kettle of boiling salted water cook the wheat berries for 1 hour, or until they are tender, and drain them. In a large bowl stir together the wheat berries, the Feta, the onion, the cucumber, the oil, the roasted pepper, the minced herbs, the lemon juice, the vinegar, the olives, the cumin, the garlic, the red pepper flakes, and salt to taste and garnish the salad with the herb sprigs.

Tags: black olives, cucumber, cumin, Feta cheese, garlic, lemon juice, parsley, red bell pepper, red onion, red wine vinegar, Salad, Side Dish, wheat berry

This salad is soooo good! I love the mixture of citrus, soy sauce and sesame oil for the dressing, and the combination of moist chicken, crunchy vegetables and tender greens…delicious! I made it for my Mom’s birthday luncheon recently and everybody loved it (especially Mom)!

I substituted fresh spinach for the watercress, and added some Sriracha Hot Chile Sauce to the dressing for a little kick. To make the salad a meal, I served it with a variety of spring rolls that I got at Trader Joe’s. Yumm!

For other recipe ideas, check out: Friday Favorites, Foodie Friday, Finer Things Friday, Friday Food, It’s a Hodgepodge Friday.

Chicken Salad with Crunchy Vegetables and Sesame Ginger Vinaigrette
-recipe from Fresh Every Day: More Great Recipes From Foster’s Market by Sara Foster

I’m always looking for new ways to satisfy my customers’ insatiable appetites for chicken salad. This one can be made several hours in advance, so it’s the perfect thing to take to the office for lunch or on a picnic. If you like to eat lots of vegetables, toss in a handful of shredded savoy or napa cabbage, snow peas, or julienned carrots for more crunch.

Serves 4 to 6.

4 cups shredded cooked chicken (one 3 1/2 to 4-pound roasted chicken)
2 ribs bok choy or celery stalks, sliced on the diagonal into 1/4″ pieces
1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and diced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 scallions, minced (white and green parts)
Sesame Ginger Vinaigrette (recipe follows)
2 cups watercress, washed and trimmed of tough stems
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Combine the chicken, bok choy or celery, red pepper, cilantro, scallions, and 1/2 cup of the vinaigrette in a large bowl and toss to mix. Add the watercress and more vinaigrette to taste. Season with salt and pepper and toss again gently. Divide the salad evenly among individual plates or place on a large platter and serve immediately.

Note: If you make this salad to serve later, add the watercress and toss with the dressing just before serving.

Sesame Ginger Vinaigrette

Makes about 1 cup

Grated zest and juice of 1 orange
2 tablespoons light soy sauce or tamari
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger (about 1 2″ piece)
2 scallions, minced (white and green parts)
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
1/2 cup canola or safflower oil
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

Stir the orange zest and juice, soy sauce, vinegar, honey, ginger, scallions, and garlic together in a small bowl. Slowly whisk in the sesame and canola oils until they are incorporated. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the sesame seeds just before serving. Refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to serve for up to 1 week.

Tags: bok choy, Chicken, cilantro, ginger, honey, orange juice, rice wine vinegar, Salad, sesame oil, sesame seeds, sesame vinaigrette, soy sauce

Here’s a delicious, summery salad that is perfect for your next potluck: roasted red potatoes and crisp-tender green beans tossed in a flavorful rosemary dressing. Yumm!!!

For the dressing, I add a little Dijon mustard for extra flavor and a bit of sugar to soften up the acidity. Also, I roast the potatoes until they are nicely browned, which can take longer than 30 minutes (depending on the size of the potato chunks). I use the ice water that the onions soaked in to cool the cooked green beans. The salad is also really good with the addition of crumbled feta, blue cheese or goat cheese. Enjoy!

For other recipes, check out: Ultimate Recipe Swap hosted by Life As Mom.

Green Bean, Red Onion and Roast Potato Salad with Rosemary Vinaigrette
-recipe adapted from Gourmet Magazine

Serves 8 to 10

3 pounds red boiling potatoes
2/3 cup olive oil
1 garlic clove
1/4 cup red-wine vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves or 1 teaspoon crumbled dried, plus rosemary sprigs for garnish
1 red onion, halved lengthwise and sliced thin lengthwise
2 pounds green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
24 Kalamata or Niçoise olives, pitted and halved

Halve the potatoes, unpeeled, and cut them into 1-inch wedges. Add 1/3 cup of oil to a large roasting pan then add the potatoes, tossing them to coat them with the oil, and roast them, stirring them every 10 minutes, for 30 minutes, or until they are tender in a preheated 425 degree oven. Let the potatoes cool in the pan.

In a blender purée the garlic, the vinegar, the rosemary leaves, and salt to taste, with the motor running add the remaining 1/3 cup oil in a stream, and blend the dressing until it is emulsified.

In a small bowl of ice and cold water let the onion soak for 5 minutes, drain it well, and pat it dry.

In a kettle of boiling salted water boil the green beans for 5 minutes, or until they are crisp-tender, and drain them in a colander. Refresh the beans under cold water and pat them dry.

In a very large bowl combine the potatoes, the onion, the green beans, and the olives, add the dressing, and toss the salad gently. Serve the salad, garnished with the rosemary sprigs, at room temperature.

Tags: green beans, kalamata olives, potato salad, potatoes, red onion, rosemary, Salad, Side Dish

I’ve been making different types of corn and bean salad for years (usually my own concoctions). I came across this particular recipe recently and thought I’d give it a try. It’s quick, easy and very tasty. Based on what I had on hand, I substituted 1 chopped canned chipotle pepper for the jalapeno and used pinto beans instead of Great Northern beans. Kidney beans would work well, too, or you can just use all black beans.  I think the recipe makes closer to 6 servings than 8. This salad would also make a good “dip” for tortilla chips (choose a sturdy chip that won’t crumble on contact).

For more recipe ideas, check out Ultimate Recipe Swap.

Two-Bean and Corn Salad
-recipe from epicurious.com

Yield: Makes 8 servings

1/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 15 1/2-ounce can Great Northern beans, rinsed, drained
1 15 1/2-ounce can black beans, rinsed, drained
3 celery stalks, chopped
2 cups frozen corn kernels, thawed
1 medium-size red bell pepper, chopped
1 cup chopped red onion
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 small jalapeño chilies, seeded, chopped

Whisk oil, vinegar, and cumin in large bowl to blend. Add remaining ingredients and toss to coat. Season salad with salt and pepper. Let stand at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours, tossing occasionally.

Tags: bean and corn salad, black beans, corn, Salad, Side Dish

It’s summertime and prime salad-eating weather. Sure, you can buy store-bought croutons to add to your salad but I challenge you to take a few minutes and make your own. I promise you, once you see how easy it is to make them and how good they are, you’ll never buy the store-bought kind again. Well, maybe you will but they won’t compare to this homemade version! I make these croutons all the time. They also make a tasty garnish for soup, and they’re a  creative  hostess gift when packaged in a pretty jar or bag. Who wouldn’t love to receive homemade croutons? 

I find that a dense artisan bread makes the best croutons (not the fluffy loaves of French bread that major grocery stores carry in their bakeries). Sourdough bread also works really well. The recipe calls for 3 cups of cubed bread but I use 4 cups. The croutons usually take longer than 15 minutes to bake. I check them around 15 minutes, taste one, add more salt if needed, and continue baking them until they’re golden and crunchy. The croutons will be good for about a week if kept in an airtight container.

Homemade Croutons
-recipe from epicurious.com

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, halved
3 cups 3/4-inch cubes of Italian or French bread

Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a small saucepan melt the butter with the oil, the garlic, and salt and pepper to taste over moderately low heat. Remove the mixture from the heat, let it stand for 10 minutes, and discard the garlic. In a bowl toss the bread cubes with the butter mixture, spread them on a baking sheet, and bake them in the middle of the oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they are golden. The croutons may be made 1 day in advance and kept in an airtight container.

Tags: bread, croutons, garlic, olive oil, Salad

Wow…this salad is good! The dressing is smoky, slightly sweet and slightly spicy with a nice tang from the balsamic vinegar. I love the combination of southwestern flavors: cilantro, chipotle, avocado, red onion, corn.

I used a mixture of baby romaine and regular romaine lettuces. Other good additions to the salad would be chopped red pepper, diced tomato or sliced green olives. Handy Hint: Since the recipe only calls for 1 chipotle chile, you can freeze the remaining chiles and sauce. I put a piece of wax paper on a cookie sheet, then I place 1 or 2 chiles in a mound and spoon a little adobo sauce over them. Continue this with the remaining chiles then put the cookie sheet in the freezer. Once frozen, remove the little chipotle mounds from the wax paper and seal in a freezer baggy or plastic container. Keep frozen and thaw out what you need when a recipe calls for chipotle chiles.

Baby Romaine Salad with Spicy Chicken & Warm Chipotle Vinaigrette
-recipe from Fine Cooking Magazine

Serves four.

6 oz. baby romaine, washed and spun dry (about 8 loosely packed cups)
1/4 lb. iceberg lettuce, thinly sliced, washed and spun dry (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves
1 chipotle chile (from a can of chipotles in adobo sauce), chopped, plus 2 Tbs. adobo sauce
3 oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
2 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
2 tsp. light brown sugar
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/2 cup plus 3 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbs. all-purpose flour
2 Tbs. fine cornmeal (preferably white)
1 Tbs. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1-1/4 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 3 small), cut crosswise into 1-inch-thick strips
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced into half moons
1 ripe avocado, cut into 3/4-inch dice
1-1/2 cups cooked fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels (from about 2 ears)
1 lime, cut into quarters

Toss the romaine, iceberg, and half of the cilantro in a large bowl. In a blender or food processor, purée the chipotle chile and adobo sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, vinegar, brown sugar, and mustard. With the machine running, slowly pour in 1/2 cup of the oil. Transfer to a measuring cup; season to taste with salt and pepper.

In a shallow dish, mix the flour, cornmeal, chili powder, and cumin with 1-1/2 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. black pepper. Season the chicken with 1 tsp. salt and then dredge in the flour mixture.

Heat 2 Tbs. of the remaining oil in a heavy nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until it’s shimmering, about 1 minute. Add half of the chicken strips, evenly spaced, and cook without touching for 2 min. Flip and cook until the strips are just cooked through and firm to the touch, 1 to 2 min. Transfer to a large plate lined with ­paper towels and sprinkle with salt. Reduce the heat to medium, add the remaining 1 Tbs. oil, and cook the remaining strips in the same manner.

Discard the fat from the pan and wipe it clean with paper ­towels. Set the pan over low heat, add the vinaigrette, and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon or spatula, until warmed through, about 1 min. Return the vinaigrette to a liquid measuring cup and whisk to recombine.

Gently toss the greens with about 14 cup of the vinaigrette or enough to lightly coat. Portion among four plates and top with the chicken, onion, avocado, corn, and the remaining 1/4 cup cilantro. Drizzle with some of the remaining vinaigrette (you may not need it all) and serve with lime wedges on the side for squeezing over the salads.

Tags: chicken salad, chipotle, romaine, Salad, spicy

Husband will eat salad but it’s never something he gets too jazzed about. He likes veggies, he knows they’re good for him, but I’ve never known him to crave a salad (or at least he’s never admitted to it). He was quite intrigued, however, when I told him one night that we’re were having Steak Salad for dinner using a leftover piece of steak from the previous night’s meal. Steak two nights in a row…you should’ve seen the look of delight on his face!! This recipe was a cinch to throw together and it tasted great. The dressing is a basic vinaigrette, which is fine on its own but could easily be jazzed up with a teaspoon or so of Dijon mustard and some fresh herbs. I really liked the mixture of salad ingredients: tender steak, tangy blue cheese, red onions, vine-ripened tomatoes, mixed baby greens…how could you possible go wrong with that combo? For the greens, I just used what I had in the fridge (baby greens and a romaine/iceberg salad mix). The substituted greens were fine and it saved me a trip to the store. Add a loaf of crusty bread and you’ve got a delicious light meal!

Steak Salad
-Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis - foodnetwork.com
4 servings 

1/2 head romaine lettuce, cut into bite-size pieces
1 large head Belgian endive, thinly sliced crosswise (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced into rings
3 cups fresh baby arugula
12 cherry tomatoes, halved
4 ounces Gorgonzola, coarsely crumbled
Red Wine Vinaigrette, recipe follows
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound steak (such as New York, rib-eye or filet mignon), pan-fried or grilled and chilled
 
In a large bowl, combine the romaine lettuce, Belgian endive, red onion, baby arugula and cherry tomatoes, and half of the cheese. Toss the salad with enough vinaigrette to coat. Season the salad with salt and pepper, to taste. Arrange the salad on a platter.

Cut the steaks crosswise into thin slices. Arrange the steak slices atop the salad and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Drizzle more vinaigrette over the steak slices and serve.

Red Wine Vinaigrette:
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 cup olive oil

Mix the vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper in a blender. With the machine running, gradually blend in the oil. Yield: 1 2/3 cups

Tags: gorgonzola, Salad, steak, vinaigrette