Tag: salads

Italian Dressing Mix

You can’t beat homemade dressing. In this recipe alone I eliminated about a 1/3 cup of oil as called for decreasing the oil to 1/3 cup instead of 2/3. I also replaced the salted herbs with non-salted herbs and omitted the sugar. This is a 

Black Bean and Chicken Salad with Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette

In the past I posted a Southwestern Chicken salad recipe and another recipe for Taco Salad. They are simple recipes with very few ingredients. This recipe for Black Bean Chicken Salad is a step up and showcases a zesty dressing that turns the ordinary into 

Curried Turkey Salad with Apples, Cranberries and Walnuts

Chicken Curry Salad

Curry is commonly eaten throughout Asia and the Middle East. The term curry refers to delicacies that are seasoned with black pepper, coriander, curry leaves, ginger, cumin, chili powder, mustard seeds, salt, lemongrass, ginger, five spice powder, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg and other pungent spices and herbs. The spices are heated with oil when cooking to release the aromas.

Ready made curries such as the powder and paste found in the supermarkets are for convenience purposes. Dry curry powder is made up of ground spices and herbs and burns easily therefore it is not recommended when frying foods. The powdered form is commonly used when simmering soups, sauces and in salads. Curry paste on the other hand has a higher tolerance for heat and may be used in fried dishes. The intense flavor of curry paste is a result of the fresh herbs, spices, oil and liquid flavoring such as coconut juice.

The first time I tasted curry was my first year in college. A couple of my friends from Japan invited me over to their place for a Japanese feast. I watched, amazed, as they threw all sorts of spices together in the pot and let it simmer until the apartment smelled fragrant. The curry chicken we ate that day was absolutely divine. Curry is a treat I do not get very often since no one in the house shares my enthusiasm for cultural fare.

When I saw this recipe for curried turkey salad I immediately knew what I was going to make for lunch. I used left over roasted chicken and Greek yogurt instead of Mayo in the dressing. I wanted to slip into my jammies and if I owned a pair of bunny slippers I would put those on too. Then with my bowl of Curried Turkey Salad I would casually make my way to my bedroom, climb into bed and watch an hour of Pride and Prejudice (the A&E version). (Well, I would have if I had a TV in my room.)

Source: PinchMySalt.com
4 cups cooked and chopped turkey
1/2 cup diced Granny Smith apple
1/4 cup chopped celery, optional
1/3 cup chopped sweetened dried cranberries
1/3 cup chopped toasted walnuts*
Curry Dressing (recipe below)

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and stir well.  Serve on your favorite bread as a sandwich or on a bed of greens as a salad.  Serves four to six.

Dressing:
1/2 cup thick yogurt
1/2 cup mayonnaise or plain Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons curry powder**
1 tablespoon honey
generous pinch of salt
fresh ground black pepper

Whisk all ingredients until well combined.

Recipe Notes:
*To toast walnuts, spread a handful of walnuts on a baking sheet. Toast in a preheated 350 degree oven for about five minutes or until they are fragrant. Don’t leave them in too long! Allow to cool slightly before chopping and adding to salad.
**If you prefer less spice in your salad, start with one tablespoon of curry powder then taste dressing and add more if desired.

Modern Take on Chicken Waldorf Salad

When I think of Waldorf Salad I conjure up chopped apples, walnuts, celery and mayo Dijon dressing. Waldorf Salad was very popular with my parents and her parents generations but today with the focus on utilizing fresh untainted vegetables and fruits I was delighted to 

Balsamic Chicken with Avocado and Radish Salad

Sometime ago a friend of mine and I were discussing the cons of eating healthy. We both agreed that every now and then after eating perfect portions of lean proteins, limited carbs and a staple of fresh fruits and veggies we craved a hefty steak 

A Beautiful Salad with Spinach, Mandarin Oranges and Feta

This is a beautiful salad. It would make an elegant addition to any Holiday dinner. The red, green and orange remind me of Spring in Sonoma. The green backdrop dotted with spectacular blossoms. Before we moved there, a friend of mine who originally was from Sonoma suggested we take the scenic drive up. It is really a breath taking site.

Source: Wendy in Texas
8 cups baby spinach leaves
1/2 medium red onion, sliced and separated into rings
1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
1 1/2 cups sweetened dried cranberries
1 cup honey-roasted sliced almonds
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 cup balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing, or to taste

Place servings of spinach onto salad plates. Top with red onion, mandarin oranges, cranberries, sliced almonds and feta cheese in that order. Drizzle dressing over each salad.

Variations:
Substitute feta with blue cheese.
Use sweetened pecans or walnuts in place of the almonds.

Oriental Chicken Salad

The first time I had this salad was at my favorite Chinese restaurant, it has been so long ago the name has escaped my memory. A friend of mine used to order it all the time. It was off menu so if any one wanted 

Apple Feta Green Salad

This is my favorite salad to serve when we have company. It is so elegant and goes with almost anything. Mixed Partisan greens Traditional Feta cheese Cherry tomatoes, halved Cucumber slices Chopped celery Sliced red onion Fuji Apple, chopped Raisins (optional) 1 Good Seasonings Cesar 

Chicken Caesar Salad

Ok, this is not really a meal I cook from scratch, but it is fast and it is our favorite meal. Whenever my husband and I celebrate our Anniversary or Valentines Day or just get a night out together, this is what we want to have. Paired with some apple cider and voila, you have an elegant tasty dinner.

Caesar dressing mix (use white wine vinegar) or ready made salad dressing
Iceberg or Romaine lettuce
Grilled Chicken Breasts, chopped
Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated
Croutons (recipe follows)

Croutons:
Day old bread (1 slice per person)
Garlic powder
Italian seasoning
Olive oil.

Cut bread into 1-2 inch pieces. Toss with olive oil. Sprinkle with garlic powder and herbs. Bake 350 until browned. About 10 minutes. Let cool. Croutons will harden as they cool so do not over cook.

Variations:
-1 rotisserie chicken
-1 bag Caesar salad kit

Greek Steak Salad with Sun Dried Tomato Vinaigrette

This recipe comes from the Raley’s Bel Air supermarket Something Extra magazine. 3/4 lb grilling steaks, seasoned with salt and pepper 6 cups salad greens 1/2 cup roasted bell pepper strips 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives, cut into wedges 1/2 cup sun-dried tomato vinaigrette 1/2