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Know Your Greens

partysugar — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 13:28:39 -0700

No salad week would be complete without a glossary of greens. The base and heart of any salad, greens are crisp, healthy, and when properly paired and dressed, absolutely delicious. Never store leafy vegetables in a wet plastic bag because they will rot quickly. Vegetables need moisture and air to survive, so store in the fridge in a loosely wrapped paper towel in an open plastic bag. When kept properly, greens should store for about 3-5 days in the fridge. When purchasing greens look for brightly colored, perky looking leaves and steer clear of any with brown spots, yellowed edges, or limpness. If you are unsure of the difference between radicchio and red leaf lettuce, refer to my greens glossary which you will find when you read more

Mesclun: A salad mixture of small, young salad greens. It can include lettuce, spinach, arugula, frisée, Swiss chard, mustard greens, endive, dandelion, sorrel. The name mesclun comes from Southern French mescla "to mix." It is also commonly known as mixed salad.

Spinach: With deep, dark green leaves, this vegetable is great mixed with other greens, as a salad, or cooked. It has a slightly bitter taste and wilts down to a much smaller quantity when cooked.

Romaine: A type of lettuce that grows in a long narrow head of leaves. Excellent for salads and sandwiches. Caesar salads made this green tremendously popular.

Red Leaf: A leafy green that grows from a stalk with a decorative frilled red edge. Great on sandwiches or in salads, this lettuce also works well as a decorative garnish to plates of cheese, salumi, and vegetables.

Green Leaf: Another leafy green that is used for salads and in sandwiches. These greens provide a crispy texture and mellow taste.

Iceberg: The least favored salad lettuce is a crisp headed green with light colored leaves that are densely packed. Best served as a wedge with bacon bits and a decadent drizzle of blue cheese dressing.

Arugula: Dark green leaves with a tangy, peppery flavor. Also called rocket, this green belongs to the mustard family, can be used in salads, rice and pasta dishes, and as a topping on pizza.

Bibb: A buttery lettuce with a tapered head and light green leaves. Makes a scrumptious salad.

Radicchio: A bitter green from the chicory family. The leaves have a vibrant burgundy-red color with white ribs. Used in salads and tastes great grilled or roasted.

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Definition: Chicory

partysugar — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 12:01:39 -0700

Chicory
Not to be mistaken for its cousin, endive, chicory is a vegetable with curly bitter tasting leaves that are used as an ingredient in a salad or cooked as greens. The ground, roasted roots are often used as a coffee substitute or added to coffee for more body and aroma.

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What Type Of Greens Do You Use For Salads?

partysugar — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 09:01:48 -0700

Definition: Frisee

partysugar — Wed, 23 May 2007 13:01:18 -0700

Frisee
A green leafy vegetable with pale, delicate, slender leaves that range in color from light yellow-white to yellow-green. The feathery, mildly bitter vegetable is often used in salad mixes. Purchase crisp frisee with no signs of wilting, refrigerate in a plastic bag for up to 5 days and rinse clean just before using.

Wintery Side: Leafy Green Salad

partysugar — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 04:18:39 -0800

A large bowl filled with leafy green salad is a great way to brighten up a drab dining table. Celery and apple add crunch, while shaved parmesan gives a smooth and salty bite. The classic cider shallot vinaigrette is mild, making this salad good for a potluck or holiday dinner. It pairs with a variety of things from hearty lasagna to oysters to steak and potatoes. Get the versatile recipe now, read more

Winter Green Salad
From Bobby Flay

1 small head escarole, torn into bite-sized pieces
2 Belgian endive, leaves separated
2 celery stalks, cut on the diagonal into thin slices
1 Granny Smith apple, halved cored and thinly sliced
Shaved Parmigiano Reggiano, for garnish
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1/2 shallot, finely diced
1/2 cup olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Combine greens, celery, apples, and cheese in a large bowl.
Whisk together both vinegars and the shallot. Slowly whisk in the oil, and season with salt and pepper.
Toss the salad ingredients with some of the vinaigrette.

Serves 4.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: String Bean, Arugula, and Pasta Salad

partysugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 07:50:16 -0700

Tonight go green with this substantial vegetarian pasta salad. It's not only full of green vegetables, but it conserves energy by only boiling one pot of water.

The recipe highlights the fresh flavor and crunchy snap of green beans. The peppery bite of arugula and the salty tang of parmesan cheese play supporting roles. A simple lemon vinaigrette combines everything together.

Serve this delightful pasta on its own, as a side dish, or pack for a picnic. Check out the uncomplicated recipe when you read more.

String Bean, Arugula, and Pasta Salad
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

4 ounces green beans, trimmed
4 ounces yellow wax beans, trimmed
Coarse salt
1 pound curved, dried pasta, such as conchiglie, orecchiette, or other medium curved shapes
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)
Freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 ounce pine nuts, toasted and coarsely chopped (1/4 cup)
1 1/2 ounces Parmesan cheese, 1/2 ounce finely grated (1/2 cup), 1 ounce shaved with a vegetable peeler (1/2 cup)
1 ounce (1 1/2 cups) baby arugula

Directions

Prepare an ice-water bath. Cook green and wax beans in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 4 minutes.
Using a slotted spoon, transfer beans to ice-water bath until cool, reserving water in pot. Drain beans, and cut into 2-inch-long pieces.
Add pasta to the reserved boiling water, and cook until al dente. Drain and spread on a rimmed baking sheet. Refrigerate for 10 minutes. Transfer chilled pasta to a large serving dish.
Whisk lemon zest and juice and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Season with pepper. Add oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking until emulsified. Drizzle over pasta, and toss until well coated.
Add beans, pine nuts, and grated Parmesan. Toss until evenly distributed.
Just before serving, fold in arugula, and top with shaved Parmesan.

Serves 8.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Cobb Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

partysugar — Tue, 06 May 2008 06:30:55 -0700

One of our favorite places to search for wonderful recipes is MyRecipes.com - the site that houses all of the recipes from several great food magazines like Cooking Light, Sunset, and Southern Living. We love the website so much that we've become fabulous friends and they're graciously providing this month’s Fast & Easy dinner recipes!

To get things started, I've found this delicious and filling salad recipe. Here, the classic Cobb is jazzed up with a green goddess dressing packed with fresh herbs. It's a wonderfully scrumptious dinner -especially after yesterday's Mexican food overload - so get the recipe now and read more.

Cobb Salad with Green Goddess Dressing
From Cooking Light

Ingredients

Dressing:
1/2 cup plain fat-free yogurt
1/4 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
3 tablespoons chopped green onions
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons anchovy paste
1 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 garlic clove, minced
Salad:
8 cups torn romaine lettuce
1 cup trimmed watercress
1 1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast
2 tomatoes, each cut into 8 wedges (about 1 pound)
2 hard-cooked large eggs, each cut into 4 wedges
1/2 cup diced peeled avocado
1/4 cup (1 1/2 ounces) crumbled blue cheese

Get more recipes at MyRecipes.com

Directions

To prepare dressing, place first 11 ingredients in a blender or food processor; process until smooth. Chill.
To prepare salad, combine lettuce and watercress in a large bowl.
Place 2 cups lettuce mixture on each of 4 plates.
Arrange 6 tablespoons chicken, 4 tomato wedges, 2 egg wedges, 2 tablespoons avocado, and 1 tablespoon cheese over each serving. Serve each salad with 1/4 cup dressing.

Serves 4.

Nutritional Information: CALORIES 273(39% from fat); FAT 11.8g (sat 3.6g,mono 4.3g,poly 2.5g); PROTEIN 25.7g; CHOLESTEROL 158mg; CALCIUM 196mg; SODIUM 637mg; FIBER 3.8g; IRON 3.2mg; CARBOHYDRATE 16.3g

Like the recipe above? Try out some of these other ones:

- 7 Cool Salads Under 300 Calories
- Dinner Tonight Recipes in 45-Minutes or Less
- Eat Smart at CookingLight.com
- Get More Salad Recipes

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Monday's Leftovers: Grilled Steak Salad with Green Beans and Blue Cheese

YumSugar — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 08:01:31 -0700

Mondays always seem to be my craziest days, work pulls me in multiple directions and the day goes by faster than I realize. This is why I try to make extra food on Sundays. This time it was an extra bit of Grilled Beef Sirloin and I'm pretty excited to turn it into a cold steak salad with green beans and blue cheese. To join me in a simple Monday meal, read more

If you have leftover steak like I do, you can either re-heat it in the microwave, over the stove or enjoy it cold.

Grilled Steak Salad with Green Beans and Blue Cheese
From Bon Appétit June 2001
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1 pound slender green beans, trimmed
6 cups arugula (about 6 ounces)
4 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1 1/4 cups pitted Kalamata olives or other brine-cured black olives, halved
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
3 8- to 9-ounce New York steaks
1 cup crumbled blue cheese

Cook green beans in pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Drain. Transfer to bowl of ice water and cool. Drain.
Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Combine beans, arugula, tomatoes, and olives in large bowl. Whisk 1/2 cup oil and vinegar in small bowl.
Brush steaks with remaining 1 tablespoon oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill to desired doneness, about 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Cut steaks crosswise into strips.
Toss salad with enough dressing to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide among 6 plates. Top with steak strips. Sprinkle cheese over.

Makes 6 servings.

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Summer of Salads: Mediterranean Pasta Salad

partysugar — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:42:29 -0700

Mediterranean-style pasta salad has quickly become one of my picnic staples. It's super easy to make a huge batch and tastes better after the flavors have mixed for a few hours. When making pasta salad, I prefer to employ orzo. There's something about the small, rice-like shape that makes the salad seem modern and more glamorous. This recipe is my own invention: it uses two types of tomatoes, olives, green onions, and feta cheese. The dressing is a simple red wine vinaigrette. Feel free to look at the recipe as inspiration for your own pasta salad. Whatever you do, be sure to make a large batch because this salad is an ideal portable lunch! To check out the recipe, read more.

Mediterranean Pasta Salad
Original Recipe

Ingredients

1 lb. of orzo
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
half of a lemon, juiced
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 small shallot, minced
salt
freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
1 small jar sundried tomatoes in oil
1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives, sliced in half lengthwise
1 bunch green onions, dark greens removed, finely chopped
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
8 ounces feta cheese, crumbled

Directions

Fill a large pot with water and season with salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cook the orzo according to the instructions on the package.
Drain well and rinse with cold water until the orzo is cool.
While the pasta is cooking, make the vinaigrette. Whisk the vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, shallot, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Slowly pour in the olive oil, in a steady stream, whisking constantly to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
In a big bowl, combine the orzo with the tomatoes, olives, green onions, fresh herbs, and cheese. Pour on half of the vinaigrette. Season the salad generously with salt and pepper. Toss well to coat. Add more vinaigrette until the pasta is moistened to your liking. Chill until serving.

Serves 10-12.

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Simple Side Salad with Herbs & Champagne Vinaigrette

partysugar — Sat, 19 May 2007 03:58:19 -0700

In the colder months I consume a bunch of soup. Likewise in the warmer months, my cravings change and all I want to eat are salads. I especially enjoy a salad where fragrant herbs are incorporated as another leafy green. In this recipe, parsley, cilantro, and chervil are mixed in with butter leaves and tossed with a light champagne vinaigrette. It will pair perfectly with grilled meats, panini sandwiches, fish kabobs, and succulent cheesy soufflés. This salad is so delish you'll be making it all summer long. To check out the recipe, read more

Greens & Herb Salad With Champagne Vinaigrette
From What's Cooking America

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon minced shallot or green onion
2 tablespoons Champagne vinegar
1 teaspoon best-quality sherry wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon coarse kosher or sea salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 large head butter lettuce, leaves separated and torn into bite-size pieces
1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, carefully stemmed, rinsed, dried and leaves separated
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, carefully stemmed, rinsed, dried and leaves separated
1/2 cup fresh chervil sprigs, carefully stemmed, rinsed, dried and leaves separated

In a large, shallow bowl, combine the olive oil and shallot.
Add the Champagne vinegar, sherry wine vinegar, garlic, lime juice, coarse salt, and pepper; mix well with a fork.
Top with the lettuce, parsley, cilantro and chervil; toss well.
Mound the salad in individual servings bowls or plates.

Serves 4.

Note: to enrich the dressing, add a little Maytag, Stilton, Gorgonzola or other blue-veined cheese along with the vinegar, coarsely mashing it with a fork. Serve the salad after a main course, accompanied with a sliver of the cheese and some walnuts.

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