Contents
Guide
Introduction
Salads have undergone a remarkable resurgence in recent years. Once associated with limp lettuce and soggy tomatoes, they have cast off their reputation as rabbit food, and are now recognized as delicious dishes in their own right.
The sheer variety of recipes in Salads and Dressings proves just how versatile and exciting the humble salad can be. Offering up more than 100 dishes, from Middle Eastern tabboulehs to traditional French classics, this eBook provides salad inspiration for every occasion. Light summer lunches stand alongside rustic winter warmers; traditional flavor pairings are complemented by foods and spices you may have never tried before.
All this doesnt mean that the recipes in this eBook are complex or time-consuming. On the contrary, Salads and Dressings comes complete with tips on creating instant salad meals using no-cook ingredients, as well as advice on turning almost any salad into an on-the-go packed lunch.
Since no salad is complete without a dressing, the last chapter in this eBook provides a handful of dedicated dressing recipes to inspire you, and also shows you how to mix up your own flavor pairings.
Instant or leisurely, simple or decadent, classic or contemporarya salad can suit any occasion.
Instant salads
When time is short, salads can be the perfect mealtime choice. Stock up on a selection of raw and precooked foods, and youll be able to throw together a nutritious meal in minutes.
Using raw foods
Quick to prepare and serve, raw salad ingredients are far more nutritious than their cooked counterparts. This is because cooking can significantly reduce vitamin and antioxidant levels in many foods, including vegetables and nuts. You do not need to adopt a fully raw diet and forgo cooking entirely; incorporating just a few raw items into your meals can provide a great health boost.
Fruit and vegetables
When it comes to produce, fresh is best. Baby varieties of vegetables such as zucchini, carrots, and leeks are ideal, as they tend to be both sweeter and easier to digest. Keep in the fridge, preferably stored in a paper bag, as plastic bags make vegetables sweat.
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Nuts and seeds
A handful of crunchy chopped walnuts or jewel-like pomegranate seeds can round out any salad dish. Some of the recipes in this eBook call for nuts to be roasted or dry-fried before serving, but you can skip that step and sprinkle them raw over the dish if you prefer.
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Using precooked foods
Round out a salad in no time with a selection of precooked foods from your fridge and pantry. Smoked fish, cured meats, and rich cheeses provide a particularly special depth of flavor to any meal, while a can of pulses or grains instantly adds bulk and fiber.
Smoked fish
Smoking imparts a delicious woody flavor to fish such as salmon, trout, and mackerel. It can be bought fresh or vacuum-packed, and you only need to flake a little over each salad to make an impact. Vacuum-packed smoked fish should be consumed within 2 days of opening. If bought loose, eat within 4 days.
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Cooked and cured meats
Buy cooked meats from a delicatessen wherever possible, as these will be fresher and tastier than their prepackaged counterparts. Salted, dried, and smoked meats are also available from delicatessens. Keep all cooked and cured meat stored in the fridge, well away from raw meat, and use within 35 days.
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Cheese
Use traditionally made cheeses for salads rather than cheaper packaged cheesethe flavor is far richer, meaning you dont need to use as much. If you have time, allow refrigerated cheese to come up to room temperature before serving.
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Canned grains and pulses
Canned grains and pulses are precooked and stored in liquid, meaning they are ready to eat right away. Choose varieties that have been stored in water. Once opened, canned grains and pulses should be transferred to a nonmetallic container, refrigerated, and used within 2 days.
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On-the-go salads
Adapting a salad recipe into a portable meal, ready to take with you to work or school, couldnt be easier. Follow these steps to create a lunchbox-ready salad that remains as fresh and crisp as the moment you assembled it.
Layering components
Building an on-the-go salad requires separating ingredients into , then adding them into your on-the-go container in a certain order. Keep liquids and heavy components at the bottom, topped by lighter items that you wish to remain crisp.
Choose your container
Both standard lunchboxes and modern salad jars can be used to contain your on-the-go salad. Whatever you use, ensure it has a watertight, noncorrosive seal and is thoroughly sterilized before use.
Keep it cool
Always keep on-the-go salads chilled, or preferably refrigeratedespecially if it contains meat or fish. If your office or school does not provide access to a fridge, do not add meat or fish to your salad.
Layering an on-the-go salad
To keep an on-the-go salad fresh and crisp, it is a good idea to layer the components individually in the container, mixing them up only when you are ready to eat. Follow the steps here to adapt your favorite salad recipes into portable meals.
Salad skills