Nicole Pavlovsky - The Dinner Salad Cookbook: Easy & Satisfying Recipes That Make a Meal

Copyright 2018 by Nicole Pavlovsky

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, Rockridge Press, 6005 Shellmound Street, Suite 175, Emeryville, CA 94608.

Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: The Publisher and the author make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this work and specifically disclaim all warranties, including without limitation warranties of fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales or promotional materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for every situation. This work is sold with the understanding that the Publisher is not engaged in rendering medical, legal or other professional advice or services. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. Neither the Publisher nor the author shall be liable for damages arising herefrom. The fact that an individual, organization or website is referred to in this work as a citation and/or potential source of further information does not mean that the author or the Publisher endorses the information the individual, organization or website may provide or recommendations they/it may make. Further, readers should be aware that Internet websites listed in this work may have changed or disappeared between when this work was written and when it is read.

For general information on our other products and services or to obtain technical support, please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at (866) 744-2665, or outside the U.S. at (510) 253-0500.

Rockridge Press publishes its books in a variety of electronic and print formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books, and vice versa.

TRADEMARKS: Rockridge Press and the Rockridge Press logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Callisto Media Inc. and/or its affiliates, in the United States and other countries, and may not be used without written permission. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Rockridge Press is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.

photography food styling by Marija Vidal. Interior photography Victoria Wall Harris, 2018; interior photography food styling by Caroline Hwang.

ISBN: Print 978-1-64152-031-7
eBook 978-1-64152-032-4

To my family and all my taste testers

CONTENTS

This book is an ode to salads and to living deliciously, globally, and simply.

I spent my formative years in Israel, a nation of immigrants, and I was exposed to different people of different backgrounds. I was enamored of the open-air markets and local bakeries. I can picture from memory the piles of spices, the olives marinated in various herbs, the cheeses, the serving platters of hummus, and the smell of freshly baked pita.

Later on, my family immigrated to the United States. Both my parents worked, and it was my tradition, with my mom, to make dinner for my dad and brother while watching Rachael Rays 30 Minute Meals on Food Network. In a world where getting anything on the dinner table is difficult after a long, stressful day at work, my familys commitment to home-cooked meals became the foundation of my food passions. Busy schedules prevent many of us from having fun in the kitchen and eating healthily; thats where the idea for quick, easy dinner salads came about. No excusesjust delicious, filling, and easy salads!

Wait, you may ask, a salad for dinner? Absolutely! Salads have a reputation for being skinny, boring sides that are unsatisfying. Nothing could be further from the truth.

People often say that America is the melting pot of cultures and food; I think of it more as a vibrant tossed salad, full of different textures, flavors, and colors that come together to create the perfect bite. For this outlook, I thank my dad, who exposed me to different cultures and encouraged me to try new foods and travel the world. Because of this Ive always felt like a global citizen, influenced and inspired by every remote corner of the world. All of the recipes in this book are inspired by a place Ive lived in or traveled to, and they are satisfying dinner salads I make quickly after work.

When I lived in New Jersey and visited New York City, I was impressed by peoples strong ties to their heritage. Between the Russians in Brooklyns Brighton Beach and the large Indian population in the town where I lived, my interest in different cultures grew stronger. I spent my college years in Southern California, on the beach in Santa Barbara, and was introduced to the revolutionary concepts of avocado toast, Baja-style fish tacos, and acai bowls. The towns commitment to fitness and well-being taught me about mindful eating, self-care, and how food plays into a truly balanced life. I keep those inspirations in mind when I explore new combinations of ingredients to use in my salads.

And now, living in the Bay Area in California, Im back in another melting pot. Its like discovering a whole new world. Ive been introduced to ramen, pho, and dim sumoh, my. My inspiration remains ignited, and I love experimenting with new ideas for quick, easy, and delicious dinner salads.

Gone are the days of iceberg lettuce, a few red onion slices, and tasteless tomatoes. Its time to say hello to vibrant salads that can be made quickly every day, with few ingredients, for a simple, delicious, and satisfying dinner. Follow along on my journey around the world as we make extraordinary salads together. No passport required.

A great dinner salad is moreso much morethan a few greens, maybe some chopped vegetables, and a heavy or oily dressing weighing down the ingredients. The key to making a great salad, one that is hearty, satisfying, and delicious, is balancing the many parts, flavors, and textures. This section is going to teach you how to make a divine salad and dressing. Theres a very simple and basic formula for creating the foolproof dinner saladone youll use over and over again. The beauty of following it is that it makes it even easier to put together your creation on a busy weeknight, when you want a reliable stable of fantastic salads to make on the regular and youre bored of the same-old, same-old. It really is the formula for salad success.