Cucumber Salad with Peanut-Soy-Sambal Dressing

Approximate quantities: 6 Kirby cucumbers, cut lengthwise into thin spears, then into 1-inch segments; 6 radishes, cut into thin disks; the greens of 1 scallion, finely chopped; 1/2 teaspoon Black Urfa Chili (or any other dried chili flakes); 1/2 teaspoon Dried Icelandic Kelp; salt and pepper to taste

For the dressing: 2 tablespoons unsalted peanut butter, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar, 1 teaspoon granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon of sambal oelek

Serves four as a side.

Pasta Salad

So, yeah, pasta salad is frequently gross and rarely salad. What I like to do is toss a combination of vegetables and herbs together in salt and vinaigrette for a few hours before eating and then, just before serving, I cook the pasta, drain it, and toss it hot with the vegetables and add olive oil, lemon juice, more vinaigrette, maybe cheese to bring it together — I find this makes a really delicious, fresh, refreshing pasta salad.

The Kitchen Sink Pasta Salad

Approximate quantities: 3 Kirby cucumbers, cut lengthwise into thin spears, then into 1-inch segments; 3 medium carrots, sliced into thin disks; 1 pint of grape tomatoes, quartered; kernels of 2 ears of grilled corn; a 16 ounce can of chickpeas, quickly crisped in olive oil, salt, pepper, and cured sumac; 6 radishes, sliced into think disks; 8 ounces of penne, cooked al dente; 10 artichoke hearts, quartered; greens from 4-6 scallions, finely chopped; about 1/4 cup dill-and-lemon infused mustard vinaigrette

Grilled Peppers, Artichoke Hearts, and Tomatoes

Approximate quantities: 2 tomatoes, roughly chopped; 3 Kirby cucumbers, sliced into thin discs; two grilled yellow bell peppers, roughly chopped; 14-16 artichoke hearts, quartered; 2-4 tablespoons of fresh dill fronds; greens from 4-6 scallions, finely chopped; and dill-lemon-infused vinegar or lighter vinegar, like white wine or apple cider, and then juice of 1 lemon; and then one pound of pasta, olive olive, Parmesan, salt and pepper to taste

Chickpeas, Cucumbers, and Tomatoes

Approximate quantities: 2 Kirby cucumbers, sliced into thin discs; 1 pint of grape tomatoes, halved; greens from 4-6 scallions, finely chopped; and a 16 ounce can of chick peas; 1 teaspoon of cured sumac, lemon-and-garlic-infused-mustard vinaigrette or lighter vinegar, like white wine or apple cider, and then juice of 1 lemon; and then one pound of pasta, olive olive, Parmesan, salt and pepper to taste

Niçoise Salad

Approximate quantities: 3–4 cups baby lettuce, roughly chopped; 3 Kirby cucumbers, cut lengthwise into thin spears, then into 1-inch segments; 4 radishes, cut into thin crescents; 1 1/2–2 cups grilled wax beans, roughly chopped; 1 pint of grape tomatoes, quartered; 1 grilled bell pepper, roughly chopped; 3 medium or 2 large carrots, sliced into thin discs; 1 can of olive oil packed tuna; and 2 jammy soft boiled eggs drizzled with with dill-and-lemon-infused-mustard vinaigrette

Serves two as a main, four as a starter or side.

A Early July Sunday Lunch Salad

Appropriate quantities: 1 head of red romaine lettuce, roughly chopped; 3 medium carrots, sliced into thin discs; 2 Kirby cucumbers, cut lengthwise into thin spears, then into 1-inch segments; about 25 leftover grilled Romano beans, roughly chopped; about a cup of sugar snap peas, trimmed and cut lengthwise; 1 grilled red bell pepper, roughly chopped; and kernels of 1 ear of grilled corn

Serves two as a main, four as a starter or side.

Grilled Red Pepper, Snap Pea, and Avocado Salad

Approximate quantities: 1 head of red romaine lettuce, roughly chopped; 3 Kirby cucumbers, cut into thin discs; about a pound of sugar snap peas, trimmed and cut lengthwise; 2 grilled red peppers, roughly chopped; 1 avocado, cubed; and 1 can of chickpeas drizzled with basil-lemon-and-garlic-infused-mustard vinaigrette

Serves two as a main, four as a starter or side.

Kale, Romano Bean, or Broccoli Puttanesca

This is a mash-up of Samin’s Long Cook Vegetables, that I make all the of the time, and Mark Bittman’s Pasta Puttanesca that I also make all of the time.

3 tablespoons of olive oil
4 anchovies
4 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 small onion or 1 shallot, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon of crushed red chili flakes
1/4 cup of oil cured black olives
2 tablespoons of capers
3 springs of parsley — no need to remove the leaves or chop
2 lbs of romano beans — or lacto kale, broccolini, broccoli rabe, or string beans
14 ounces of tomatoes — I like Muir Glen Fire Roasted, but any will do

First, a warning, there is no way around the fact that the veggies need to cook for 2 hours, I’ve tried to cut the time back, I’ve tried this in my Instant Pot, it just isn’t as good. Don’t make this is you are hungry. Don’t start at 8:00 PM — unless you are in Spain and plan to have dinner at 11:00 PM. Don’t think that you can cook it on higher for a shorter amount of time and get the same result. No dice.

So, the real first, set a large Dutch oven or similar pot over low heat. Add oil, anchovies, garlic, onion, red pepper flakes, olives, and capers and stir to combine. Gently cook mixture, stirring occasionally, until the garlic and shallot are just very lightly sizzling, 5 to 7 minutes — Do not brown

Second, reduce heat to as low as possible and add the romano beans (or whatever vegetable you are using), the parsley, the can of tomatoes, and 1 teaspoon of salt, stir to combine and cover the pot

Third, this is the part that requires patience, allow the beans (or whatever vegetable you are using) to cook about 45 minutes until the steam has caused them to completely wilt and then check them and stir them and put the lid back on and cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes more, stirring every 20 minutes or so

Another Greek-ish Salad

Approximate quantities: 1/4 of a head of purple cabbage, finely chopped; 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced; 1 pint of grape tomatoes; quartered; 3 medium carrots, sliced into thin discs; 8-10 artichoke hearts; 2 can of chickpeas; and feta cheese drizzled with lemon juice, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper

Serves four as a side.

Kale, Spinach, or Baby Broccoli Pesto

This is adapted ever so slightly from Chris Morocco’s recipe. I’ve eliminated pistachios because they aren’t nut that I keep on hand, although, with the broccoli, I used almonds, which worked very well, and I’ve added lemon, because what don’t I add lemon too. And then, I’ve ever so slightly tipped the vegetable to pasta ratio by using 8 ounces of pasta rather than twelve.

Ingredients

1 large bunch Tuscan kale, ribs and stems removed, or 6 ounces of baby spinach or a large bunch of spinach, tough stems trimmed off, or 8 ounces of baby broccoli
8 ounces pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
zest or juice of lemon — for the spinach pesto, which I made last week, I used the zest, for the kale, which I made last night, I used the juice of the same lemon, both worked equally well
1 garlic clove
1 ounce Parmesan, finely grated, plus more for serving
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Freshly ground black pepper

Blend olive oil, zest or juice of lemon, garlic, Parmesan together in a food processor or blender

Bring medium or large pot of salted water up to a boil and cook the kale, spinach, or broccoli until bright green and wilted, about 30 seconds and the scoop out with tongs and transfer to a rimmed baking sheet or large mixing bowl; keep water boiling and add pasta, cooking to the packaging specification

Allow kale, spinach, or broccoli to cool slightly and then wring out excess water with your hands — if you are using broccoli, vigorously shaking works better than wringing

Add kale, spinach, or broccoli and 1/4 cup of pasta water — scoop it out of the pot while the pasta is cooking — to the food processor or blender and purée until smooth

A quick note about this, if you are using a blender, you’ll end up with more of a paste like Chris, if you are using a food processor, you’ll end up with more of a very fine purée

Scrape the pesto into the bottom of a large bowl

Reserving 1/2 cup of water, drain the pasta and then transfer it to bowl with pesto; do this, I don’t want to say as quickly as possible, don’t rinse the pasta, don’t worry about shaking all of the excess water, you want to add the pasta while it’s still hot and 1 tablespoon of butter and toss adding pasta cooking liquid by the tablespoon if needed

Serve with additional Parmesan and fresh pepper

Serves about 4, or 2 if you are hungry and don’t feel like making much more

A Wintery Mix Salad

I’ve made a few different versions of this finely chopped savoy cabbage-based salad over the last few weeks both are a marriage of a vinegar-based coleslaw and a slightly heartier winter salad.

Savoy Cabbage with Butter Lettuce, Radishes, and Cucumber

Approximate quantities: 1/4 head Savoy cabbage, sliced very finely; 4-6 ounces of butter lettuce, roughly chopped; 1 red bell pepper, sliced finely; 2 carrots, sliced into thin discs or julienned; 1/2 of a medium purple diakon radish; 1/2 of a seedless cucumber, sliced into thin crescents

Savoy Cabbage with Carrots, Radishes, and Sugar Snap Peas

Approximate quantities: 1/2 head Savoy cabbage, sliced very finely; 1 red bell pepper, sliced finely; 4 carrots, sliced into thin discs or julienned; 10 ounces sugar snap peas, trimmed and cut lengthwise; 1 medium watermelon radish, or 6 or so red radishes, sliced into thin discs

Both are dressed with my current favorite vinaigrette blend: 30 ml of olive oil; 30 ml of red wine vinegar; 15 g of Dijon mustard, or if you like a little extra kick, a horseradish mustard; and the juice of 1/2 of 1 lemon 

If you have the time, about two hours before serving, chop the cabbage finely and the toss with about 1 teaspoon of salt and allow it to drain in a colander

Then, about an hour before serving, shake the excess water out of the cabbage, or pat with a paper towel, and toss the cabbage with 1/2 of the vinaigrette and allow it to marinate

Before serving, toss cabbage with remaining vegetables