Whether you are entertaining for a crowd or your immediate crew, quick and easy grain salads should definitely be on the menu. They are great to have in the fridge for easy lunches, picnics, or pool side bites. The crunchy and salty flavor profile of a Greek salad is typically a crowd pleaser. To add some nutritional milage to this crunch fest, incorporate protein from fiber-filled chickpeas, and hearty whole grain farro. If you opt to make this in advance and enjoy at a later point in time, combine all the ingredients except the romaine. When you are ready to eat, top your grain mixture with chopped romaine and toss with your dressing. For those of you who are gluten-free, whole grain sorghum is a good alternative to farro.
Read morecold sesame tofu with rice noodles
There is a Cold Sesame Chicken recipe from the New York Times that I have gone back to quite a few times. It is delicious, super simple, and perfect for make ahead meals. To adapt the recipe for a plant-forward crowd, I decided to swap in tofu for the main and serve it over brown rice noodles with crunchy marinated cucumbers, peanuts, and cilantro, resulting in a refreshing and easy summer meal.
Read moresummer salad series: peach, corn, and arugula salad with crispy chickpeas
It is hard to believe that it is already August. Once the 4th of July rolls through, summer always seems to jump into hyper speed. Good thing that my favorite season is just at summer's coattails - fall! Before we enter "pumpkin spice land", let's savor all of late summer's bounty. This salad captures just that and features peaches, corn, and sun gold tomatoes tossed together with peppery arugula, crispy crunchy chickpeas, toasted almonds, and creamy tart feta. It's perfect for a hot summer night or a simple poolside lunch.
Read moresummer salad series: wedge salad with yogurt ranch dressing and smoked paprika almonds
Summer salad season has commenced, and warm weather cooking is focused on easy fare with minimal heat and prep. My body always craves crunchy and fresh foods when the temperature rise, and I certainly try and avoid lengthy time in the kitchen. A classic wedge salad typically features iceberg lettuce, blue cheese dressing, and bacon - tasty but not very nutritious. For a more virtuous spin on the classic wedge, consider this salad which features yogurt ranch dressing and crunchy romaine lettuce along with other vegetables -all topped with smokey almonds.
Read morenapa cabbage chop
The humble cabbage is an underrated vegetable. Not only does it come in multiple colors and varieties, it contains plenty of nutritional benefits. Cabbage has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and is a good source of Vitamin C. Purple and green cabbage, simply tossed with olive oil, salt, and pepper and roasted for 20 minutes, is one of my all time favorite vegetables to eat. This method achieves the ideal balance of tenderness and crispness. This cabbage chop leans on the crunchy, tender, and refreshing Napa cabbage, a longer, leaner relative of the traditional round cabbage. This salad is an interpretation of one that I enjoyed at west~bourne, an “all-day” cafe in Nolita, NYC. It’s crunchy, creamy, layered, and light - all of the things I typically look for in a salad. It has depth from the charred scallions and sheep milk feta, crunch factor from the cabbage and sunflower seeds, and zippiness, thanks to the limey dressing. You can certainly add other veggies or a protein on top, but I think that it is delicious just the way it is.
Read morevalentines dinner at home
I am all for dining out on special occasions but, after years of slinging over-priced prix fixe menus during my restaurant days, I relish the opportunity to cook Valentine's dinner at home. Spending time with your special person in the kitchen is the perfect opportunity to connect. Source a few unique ingredients, grab a nice bottle of wine, light some candles, put on some tunes, and you're in business.
Read morediy harvest bowl
If the fact that I am almost at black status at Sweetgreen is any indication of my affinity for the chain, then I don't know what is. During my most recent harvest bowl order (hold the chicken, add chickpeas and spicy broc), I realized that I probably should attempt to make this at home. The ingredients are simple enough to meal prep and are in line with what's in season for fall. Sure, nothing will beat the convenience of popping into my local SG, but at least I can attempt to save some cash and build the bowl at home.
Read moresummer salad series: arugula, farro, and dark cherry salad
It's the peak of summer, and produce is at an all time high - along with the temperature. Summer salads are the perfect way to maximize your nutritional intake with fresh and crunchy foods and minimize your oven usage. When making salads as mains, I always try to ensure that protein, fat, and fiber are utilized to provide satiation, optimal nutrition, and a range of textures and flavors. For this summertime salad, toasted pecans, feta, and farro are the sources of protein. Farro, along with all the vegetables and cherries, contain fiber, and the nuts, cheese, and olive oil provide fat to keep you full and to assist in the absorption of the fat soluble vitamins. Keep cool and calm with this peppery arugula, farro, and dark cherry summertime salad.
Read moresummer salad series - cauliflower quinoa kale salad
Summertime, when the eatin's easy. The produce is getting amazing, and the farmers' markets are bursting with incredible inspiration. This summertime salad features ingredients that you likely received in your CSA box or can easily procure at your local greenmarket. My mother-in-law made this salad at a recent family gathering. It immediately won me over due to its layer upon layer of crunchy goodness as well as its complexity of flavors. Pickled onions, roasted cauli and beets, zesty dressing, protein-filled quinoa, and the option of robust blue cheese make this summer salad a bonafide winner. This crunch fest can easily serve as a fully balanced meal or as a summery side. Since durable and hearty kale is the foundation, this salad is great to make ahead and enjoy for the next day or two.
Read morewhat's for lunch? kale + wild and brown rice salad
In an effort to best help you set yourself up for lunch time success, I am continuing my mini-series of composed salads. An ideal make ahead lunch is simply thrown together, is up for interpretation pending tastes and ingredient availability, and most importantly, is durable enough to last a few days in the fridge. Kale and wild rice salad checks all the boxes, and leaves you satisfied and sustained from lunch time to slump bump time.
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