Luscious Summer Salads

Fruits of the season

Spring and summer offer such a bounty of colorful delicious fruits and vegetables. All they need is a flavorful dressing to create a stunning and savory meal.

Going to the farmer’s market in summer is like going to an art gallery. The colors, shapes, and textures are eye-popping. When in full ripeness, the flavors are so exquisite that it takes very little to turn them into an unforgettable meal.

When planning a big salad full of fruits and/or vegetables, I think about two elements: a variety of textures and a dressing that enhances, rather than masks, the flavors the earth has provided.

As they say, we eat with our eyes first, so choosing a variety of shapes and colors just adds more enjoyment - for the eyes and the palate.

Look at these colors! It makes one want to capture them on a canvas, but I think I’ll eat them.

I have created three stunning salads taking advantage of the summer bounty. Each of these can easily be made vegan or vegetarian. Or, up the protein with chicken, fish, steak or tofu.

The dressing for each salad was designed to complement and enhance the ingredients. Let summer shine!

Need some guidance or inspiration? Watch my cooking show on the ZebraTV website or YouTube channel.

corn, salad, lime, cheese, pasta
Salad
Yield: 4
Author:
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad

Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad

( 0 reviews )
Prep time: 45 MinTotal time: 45 Min
Elote is a popular antojito, or small craving, in Mexico City’s streets. The corn is roasted and slathered with mayonnaise, lime, and chili. Served on a stick, it is a perfect and very tasty treat.I have created a summer pasta salad using ripe summer corn roasted in a skillet and dressed with flavors inspired by Elote

Ingredients

Instructions

Roast the Pepper
  1. Preheat oven to 450°
  2. Cut pepper in half and remove stems, seeds and membranes
  3. Lay peppers on foil lined baking sheet, cut side down
  4. Roast the peppers for 15-20 minutes (time varies by size of your pepper) until they are blackened and soft.
  5. Remove from the oven and put pepper in a bowl; cover with the foil that lined the baking sheet (this is to re-use the foil). Allow to set 10-15 minutes. This allows the skin to further release from the pepper
  6. Slip the skins off. They will come off quite easily, although you may need to gently rub in some places. Remove as much skin as you can.
  7. Cut the roasted pepper into small pieces. This can be done up to a week ahead of time. You do want the peppers to be cool for your salad.
Prepare the Corn
  1. Shuck your corn and, using a sharp knife or corn zipper, remove the kernels from the cob.
  2. In a medium saute' pan, heat 2 tsp toast the cumin, caraway until fragrant; about 2 minutes. Add 1 Tsp olive oil, corn, and a pinch of salt.
  3. Cook, stirring, until the "milk" evaporates and the corn is slightly brown.
  4. Stir occasionally to avoid burning. Set aside and allow to cool.
Prepare the Dressing
  1. Put mayonnaise, lime juice, zest from one lime, Tajine (or chile powder) and 2 Tsp salt in your large salad bowl.
  2. Whisk the olive oil into the mixture until smooth. It will look curdled at first, that is just the lime mixing with the mayonnaise.
  3. Whisking will emulsify it all into a smooth dressing. Taste for salt.
Assemble the Salad
  1. Add the pasta and lettuce to the bowl and gently toss in the dressing. Layer on the tomatoes, corn and pepper. Toss all together to distribute the dressing.
  2. Taste for salt. Garnish with a heap of chopped cilantro, zest of one lime, and sprinkle with the crumbled cheese.
  3. Top with grilled chicken for a complete meal.

Notes

The malt vinegar adds a little acidity that nicely balances this creamy dish. If you don't have malt vinegar, use a small amount (2 tsp) of white wine vinegar.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

346.24

Fat

19.43

Sat. Fat

2.99

Carbs

39.38

Fiber

5.35

Net carbs

34.03

Sugar

9.73

Protein

7.9

Sodium

1864.21

Cholesterol

5.79

You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional. Our nutritional information is based on the entire recipe, not per serving

Did you make this recipe?
Tag @caryinthekitchen on instagram and hashtag it # whatsfordinner

Yield: 4
Author:

Fruit Salad with Sumac, Honey, Lime Dressing

( 0 reviews )
Prep time: 30 MinTotal time: 30 Min
I love this fruit salad. The dressing adds a little spice and rounds out the flavor of all of the sweet fruit. The surprise ingredient is radish! The slight bitterness of the radish adds some needed balance to all of the sweetness of the fruit. Be sure to slice the radish very thin or in a tiny dice so you get an unexpected bitter bite just when you need it! This salad lends itself to whatever fruits are in season. It would be divine with peaches or plums. Blackberries would be wonderful. Just be sure to get a variety of texture and crunch - the apples help with that.

Ingredients

Salad Base
Dressing

Instructions

Assemble the Salad
  1. Put all of the cut up fruit and radishes in a large bowl
  2. Drizzle over the dressing and give it a good toss to coat
  3. Add the fresh mint and give a light toss. Serve right away.
Make the Dressing
  1. Add all ingredients except olive oil in a lidded jar
  2. Give a good sake to combine well
  3. Add the oil, put on the lid and give a hearty shake to emulsify.

Notes

  1. The fruit can be cut up as much as a day ahead.
  2. The dressing can be made up to 3 days ahead; just give it a vigorous shake before dressing the fruit
  3. Only add the dressing and mint within an hour of serving

Nutrition Facts

Calories

192

Fat

14

Sat. Fat

2

Carbs

18

Fiber

2

Net carbs

16

Sugar

15

Protein

1

Sodium

596

Cholesterol

0

You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional.

Did you make this recipe?
Tag @caryinthekitchen on instagram and hashtag it # whatsfordinner

Yield: 4
Author:

Farro, Spinach, & Fruit Salad with Thai Dressing

( 0 reviews )
Prep time: 40 MinCook time: 10 MinInactive time: 45 MinTotal time: 1 H & 35 M
The base of this salad is one of my favorite grains - farro. Farro is one of the oldest unhybridized forms of wheat and is full of nutrients. It's an excellent source of protein, fiber, magnesium, zinc and some B vitamins. I love the nutty taste and great bite. You could easily substitute farro for another grain - quinoa, wheatberry, bulgar, or even rice (brown would be best).I have chosen to add Thai inspired flavors to the dressing, so the addition of mango, coconut flakes and basil in the salad tie it all together with delicious nods to southeast Asian cuisine. Farro is a mild base, so the addition of bold flavors like lime and chile pepper in the dressing make this a most satisfying bite. This salad is a great main course. You could add sliced roast chicken, tofu or even fish if you want more protein, but I love it just as is for a delicious lunch salad. A glass of crispy Sauvignon Blanc would be a lovely addition to the lunch.

Ingredients

Salad Base
Dressing

Instructions

Prepare the Dressing
  1. Add cider vinegar to a lidded jar
  2. Add all other ingredients except the oil and basil leaves
  3. Shake to combine.
  4. Just before serving, add oil and basil leaves and give a vigorous shake to emulsify
Pickling the Onion
  1. Peel and thinly slice a whole red onion so you have thin rounds
  2. Cut each round in half (you will a pile of half-moon shapes)
  3. Put in bowl and drench in red wine vinegar
  4. Allow to pickle for at least 45 minutes; this step can be done up to a week ahead of time. Keep the pickled onions in the refrigerator until ready to use
Prepare the Farro
  1. Measure out 1 cup of farro
  2. Soak in cold water for 20 minutes, then drain into a bowl
  3. Bring 2 cups water to a boil and add drained farro
  4. Boil until al dente; about 10 minutes.
  5. Drain and cool for at least 30 minutes. This can be done a day ahead
Toast the Coconut
  1. This step is easy. You can do this a day ahead and store in a dry place (not the refrigerator) or while your onions are pickling.
  2. Add the coconut flakes to a dry warmed skillet.
  3. Keep the heat on medium to medium high and allow to become golden brown. Keep stirring to get all bits browned to keep from burning
  4. Immediately remove from the skillet onto a plate. Allow to sit and cool for 10 minutes.
Assemble the Salad
  1. Add cooled farro to a large serving bowl
  2. Top with spinach, radicchio, mango, blueberries, and cucumbers. Toss to combine
  3. Remove about 4 Tbl of pickled red onion from your bowl or jar . Drain on a paper towel to remove some liquid and add to the farro.
  4. Pour over dressing and give a good toss to combine everything.
  5. Top with chopped parsley, then toasted coconut flakes
  6. Serve

Notes

*You will not need the entire red onion. If you prefer, slice 1/2 of the onion and save the rest for another use. If you choose to pickle the entire onion, keep the surplus in a lidded jar in the refrigerator. It will last weeks and is a delicious garnish in any kind of salad - assembled salads or chicken or tuna salad.

**Fresh ginger is really best in this dressing, but you only need a small bit. Here is how to preserve the rest of the ginger:

Use a vegetable peeler to remove as much skin as you can. Use a paring knife to remove the rest. Finely chop the entire knob into 1/4" pieces. Put in a lidded jar and keep in the freezer. Just be sure to remove with enough time to thaw the amount you need for your next recipe. You can also store in an ice cube tray; just be sure to cover it will. The ginger will keep in the freezer for 6 months.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

397

Fat

18

Sat. Fat

5

Carbs

54

Fiber

12

Net carbs

42

Sugar

7

Protein

9

Sodium

665

Cholesterol

0

You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional.

Did you make this recipe?
Tag @caryinthekitchen on instagram and hashtag it # whatsfordinner

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The Perfect Roast Chicken