The reason I remember the first time I was served a main-course salad, easily 15 years ago, is that it was such a revelation.
It was served to a group of us, six or more, in a large shallow wooden bowl and it was full of all kinds of good things; greens, chickpeas, nuts, seeds, sliced chicken breast and a dressing fragrant with fresh tarragon and basil. I remember my hostess saying how uncomplicated a meal it was to prepare, serve and clean up after.
Main-course salads are a terrific opportunity to combine a variety of ingredients creatively and colorfully. The late, celebrated U.S. cookbook author, James Beard said meat salads originated in North America as a way to use leftovers; maybe he was right.
Certainly, it's a chance to be imaginative in the kitchen. When it comes to main-course salads, there is no wrong way. Add grains if you like, or stick to vegetables and meat. Or don't use meat. Or don't use vegetables. One of the best things about main-course salads is how few rules there are, although one is that you really should make your own vinaigrette.
I once put my imagination together and marinated and grilled chicken breasts on a grill pan, but you could barbecue them instead -- and how they can be paired either with buckwheat noodles or with crunchy coleslaw. The chicken can easily be replaced with salmon or tofu.
In Heartsmart Cooking for Family and Friends, Bonnie Stern does a take on a classic nicoise - made with roasted salmon and grilled vegetables, and served with wheat berries. Or rice. Or barley. It's served on one large platter or in individual portions.
In "A Good Day for Salad", there's a recipe for a main-course salad made with strips of cooked lamb, white beans, arugula and a dressing flavored with cherry tomatoes, garlic and fresh rosemary. There's another for a mango-mint chicken salad featuring boned, skinned chicken breast, sugar snap peas, arugula, bean sprouts, mangos and mint sprigs for garnish. The dressing includes fresh lime and lemon juice, honey, mint leaves, soy and grated fresh ginger.
In her cookbook "Nigella Bites", Nigella Lawson includes a ginger-hot duck salad. A duck breast is grilled and then carved on the diagonal into thin slices, tossed with a couple of tablespoons fish sauce, the juice of half a lime and half an orange; a finely chopped hot pepper; some grated fresh ginger and a few drops of sesame oil, and turned out onto serving plate covered with baby spinach or watercress. Or both.
I've made all these salads -- and then some. I've taken recipes and changed them, played with them, added to them and subtracted from them. I've made main-course salads for myself and made them for a crowd. And I'm far from an expert cook. If I can do it, so can you.
We have a wonderful salad that makes a meal by itself called "Japanese Cabbage Salad" (Serves 8).
Japanese Cabbage Salad
Makes a full meal when served with any Asian-style chicken, fish or tofu.
2 cups shredded red cabbage
2 cups shredded green cabbage
6 greens onions, sliced
1/4 cup slivered almonds, to toast
1/2 cup sesame seeds, to toast
1/4 cup dried cranberries, optional
Dressing:
1/2 cup vegetable or olive oil
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Whisk together dressing ingredients and set aside. Spread sesame seeds on a baking tray and place in a 350F (180C) oven for about 5 minutes. Watch carefully -- they burn quickly. Toast almonds separately, at the same temperature but for a bit longer. Place all salad ingredients together in a bowl. Toss with dressing right before serving, so as not to lose the crunch. Makes 8 servings.
Per Serving: Calories 190, Protein 3g, Fat 16g, Carbohydrates 12g, Fiber 3g, Sodium 195mg (less if salt is omitted from recipe).
Author: Susan Rutter -- Publisher, Nutritionist, and Instructor who assists patients and the public make healthy choices and changes in their lives. Web Site: Healthy YOUbbies http://www.geocities.com/healthyoubbies/
Chicago limo Skokie ..Having a personal wellness program has become a concern for... Read More
Some people say to themselves, junk food is not that... Read More
The field of nutrition is awash with charts, tables, diagrams,... Read More
Do we really need a home water filter? Can't we... Read More
While there are many effective ways to get more energy... Read More
Chances are you may have had a food product that... Read More
There's no doubt--carbohydrates have taken center stage in public discourse... Read More
Cholesterol is present in our bodies by one of two... Read More
Your face turns flush and your skin starts to itch.... Read More
It is a question we must ask ourselves continually if... Read More
Many people use sugar as medicine. Sugar tends to change... Read More
The factors that affect the nutritional requirements of an individual... Read More
OK, no more excuses. Here's how to stop making everyone... Read More
During the past thirty years there has been a steadily... Read More
Here's something you probably don't know. The fruit and vegetables... Read More
Fibromyalgia is a chronic and potentially life-altering disorder with symptoms... Read More
How many times have you tried to diet/lose weight in... Read More
They sit left behind on relish trays. They're often by-passed... Read More
Most digestive disorders develop because of the bodys inability to... Read More
Nuts are readily available and provide a highly nutritious food.... Read More
The latest tallies show that over three million people in... Read More
If you want to lose weight, there is one thing... Read More
NutrientsFat, Sugar, Sodium and CarbohydrateThe sections on a food label... Read More
Sprouts not only taste good, but they are also a... Read More
The word cholesterol has become synonymous with poor health. Indeed,... Read More
limo O'Hare Bonfield ..1. Look for high quality, crystalline, free-form, amino acids (AAs)... Read More
I don't understand people sometimes. You know, there is a... Read More
Sprouts not only taste good, but they are also a... Read More
Eating out when you are on a restricted diet always... Read More
The Omega Zone Diet and specialists' opinion"Omega RX Zone -... Read More
OmegaRx Fish Oil, quoted as being close to a Medical... Read More
The ingredients list found on the back or side panel... Read More
The debate regarding Fluoride continues to rage, is it good... Read More
Green tea has been used as for medical remedies in... Read More
Constipation is a condition whereby the fecal matter traveling through... Read More
Please feel free to comment, so that the article may... Read More
We've heard it not only once or twice or even... Read More
The key to good hydration is drinking a lot of... Read More
Eating grain products - breads, cakes, cereals - have long... Read More
With so many people concerned about natural and organic foods... Read More
The word cholesterol has become synonymous with poor health. Indeed,... Read More
Constipation is the passing of dry, hard faeces fewer than... Read More
Protein must be a part of a healthy diet for... Read More
BASIC MEAL & MENU PLANNINGAs a basis for meals and... Read More
White-spotted or yellow splotched teeth may reveal more than needed... Read More
Your face turns flush and your skin starts to itch.... Read More
Health food or heart attack on a plate? Eggs had... Read More
It's 5:30 p.m. and you're heading home after a long,... Read More
In health circles there has been much recent talk about... Read More
I'm willing to bet you probably haven't heard the word... Read More
Nutrition |