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Salad ideas please? I have a list of ingredients!


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Old 24-02-2009, 17:20
BadCoverVersion
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I've decided to have a week of salads and try some different things...I'm just wondering what other people would make from my ingredients...all suggestions welcome, from the mundane to the adventurous!

I have all the salad basics (toms, cucumber etc...) and olive oil, balsamic, honey, soy etc in my cupboards. Also lemons, limes, garlic and red and green chillis.

Chicory
Celeriac
Spinach
Aubergine (a curious pink and white striped one)
Asparagus
Garden Peas (in pods)
Fennel
Figs (4)
Prosciutto (from posh deli)
Capers (also from posh deli)
Pecorino (posh deli again...a slightly softer, very yummy variety)
Sundried tomatoes
Black olives
Parmesan reggiano

Last night we had a very basic chargrilled chicken, avocado and bacon salad so I'm looking for something a little more adventurous this evening.

Thanks in advance peeps.
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Old 24-02-2009, 17:44
maimou
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baked figs drizzled with honey and balsamic and then topped with gruyere shavings on a bed of mixed greens (rocket and baby spinach) is delicious - you seem to have most of the ingredients for that already.

Another good one is a basic leaf salad with warm goats cheese and chopped walnuts drizzled with apricot conserve that has been gently heated with olive oil and fresh rosemary, then sprinkle cracked black pepper over the whole thing.

Pomegranate is amazing in any salad dressing as well (balsamic, oil, honey, pomegranate and thyme in particular).

Oh and 'Aubergine (a curious pink and white striped one)' - with these slice as thin as crisps and either quick fry or bake and then serve with crumbled grilled proscutto - the flavours work amazingly together!
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Old 24-02-2009, 18:03
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Spinach, pea (keep them raw), feta and mint, drizzle of oil, squeeze of lemon.
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Old 24-02-2009, 18:06
BadCoverVersion
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baked figs drizzled with honey and balsamic and then topped with gruyere shavings on a bed of mixed greens (rocket and baby spinach) is delicious - you seem to have most of the ingredients for that already.

Another good one is a basic leaf salad with warm goats cheese and chopped walnuts drizzled with apricot conserve that has been gently heated with olive oil and fresh rosemary, then sprinkle cracked black pepper over the whole thing.
These both sound lovely. I will probably try a 'variation' of the top one tonight and substitute the gruyere.

The second one sounds like something I was planning to do...goats cheese, walnut and pear...but it sounds MUCH tastier.

Thanks for your ideas.

I'm also tempted to try the aubergine crisps with prosciutto.
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Old 24-02-2009, 18:47
Dancing Queen
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Mr DQ's speciality: smoked mackeral cut up, mango chopped, salad leaves of your choice, chopped hard boiled egg, avocado sliced...mix up and drizzle honey/mustard dressing- delish!
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Old 24-02-2009, 19:03
ecco66
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Griddled aubergine (I loved the striped ones!), prosciutto and parmesan shavings would be one I'd go for on a bed of leaves with a simple olive oil and balsamic drizzle.
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Old 24-02-2009, 19:56
petral_gal
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Mr DQ's speciality: smoked mackeral cut up, mango chopped, salad leaves of your choice, chopped hard boiled egg, avocado sliced...mix up and drizzle honey/mustard dressing- delish!
That sounds bloody lovely!
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Old 24-02-2009, 20:01
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I love these type posts.

The Capers caught my eye. I would make a dressing out of them with either lime or lemon juice and have them with either a tuna salad,venison or salmon.

Lime is especially good with tuna.
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Old 24-02-2009, 21:36
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So my salad week continues...

In the end I went for baby leaf lettuce, baby spinach, sun dried tomatoes, raw garden peas, roasted figs wrapped in prosciutto, finely grated pecorino, a homemade dressing of lemon, olive oil, capers and a dash of mustard and I'm not sure if the combinations were totally 'correct' but it really did taste sublime!

The deli prosciutto, pecorino and capers all tasted superb...all the flavours made themselves known individually but worked together oh so well. I have been picking at the yummy pecorino ever since...

Mr DQ's speciality: smoked mackeral cut up, mango chopped, salad leaves of your choice, chopped hard boiled egg, avocado sliced...mix up and drizzle honey/mustard dressing- delish!
Yowzers, that sounds totally different and absolutely lovely! I think it's definitely one for the weekend...will have to buy a nice bit of smoked mackerel methinks!

Griddled aubergine (I loved the striped ones!), prosciutto and parmesan shavings would be one I'd go for on a bed of leaves with a simple olive oil and balsamic drizzle.
Yummy!

I think I might try this as well as the aubergine crisps that were suggested earlier. I've never been a big fan of aubergine since having it in Mousakka - a dish I simply cannot take to - but I'm really trying to branch out at the moment!

I think if I make a couple of dishes there is more chance of me becoming an aubergine convert.

I love these type posts.

The Capers caught my eye. I would make a dressing out of them with either lime or lemon juice and have them with either a tuna salad,venison or salmon.

Lime is especially good with tuna.
I have plenty of capers left, and they seem really good quality...my OH is going to buy some tuna steaks on Friday so I think I will definitely have a bash at a limey caper dressing.

I also plan at having a go at a celeriac coleslaw of sorts.

I'm still struggling with the fennel though. I've only ever prepared it by poaching it in vegetable stock and a knob of butter before and wonder if it would even work in a salad (!?) and I have no idea what sort of salad type ingredients would sit well alongside it.

Keep the suggestions coming folks...and thanks to everyone that has posted thus far!
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Old 24-02-2009, 22:02
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That sounds bloody lovely!
It is - give it a go....smoked mackeral is soo cheap too
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Old 24-02-2009, 22:45
purplecatz
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I also plan at having a go at a celeriac coleslaw of sorts.

I'm still struggling with the fennel though. I've only ever prepared it by poaching it in vegetable stock and a knob of butter before and wonder if it would even work in a salad (!?) and I have no idea what sort of salad type ingredients would sit well alongside it.

Keep the suggestions coming folks...and thanks to everyone that has posted thus far!
Fennel is absolutely delish sliced very thinly and served raw in a salad - you could add it to your coleslaw
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Old 24-02-2009, 22:52
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My grandmother used to braise fennel.
Fennel is good roasted with other root veg.
It is great in a salad with egg and spring onions.
Fennel adds an aniseed flavour to oriental dishes instead of star anise.
Mediterranean dishes can be improved with fennel.
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Old 24-02-2009, 23:43
maimou
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So my salad week continues...

In the end I went for baby leaf lettuce, baby spinach, sun dried tomatoes, raw garden peas, roasted figs wrapped in prosciutto, finely grated pecorino, a homemade dressing of lemon, olive oil, capers and a dash of mustard and I'm not sure if the combinations were totally 'correct' but it really did taste sublime!
That does sound good - I think with a couple of base ingredients like good figs and prosciutto you can't really go wrong! The dressing sounds nice too - I think mustard really sets off a good dressing.

Another salad I do a lot (but as a side) is a thinly shredded red cabbage salad dressed with balsamic, olive oil, fresh flat leaf parsley, garlic and wholegrain mustard - it's strong but absolutely more-ish!
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Old 25-02-2009, 01:01
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Fennel is absolutely delish sliced very thinly and served raw in a salad - you could add it to your coleslaw
Ah that's very cool, didn't know it would work that way.
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Old 25-02-2009, 16:20
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Pop into your local Waitrose or Sainsburys and take all their recipe cards - the recipes are usually very easy and just gives you good ideas....
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Old 25-02-2009, 21:09
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Pop into your local Waitrose or Sainsburys and take all their recipe cards - the recipes are usually very easy and just gives you good ideas....
I didn't realise they did recipe cards...thanks for the heads-up.

Tonight we had warm goats cheese and walnut salad...with some more spinach and a dressing made from the oil from some sun dried tomatoes and a dash of balsamic and lemon juice. It was quite lovely.

I also made the aubergine chips and topped them with crispy prosciutto and pecorino and my other half loved em.
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Old 25-02-2009, 23:08
penguin301
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I'm still struggling with the fennel though. I've only ever prepared it by poaching it in vegetable stock and a knob of butter before and wonder if it would even work in a salad (!?) and I have no idea what sort of salad type ingredients would sit well alongside it.

There used to be a cafe near my work that did a yummy salad with fennel. It had slices of orange mixed with fennel, watercress and black olives (the wrinkly Moroccan sort) - I think it had a bit of dressing, but can't quite remember

I also roast it to chuck in pasta with roast tomatoes, capers, oil and herbs, or whatever else is in the fridge.
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Old 26-02-2009, 22:38
Finky
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The stuff on here all sounds great, I'd love to try it but I'm really short on cash - are there many cheaper alternatives? I buy from an independent grocer so basics are really cheap.
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Old 27-02-2009, 08:20
Dancing Queen
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The stuff on here all sounds great, I'd love to try it but I'm really short on cash - are there many cheaper alternatives? I buy from an independent grocer so basics are really cheap.
Make a potato salad with mayo/yogurt, chopped onions/spring onions, gherkins, salt & pepper, throw in some sliced cold frankfurters or have hot ff's separately. (Potatoes £1 a bag from Asda, FF's £1 for 10 at Sainsburys!)
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Old 27-02-2009, 11:55
grassmarket
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Greek salad - you have most of the ingredients, I think.

Cucumber
Tomato
Black olives with pips in
Feta or some other sharp salty ewe or goat cheese
Some kind of onions - spring, chive, shallot, mild red, whatever
Pepper, and not much salt, there will be plenty in the olives and cheese

Chop the lot up into 1cm cubes and mix in bowl. Dressing of EV olive oil and lemon juice and optional crushed garlic. Eat with lots of crusty bread to glub up dressing.
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