Pomegranate & Pecan Summer Salad

this is an easy and delicious salad for summertime. 

YOU NEED:

mixed greens

pomegranate seeds

pecans or candied pecans [walnuts, almonds will do the trick too)

sharp cheese [goat cheese, brie, or feta is excellent)

a  light vinaigrette. 

1. toast pecans or nuts with some honey or balsamic to caramelise

2. seed pomegranate

3. prepare vinaigrette: try lemon, olive oil, balsamic, a bit of fresh herbs

4. toss lettuce with vinaigrette, top with candied nuts, cheese, pom seeds

Mint Goat Cheese & Garlic Sauce

A great sauce to pair with lamb or any middle-eastern/meditteranean food, or even indian!

YOU NEED

1 cup greek yogurt

3 cloves minced garlic

a handful fresh mint, chopped

1/4 cucumber, chopped

salt, pepper, cumin

Asparagus & Avocado Salad

This is a great and filling salad for any occasion

YOU NEED:

1 head asparagus, blanched or partly cooked

1 avocado, sliced

a handful sun dried tomatoes, sliced

some walnuts, pecans or almonds

olive oil. lime juice, minced garlic, salt and pepper for dressomg

Blood Orange & Avocado Salad

YOU NEED:

salad:

a bed of lettuce... spinach, mesclun mix, whatever

1 blood orange, peeled and sliced

chunks of tofu or cheese

unsalted peanuts

1 avocado, sliced

dressing:

1 tbs olive oil 1 tbs sesame oil

2 tbs lime juice

salt, pepper, brown sugar, garlic powder to taste.

Cream of Cauliflower Soup

YOU NEED:

4.5 L    vegetable stock

1.5 kg  cauliflower, chopped

375 g   onion, chopped fine

300 g    butter

300 g   flour

1.5  L   milk, hot

750 ml 35%  cream, hot

Salt      to taste

White pepper, to taste

Method:

1.       Bring the stock to a boil in a heavy saucepot.

2.      Add cauliflower and onions.

3.      Simmer until the vegetables are tender.  Do not overcook.

4.      Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the flour to make a roux.  Cook the roux a few minutes, but do not let it colour.  Cool the roux slightly.

5.      Beat the roux into the soup.  Simmer until no starch taste remains.

6.      Blend the soup until smooth. 

7.      Heat together the milk and cream.  Add to the soup to bring it to a proper consistency. 

8.      Heat the soup again, but do not let it boil.

9.      Season to taste.

YUM CAULI.

Avocado & Tomato Salad with Goat Cheese & Pine Nuts

whip this up for a fabulous salad.

YOU NEED:

1 avocado, sliced or chunked

1 or 2 tomatoes, sliced

crumbled goat cheese

pine nuts [can be toasted]

OPTIONAL:

olives

fresh basil

feta instead of goat cheese

DRESSING:

balsamic & olive oil (1:3 ratio) salt, pepper

Blood Orange, Spinach & Peanut Salad

Weird twist but so good!

YOU NEED:

1 bunch fresh spinach or mixed greens

1 blood orange, sliced

some toasted or raw peanuts

1 avocado, sliced or cubed

DRESSING:

1 inch ginger, grated

1 large clove garlic, minced

1 tbs soy sauce

1tbs veg oil

1 teaspoon sesame oil

salt, pepper 

red pepper flakes for spice

OPTIONAL: chopped bok choy, cheese, radish, etc. be creative.

Arugula, Pine Nut & Sweet Potato Salad

An easy and delicious salad.

YOU NEED:

1 sweet potato, peeled, sliced, and cooked [boiling is easiest]

A handful arugula

some pine nuts, toasted or not

olive oil

lemon juice

white wine vinegar

salt, pepper

OPTIONAL:

goat or feta cheese

grilled chicken breast, for a full meal

grilled tofu, keeping it vegan

garlic. is always optional.

sliced onion. 

ASSEMBLE!

Fennel, Blood Orange & Goat Cheese Salad

Fennel can be gross, but also delicious if you pair it right. 

YOU NEED:

some lettuce

fennel, chopped into thin strips

1 blood orange, sliced

thinly slivered red or green onion

goat cheese

VINAIGRETTE: suggest red wine or balsamic vinaigrette. salt and pepper

Chunky Mango Avocado Salad

An easy salad with so many health benefits!

SALAD:

1 red pepper, chopped

1 tomato, chopped

1 red onion, chopped

some black beans or chickpeas

1 mango, chopped

1 avocado, chopped

fresh cilantro

DRESSING:

3 tbs olive oil, 1 tbs lime juice, salt, pepper, a bit of cayenne, 1 clove garlic

Chimichurri Sauce

This is great as a dip, side, or topping, Classic, from Argentina. 

YOU NEED:

• 1 cup (packed) fresh Italian parsley
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup (packed) fresh cilantro
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 3/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• OPTIONAL: a bit of lime juice, a bit of hot sauce. 

either all chopped SUPER finely, or put in a food processor. 

TRY IT ON STEAK!

Chickpea Meditteranean Salad

Ahh this is an amazing twist on greek salad. 

YOU NEED:

lettuce, as a bed. 

1 can chickpeas, drained

1 cucumber, peeled and diced

1 red onion

a few chopped sundried tomatoes, or 1 fresh tomato, cubed

some olives, chopped

feta cheese, crumbled

VINAIGRETTE:

juice of 1 lemon

3 tbs lemon juice

salt, pepper

1 large clove garlic

oregano

        

Cherry, Chicken Salad with Minted Goat Cheese Dressing

Easily omit chicken if vegetarian. 

DRESSING:

2 tbs crumbled goat cheese

2 tbs low fat sour cream

2 tbs lemon juice

salt, pepper

chopped mint

SALAD: 

butter greens or mixed greens

sour cherries, sliced or halved

OPTIONAL:

red onion, slivered

walnuts or pecans, crumbled

CHICKEN:

plain, or marinated in lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, cumin, paprika and sumac before cooking

 

Chef Salad

A crazy chopped salad!

YOU NEED:

lettuce: romaine, spinach, mixed, or arugula, or even iceberg. 

onion, sliced

tomato, sliced

cucumber, sliced

OPTIONAL:

eggs, quartered

chunks of cheddar or mozza or blue cheese or feta

chicken, fish, tofu, or shrimp

bacon
croutons

nuts

DRESSING:

thousand island, caesar, simple balsmic, or simple lemon

basically toss EVERYTHING into this. 

Simplest Shrimp Ceviche

Ceviche is usually time consuming... not this one!

YOU NEED:

12 shrimps, peeled, deveined

1 tomato, diced

1 avocado, diced

/2 cucumbed, diced

some fresh cilantro, chopped

1 small onion, diced finely

juice of 2 limes

1 tbs olive oil

salt, pepper, cumin

hot sauce, optional but needed

TRICK:

boil shrimp for 5 mins until pink. 

1. marinate veg in lime juice with seasonings, then add cooked shrimp.

Salmon Salad

 

An easy way to use up a can of salmon.

YOU NEED:

some lettuce, tossed

1 tomato, sliced or quartered 

1 can salmon, drained

OPTIONAL: onion, olives, walnuts, cucumber, radicchio

vinaigrette:

2 tbs lemon juice, 3 tbs olive oil, salt, pepper, thyme, garlic

Caesar Salad with Hazelnuts & Blood Orange

 

YOU NEED:

1 chopped blood orange

1 head lettuce

1/4 cup toasted hazelnuts

caesar dressing:

2 tbs mayo [low fat]

2 tbs lemon juice

2 cloves minced garlic

salt, pepper

1/4 cup parmesan

2 tbs olive oil

1 tbs sour cream 

1 tsp dijon

1 tsp fresh parsley

OPTIONAL:

bacon bits

croutons

grilled chicken

Blueberry, Walnut & Feta Salad

A simple but delicious salad.

YOU NEED:

lettuce, washed and dried

walnuts, or pecans

feta cheese

blueberries

VINAIGRETTE:

a simple balsamic will do, or use some leftover blueberry juice to create a fruity dressing.

Blood Orange Greek Salad

Easy start to your meditteranean feast.

YOU NEED:

3 blood oranges, peeled and sliced

100 grams crumbled goat or feta

some sliced olives

DRESSING:

2 tbs lemon juice

2 tbs olive oil

1 large clove minced garlic

salt, pepper, oregano

OPTIONAL: grilled chicken, fresh oregano, fresh basil. grilled veg

Beet & Blood Orange Salad

Easy summery salad.

YOU NEED:

beets [canned is ok]

2 blood orange

a pack blackberries or raspberries

walnuts or pine nuts or pecans

goat cheese or feta cheese

lettuce or arugula

1 avocado

lemon juice

salt

pepper

olive oil

OPTIONAL: slivered onion, radish, endive, cucumber, grilled chicken or beef