It's too hot to cook. Hell, let's face it, it's too hot to move. When the temps rise above 95 I pretty much boycott my oven. I'm not kidding. At this very moment, I'm standing in my kitchen holding a big picket sign. I'd pace back and forth, but then I'd sweat more, and that's sort of the whole reason why I chose to boycott my oven in the first place.
When I'm on my stove sabbatical, nothing saves the day like a salad. My favorite ones include a good mix of different textures, flavors and colors and a healthy dose of lettuce, fruit, cheese and nuts. I pretty much always make my dressings homemade because they're easy, fresher and so much tastier. Here are some of my summer standbys...
Greens with mandarin oranges, mushrooms, sesame seeds and red onion with ginger-sesame dressing
Ginger-Sesame Dressing
2 tbsp minced ginger * 2 tbsp honey or brown sugar * 2 minced garlic cloves * 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar * 2 tbsp soy sauce * 1 tsp sesame oil * 1/2 cup olive oil
Mixed greens with sliced carrot, cucumber, broccoli, sesame seeds and creamy tarragon dressing
(Okay, I did use my oven for this one:)
Baby spinach with red onion, carrots, avocado, sesame and chia seeds
Balsamic Vinaigrette
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar * 1 tbsp dijon mustard * 1 clove garlic, minced * 1/2 cup olive oil, salt & pepper
Romaine with grilled chicken, roasted red peppers, grilled summer squash, homemade croutons and caesar dressing
Arugula with lemon juice, olive oil, black pepper and shaved parmesan
It's only June. I need more ideas. If you have a great salad recipe on your blog or in your back pocket, please link to it in the comments!
all those salads look sooo yummy, i'm hungry!!! :) great inspiration
ReplyDeletexx claudia
www.peacockfeathergirl.blogspot.com
How do you make all your dressings? Honey-Garlic? Is it just some honey, some garlic and some oil? I feel like a child walking in the middle of a movie. I need to know more of what's going on around me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these! I am usually so uninspired by salad, but now I have some good ones :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite salad right now is mixed greens with goat cheese and a diced apple. For dressing, I use a balsamic-dijon-honey-oil combo. It's divine.
Hi Jenn...I couldn't agree more...it so so hot here in Austin. I need to move away from my oven and onto bright and fresh dishes like these. I love salads during the warmer months. Thank you for sharing such an inspired connection. I hope you are having a beautiful weekend. Love from Austin!
ReplyDeleteDelicious looking...I like to do romaine or spinach lettuce, candied walnuts, craisins, chicken, grapes and champagne dressing - girards. DELISH.
ReplyDeleteIn the summer, I like grilling stone fruit and putting it in salads. One of my fave combos is spinach, grilled peaches glazed with balsamic reduction, bacon and some kind of cheese. Nom nom nom.
ReplyDeleteAhh I love this post! So many delicious salads :) Loving your blog and so glad to be your newest follower!
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