Showing posts with label salads. Show all posts
Showing posts with label salads. Show all posts

Friday, May 15, 2009

Cucumber Salad

This cucumber salad is another new favorite side of mine that I just had to share this morning. (forgive me, I can not for the life of me remember where I found this... from some beautiful blogger out there no doubt.. ) It is super easy and light. Not to mention, fresh veggies and fruit are just some of my favorite things right now...


Salad:
2 large cucumber, 1 peeled & one unpeeled.. cut into chunks
1/3 to 1/2 of a medium red onion, diced fine, to taste
2 large tomatoes- I used some yummy yellow ones.

Dressing:
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon good tasting olive oil
2 teaspoons light agave nectar, or more to taste
A tiny pinch of sea salt, or to taste
Fresh ground pepper, to taste

In a large bowl combine the cut and sliced cucumbers with the diced onion and tomato.
Whisk the dressing and pour over salad. Gently toss to coat. Cover and chill at least an hour before serving.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Beef & Peach Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

There were several days this week where the weather was just spectacular... 80 degree days, bright clear crisp blue skies that make the sprawling green lawns and budding trees look even greener. AHHHH it was just heavenly, and Spring Fever really kicked into high gear for me. Tis the season where I start "jonesin" for summer salads.

This salad was mentioned by one of my favorite new blogs, The Nutritionista. It is a recipe from Real Simple, and it was obscenely good. So good in fact, that my friend and I devoured it like wild animals. I can't wait to make it again!


I made a few adjustments of my own. It calls for watercress, which I love... but couldn't find the day I made it. So I used bibb lettuce and I also used flank steak instead of Roast Beef (it is leaner and I actually enjoy it more).

Ingredients-
makes 4-6 servings

2 bunches of watercress, thick stems removed (or any type of lettuce you love)
2 cucumbers, roughly chopped
4 ripe peaches, cut into wedges
1 lb of flank steak- grilled to your liking and cubed
1/4 cup lime juice
1 1/2 tsp sugar
kosher salt and pepper
1 small close garlic, finely chopped
2 tsp finely grated ginger
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 large shallots

- In a large bowl combine watercress, cucumbers, peaches and beef.
- Pour lime juice into a small bowl and whisk in the sugar & 1/2 tsp salt until dissolved. Add garlic, ginger and 1/4 tsp pepper. Slowly add oil in a steady stream whisking constantly until emulsified. Stir in Shallots.
-Transfer the salad to serving bowl or platter and drizzle vinaigrette over the top.