A nice salad from Nice.
Weeknight salads can be a hum-drum collection of wilted greens and mediocre accoutrements. They can be hard to look forward to. But they don't have to be.
For a quick and fun porch dinner I like to make a salade composee. A fancy way of saying a big bed of dressed greens and whatever meat or veggies you have laying around. Last night's dinner was a Salade Nicoise, a traditional salad from Nice, France. Folks have been fighting over what goes in that traditional salad for years.* But I don't get that fussy.
The arrangement of this salad makes for a fun meal to share with a few folks over a bottle of rose.
Could be a great way to end your week and use your left over chicken , shaved turnips and crisp cucumbers.
The secret here is a really good bottle of olive oil to drizzle over the veggies with a heavy pinch of Maldon salt. Oh, did I mention the rose?
Bon Appetit!
*From Wikipedia: "Former Nice mayor and cookbook author Jacques Medecin was a strict salad traditionalist. His 1972 cookbook Cuisine Nicoise: Recipes from a Mediterranean Kitchen called for the salad to be served in a wooden bowl rubbed with garlic, and excluded boiled vegetables: "never, never, I beg you, include boiled potato or any other boiled vegetable in your salade niçoise." Médecin wrote that the salad should be made "predominately of tomatoes" which should be "salted three times and moistened with olive oil" Yikes.
WHAT'S IN THE BAG?
HALF SHARE
Omnivore Protein - Chicken and Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Pescatarian Protein -Tuna from Red's Best; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Vegetarians - Tofu from 21st Century Foods, Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Paleo Proteins - Chicken and Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Fruits and Veggies - Red Onions, Lettuce from Brookford Farm; Turnips from Clark Farm, and Raspberries from Kimball Fruit Farm
Grain - Granola from Iggy's Bakery
Special Treat - Chocolate Covered Nuts from Taza Chocolate
WHOLE SHARE
Omnivore Protein - Chicken and Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Haydari (contains DAIRY!) from Magic Bites
Pescatarian Protein - Tuna and Pollock from Red's Best; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Haydari (contains DAIRY!) from Magic Bites
Paleo Proteins - Chicken and Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Fruits and Veggies - Red Onions, Lettuce from Brookford Farm; Turnips from Clark Farm, and Raspberries from Kimball Fruit Farm; Cucumbers from Busa Farm; Carrots from Brookford Farm
Grain - Granola from Iggy's Bakery
Special Treat - Chocolate Covered Nuts from Taza Chocolate
DOUBLE SHARE
Omnivore Protein - Chicken and Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Tuna from Red's Best; Haydari (contains DAIRY!) from Magic Bites; Cottage Cheese from Brookford Farm
Fruits and Veggies - Red Onions, Lettuce from Brookford Farm; Turnips from Clark Farm, and Raspberries from Kimball Fruit Farm; Yellow Squash, Potatoes and Cucumbers from Busa Farm; Carrots from Brookford Farm
Grain - Granola and Pizza flats from Iggy's Bakery
Special Treat - Chocolate Covered Nuts from Taza Chocolate and Maple Syrup
RECIPES
Grilled Oregano Chicken: I know that asking folks to flare up the oven or grill in the summer is a heavy ask. But if you get your roasting or grilling done in the morning you beat most of the heat and have your bird ready for salads, sandwiches or this main dish, which can be served at room temp.
Vegan Tofu Caesar Salad: I would skip the vegan dressing here but really love the idea of a spicy tofu to top a caesar salad. For a vegetarian dressing, try this guy.
Grilled Tuna: Listen to Queen Ina, DO NOT COOK THAT HEAVENLY FISH TOO LONG!