Posts Tagged With: salad

Zucchini, mint and feta salad with pangrattato

Posted on May 13, 2014 by melhm

If you have a spiraliser gadget then this dish is easy and looks fantastic! If not, then julienne your zucchini by slicing or peeling them into as thin strips as possible.

Fresh from the garden: zucchini, lemon, sage, mint
Recipe source: Melissa
Serves: 6 or 24 tastes

ourekitchengarden.net

Equipment:

  • Food processor
  • Measures – cup, ½ cup, tablespoon, teaspoon
  • Microplane zester
  • Paper towel
  • Large frying pan
  • Spiraliser
  • Scissors
  • Citrus juicer
  • Serving bowls and smaller bowls for pangrattato

 

 

 Ingredients:For the pangrattato:

  • 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Half a small loaf of sourdough bread
  • 1/2 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
  • 1 lemon
  • 3 sage leaves

For the salad:

  • 3 zucchini
  • A small branch of mint leaves
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 200g Danish feta
  • Flaked salt

What to do:

For pangrattato:

  • Break or tear the sourdough into small chunks and then blend up in the food processor until they resemble breadcrumbs. You’ll need about a heaped cup worth.
  • Wash and wipe the lemon dry, then zest the lemon, taking only the thin layer of skin off and leaving the white pith on. Wash the sage leaves and gently press dry with a piece of paper towel. With scissors, snip into thin strips.
  • Heat the 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the frying pan. Add the rest of the pangrattato ingredients and toss until golden and crunchy (this takes about 5 minutes). Taste and add more seasoning if needed. Set aside to cool and crisp up.

For zucchini salad:

  • Wash the zucchini and wipe dry, then spiralise or julienne them into thin strips. Wash the mint, press dry with a piece of paper towel and using the scissors, snip them into thin strips. You should have about 2 tablespoons worth.
  • Cut the zested lemon in half and juice one half.

To finish:

  • Place zucchini in a dish, top with mint leaves, oil and the lemon juice and season with a grind of pepper. Check the seasoning and add a sprinkle of salt if needed. Unwrap the feta and crumble it into the zucchini. Toss to combine and divide out into your serving bowls.
  • To serve, top salad with a little of the pangrattato and serve the rest in little bowls on the side for each person to help themselves to, just before eating.

Notes: What does a heaped cup mean? What does a spiraliser do? What is pith?

ourkitchengarden.net

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Autumn salad with crunchy croutons

Posted on March 29, 2014 by melhm

We play around with all sort of ingredients in our salads, and this autumn we’ve had beautiful watermelon radishes to include too, as well as the most more-ish spicy croutons.

ourkitchengarden.net

Fresh from the garden: lettuce and salad leaves, tomatoes, radishes, flowers, herbs, lemon
Recipe source: Melissa
Serves: 6 or 24 tastes

Equipment:

  • Small saucepan
  • Chopping board & knife
  • Baking sheet & baking paper
  • Scales
  • Chopping boards & knife
  • Bowls – large, medium, small
  • Small saucepan
  • 2 salad spinners
  • Tea towels, paper towel
  • Mortar & pestle
  • Citrus juicer
  • Measures: 1/3 cup, tablespoon, teaspoon, ½ & ¼ teaspoon
  • Whisk, tongs
  • Serving bowls

 

 

 

 Ingredients:

For the croutons

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • Half a loaf of sourdough bread
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

For the salad

  • A big bunch salad leaves (lettuces, tatsoi)
  • A few edible flowers & leaves
  • Tomatoes, radishes, spring onions

Herby vinaigrette dressing

  • 1 clove garlic
  • Flaked salt & black pepper
  • 1 lemon
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • A small handful herbs

What to do:

  • For the croutons: Preheat the oven to 200C. Gently melt the butter in the small saucepan.
  • Carefully cut the bread into slices and then into cubes.
  • Combine the melted butter and tablespoon of olive oil in a large bowl. Add the cubes of bread, and toss until coated. Sprinkle with salt, cayenne pepper, and black pepper, toss until evenly coated. Spread the bread in a single layer on a baking paper-lined sheet. Bake until croutons are golden for about 10 minutes.
  • For the salad: Fill up 2 big bowls with cold water & wash the salad leaves in several changes of water. Spin dry and wipe the bowls dry. Lay out the tea towel and line it with paper towel. Spread the salad leaves over the paper and roll the whole lot up like a log. Keep the rolled parcel of leaves in the fridge until needed.
  • Fill up the medium bowl with water and wash the herbs and small garnishing leaves & flowers. Dry on a piece of paper towel and reserve in a small bowl. Wash and drain the radishes, tomatoes and spring onions (peeling outer layer) & slice into small pieces.
  • For the vinaigrette: Peel the garlic clove and put it in the mortar with a large pinch of salt. Pound to a paste. Juice the lemon and add the juice to the mortar (without pips) then stir the lot with a teaspoon and scrape it into a large mixing bowl. Stir in the oil and grind some pepper, then whisk the dressing lightly. Wash and pat the herb sprigs dry and pick off the leaves, and add to the dressing.
  • To finish: Unwrap the parcel of salad leaves & tip them into the bowl with the dressing. Gently turn the leaves in the dressing using your hands or tongs, and then transfer the dressed leaves to the serving bowls. Place the tomatoes, radishes & spring onion in the dressing and then add to the salad with garnishing flowers & leaves. Serve immediately with croutons scattered on top.
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Quinoa tabbouleh with poached eggs

Posted on March 20, 2014 by melhm

White quinoa is the most common variety, but red quinoa is also available and has a nuttier flavour. They can be used interchangeably. Quinoa is a fabulous alternative to grains and is gluten-free.

ourkitchengarden.net

Fresh from the garden: basil, parsley, lemons, mint, cucumbers, tomatoes
Recipe source: Melissa
Serves: 4 or 24 tastes 

Equipment:

  • Stockpot with lid
  • Measures: cup, ½ cup, tablespoon, teaspoon, ¼ teaspoon
  • Wooden spoon, fork, teaspoon
  • Salad spinner
  • Microplane zester
  • Citrus juicer
  • Chopping board & knife
  • Peeler
  • Bowls – large, medium& 4 small
  • Measuring jug
  • Serving bowls
  • Deep-sided frying pan
  • Tea towel

 

 

 

 

 Ingredients:

Cook quinoa:

  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 1½ cups water
  • 1 teaspoon cooking salt

Make tabbouleh:

  • 4 large handfuls of parsley (about 2 cups when chopped)
  • 1 large handful mint leaves (about ½ cup when chopped)
  • 1 large handful basil leaves (about ½ cup when chopped)
  • 1 teaspoon flaked salt plus extra
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 lemons
  • 1 medium cucumber
  • 2 medium tomatoes
  • ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 4 fresh eggs

What to do:

  • Toast quinoa in a stockpot over gentle heat, stirring frequently until fragrant for about 6 minutes. Add the water and 1 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until grains are tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork and let cool to room temperature.
  • Wash, spin dry and pick the leaves from the stems of the herbs and coarsely chop.
  • Zest one lemon then cut both lemons and squeeze through the citrus juicer to yield about 4 tablespoons juice.
  • Peel the cucumber, cut in half lengthways and scrape out the seeds with the teaspoon. Wash the tomatoes and wipe dry, then cut the cucumber and the tomatoes into small dice about ½cm square.
  • Add all the ingredients to the large bowl, measure the olive oil and pour into the bowl, mixing thoroughly to combine.
  • Meanwhile, to poach eggs, fill the medium sized frying pan 5cm deep with water and bring to a simmer. Carefully crack an egg into a small bowl without breaking it and then gently slide into the water one at a time until all four are in the water. Let the pan sit for 4 minutes at a bare simmer.
  • Divide the tabbouleh amongst serving bowls and using the slotted spoon, scoop up an egg, drain it quickly on a clean tea towel and pop on top of each bowl. Sprinkle with salt and serve!

ourkitchengarden.net

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Composed salad

Posted on March 3, 2014 by melhm

The list of ingredients we can add to a salad is endless… here at Bondi we base this Composed Salad on lettuce leaves, fresh herbs and a wonderfully zingy lemon and garlic dressing, but we are always looking to add something new and special: green beans; juicy bush tomatoes, eggs…

ourkitchengarden.net

Fresh from the garden: Salad leaves, tomatoes, eggs, lemons, cucumbers, celery, beans, basil, parsley, chives, oregano – the list goes on…!
Serves: 6 or 24 tastes

Equipment:

  • Baking tray
  • Chopping boards & knife
  • Bowls – large, medium, small
  • Small saucepan & lid
  • 2 salad spinners
  • Tea towel, paper towel
  • Mortar & pestle
  • Citrus juicer
  • Measures: 1/3 cup, teaspoon
  • Whisk, tongs
  • Serving bowls
 Ingredients:

  • A handful of cherry or bush tomatoes
  • A small handful of thyme
  • A big bunch salad leaves (lettuces, rocket, tatsoi)
  • A few garnishing flowers & leaves
  • Bush tomatoes, green beans, spring onions, eggs etc

Marjoram vinaigrette dressing

  • 1 clove garlic
  • Flaked salt & black pepper
  • 1 lemon
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 sprigs marjoram

ourkitchengarden.net

What to do:

  • Preheat the oven to 150C. Wash and slice the tomatoes in half and place on the baking tray. Wash and pat the thyme stalks dry and strip the leaves onto the tomatoes. Drizzle with a teaspoon or two of olive oil and a pinch of salt and roast for 30 minutes.
  • Place the eggs carefully into the saucepan and fill with cold water. Set them to boil with the lid on, then once the water starts boiling, time them for 4 minutes. Drain and run cold water over them until cool, then peel and quarter.
  • Fill up 2 big bowls with cold water & wash the salad leaves in several changes of water. Spin dry and wipe the bowls dry. Wash then top-and-tail the beans.
  • Lay out the tea towel and line it with paper towel. Spread the salad leaves over the paper and roll the whole lot up like a log. Keep the rolled parcel of leaves in the fridge until needed.
  • Fill up the medium bowl with water and wash the herbs and small garnishing leaves. Dry on a piece of paper towel andreserve in a small bowl.
  • Peel the garlic clove and put it in the mortar with a large pinch of salt. Pound to a paste. Juice the lemon and add the juice to the mortar (without pips) then stir the lot with ateaspoon and scrape it into a large mixing bowl. Stir in the oil and grind some pepper, then whisk the dressing lightly. Wash and pat the marjoram dry and pick off the leaves, and add to the dressing.
  • Unwrap the parcel of salad leaves & tip them into the bowl with the dressing. Gently turn the leaves in the dressing using your hands or tongs, and then transfer the dressed leaves to the serving bowls. Add the eggs, the tomatoes, beans and any other extras and the garnishing petals & leaves and serve immediately with a last drizzle of the dressing.

Notes: Where does the word vinaigrette come from? What other salad dressings could you use? Why do we wash the leaves so well? Why do we roll the leaves up to put them in the fridge?

ourkitchengarden.net

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The holiday salad (AKA the Salad with Massaged Kale)

Posted on January 4, 2014 by melhm

This is where we clean out the garden in preparation for the big break… so expect the unexpected! Why do we massage kale? To soften it and infuse it with the wonderful flavours of olive oil and lemon. Also we recently discovered the delicious crunchiness of radish pods – if you purposefully let your radish harvest go to seed, you’ll be rewarded with unfeasibly long and spindly branches of delicate flowers complete with the most amazing – and not too hot – pods to eat straight off the plant, or include in your favourite salad. Here’s our version:

ourkitchengarden.net

Fresh from the garden: The last veggies of the year…
Recipe source: Melissa with inspiration from Allison!
Serves: 4 or 24 tastes

Equipment:

  • Mortar and pestle
  • Citrus juicer
  • Measures: 1/3 cup, teaspoon
  • Teaspoon
  • Scissors
  • Paper towel
  • Bowls – 2 big, med, 4 small
  • Salad spinner
  • Chopping boards and knives
  • 2 frying pans, one deep-sided
  • Slotted spoon

 

 

What to do:

 Ingredients:

  • Cavolo nero
  • Lettuce, rocket, baby spinach
  • Beans, bok choy
  • Tomatoes
  • Radish pods
  • 1 egg per person
  • Ground coriander

Herby vinaigrette dressing

  • 1 clove garlic
  • Flaked salt & black pepper
  • 1 lemon
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • A small handful mixed herbs: parsley, marjoram, thyme, chives
  • For the dressing: Peel the garlic clove and put it in the mortar with a large pinch of salt. Pound to a paste. Juice the lemon and add the juice to the mortar (without pips) then stir the lot with the teaspoon and scrape it into the large bowl. Stir in the oil and grind some pepper, then whisk the dressing lightly. Wash and spin dry the herbs, pick off the leaves and snip finely with the scissors. Add to the dressing.
  • For the massaged kale: Wash the kale and using scissors, strip the leaves from the stalks in small pieces. Dry really well with paper towel, then place in a bowl and squeeze a segment of lemon over with a pinch of flaked salt and a teaspoon of olive oil. Massage all the flavour into the kale for 5 minutes until the kale is soft and juicy.
  • Fill up the 2 big bowls with cold water & wash the salad leaves in several changes of water. Spin dry and wipe the bowls dry. Fill the small bowl with water and wash the small garnishing leaves, flowers and radish pods. Reserve them carefully on a piece of paper towel then keep separate in the bowl.
  • Wash the beans and snip the stalk-ends off. Wash the bok choy & tomato & chop. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a frying pan & add the beans, bok choy & tomato with a pinch of salt, a squeezed clove of garlic & a teaspoon of ground coriander. Cook on high for a few minutes.
  • Meanwhile, to poach eggs, fill the deep-sided frying pan 5cm deep with water and bring to a simmer. Fill the large bowl with cold water. Carefully crack each egg into a small bowl without breaking it and then carefully slide into the water. Let the pan sit for 4 minutes before removing each egg into the bowl of cold water with a slotted spoon and reserving until needed.
  • Add the salad leaves to the bowl with the herbs and the dressing. Gently turn the leaves in the dressing using a clean hand without squishing the leaves.
  • Pile up the dressed leaves into the serving bowls, carefully drain an egg and place in each bowl with the massaged kale, beans, bok choy, garnishing petals, leaves & pods, & serve immediately.
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Rocket and herbed feta salad

Posted on January 4, 2014 by melhm

Salad is a tiny word for a massive selection of broad-ranging ingredients, held together by any number of sauces, unguents and potions. Here’s another one to add to the list!

ourkitchengarden.net

Fresh from the garden: rocket, lettuces, early tomatoes, radishes, limehairy (perennial basil), marjoram, parsley, garlic, lemon
Recipe source: Melissa
Serves: 4 or 24 tastes

Equipment:

  • Bowls – big, medium
  • Salad spinner
  • Chopping boards & knife
  • Measures: tablespoon, teaspoon
  • Tongs
  • Small jar & lid
  • Scissors
  • Colander
  • Serving bowls or plates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Ingredients:

  • A small handful limehairy leaves
  • A small handful marjoram
  • A small handful parsley
  • A block of Danish feta (150–200g)
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 handfuls rocket & lettuce leaves
  • Any early tomatoes and radishes
  • A few edible flowers

For the dressing:

  • One small piece of preserved lemon
  • ½ small garlic clove
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • A pinch of sugar
  • Flaked salt and black pepper

What to do:

  • To make the herbed feta: Wash the herbs, spin them dry and then pick off all the leaves. Chop them finely on a small chopping board and then unwrap the feta and then place it on the herb mixture. Slice the feta into small cubes, turning them over in the herbs, and then drizzle with a tablespoon of olive oil. Reserve until needed.
  • To make the dressing: Using tongs, take out a small piece of preserved lemon out of the jar and rinse under cold water. Using a small sharp knife, scrape off the fleshy inside part and discard. Chop up the remaining skin very finely and add to the jar, along with the rest of the dressing ingredients, season with salt and pepper, and shake until emulsified.
  • Fill up a big bowl with cold water and wash the rocket and lettuce leaves gently, emptying and refilling several times before draining and spinning dry. Chop or snip any large leaves into 2 or 3 pieces and reserve in a clean and dry big bowl.
  • Wash the tomatoes and carefully slice into small mouth-sized pieces and place in a medium bowl. Scrub the radishes and slice very thinly, adding them to the tomatoes. Drizzle a tablespoon of dressing into the bowl.
  • Drizzle the rest of the dressing onto the rocket and lettuce and gently toss to coat.
  • Divide the dressed leaves on to your serving bowls or plates and distribute the tomatoes, radish and feta cubes over the salad.
  • Garnish with the edible flowers and serve straight away.

Notes: What does emulsified mean? What is limehairy also known as?

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Eurasian slaw!

Posted on October 29, 2013 by melhm

As ‘Dude’ food reaches its zenith in Sydney restaurants, we feel we must join the wagon trail rather than beat it… and this is a rather great way to climb on board! The beauty of this dish lies in the freshness of the ingredients – but also in the precision of the slicing – as the finer, the better…

ourkitchengarden.net

Fresh from the garden: red cabbage, cavolo nero, carrots, radishes, celery, coriander
Recipe source: Melissa
Serves: 6 or 24 tastes

Equipment:

  • Frying pan
  • Jar with lid
  • Measures: jug, ¼ cup, tablespoon, teaspoon, ½ teaspoon
  • Chopping board & knife
  • Colander
  • Graters
  • Salad spinner
  • Bowls – large, med, small
  • Serving bowls

 

 Ingredients:

  • 1 small or half a large red cabbage
  • 3 leaves cavolo nero (Tuscan kale)
  • 2 carrots
  • 3 radishes
  • 2 stalks of celery
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
  • A small handful coriander

Spicy Soy Sesame Dressing:

  • 30ml light soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 30ml sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes
  • Salt and sugar to taste

What to do:

  • Heat the frying pan and gently dry-toast the sesame seeds for a minute or so, making sure they don’t burn. Put a teaspoons-worth into the jar for the dressing and reserve the rest for the garnish.
  • Make the Spicy Soy Sesame Dressing by adding all the dressing ingredients together in a jar. Adjust seasoning as per taste. Shake well with lid on and set aside.
  • Meanwhile separate out all the cabbage leaves and wash well under running water. Shake dry then trimming the stalk into the chook bucket, super-finely slice the leaves into thin shreds.
  • Wash the kale leaves and shake dry. Cut the leaves from the stalks, discarding the stalks into the compost, and slice the leaves into super-fine ribbons.
  • Wash and peel the carrots and grate. Wash and scrub the radishes, cut in half and slice super-thinly. Wash the celery and shake dry. Finely slice into little crescents.
  • Wash and spin the coriander dry. Finely slice the stalks and add to a big bowl. Chop the leaves and reserve for the garnish.
  • Add the rest of the vegetables to the large bowl and mix well. Lightly spoon a generous amount of the dressing over it, stir well, and chill in the fridge until ready to serve.
  • Just before serving add the rest of the dressing to the slaw, and divide into serving bowls, sprinkling on the reserved toasted sesame seeds and the coriander leaves. Eat!

Notes: What does Eurasian mean? What is rice vinegar? What is slaw short for?

ourkitchengarden.net

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Salad of broad beans, radishes and goats cheese

Posted on October 7, 2013 by melhm

This salad is a beautiful celebration of spring, with lots of lovely contrasting textures and flavours…

ourkitchengarden.net

Fresh from the garden: lettuces, broad beans, radishes, snap peas, marjoram, edible flowers
Recipe source: Melissa
Serves: 6 at home or 24 tastes

Equipment:

  • Saucepan & lid
  • Bowls – 2 large, 2 med, 1 small
  • Colander
  • 2 salad spinners
  • Paper towel
  • Mandoline
  • Potato peeler
  • Measuring – 1/4 cup, tablespoon, teaspoon
  • A small jar with lid
  • Plates or bowls to serve
 Ingredients:

  • A handful lettuce leaves
  • A large handful broad beans in pod
  • A small handful radishes
  • A small punnet snap peas
  • 2 sprigs marjoram
  • 150g goats’ cheese
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • A teaspoon of honey
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • Flaked salt & black pepper
  • Edible flowers

What to do:

  • Fill the saucepan with water & set to boil on high heat.
  • Pod the broad beans, discarding the outer shell into the compost and add beans to the boiling water. Fill a large bowl with cold water and have ready.
  • Boil the broad beans for 3 minutes, drain and then immediately refresh in the bowl of cold water. Drain again and double-pod by slipping the outer shell off into the compost. Reserve beans.
  • Wash the lettuce leaves really well and spin dry in sections, reserving in a large clean, dry bowl. Wash & dry the marjoram sprigs, picking the leaves and leaving whole. Gently wash the flowers and reserve on a piece of paper towel until ready to use.
  • Scrub the radishes clean, wipe dry and using the mandoline or a peeler, carefully slice into thin discs.
  • Wash the snap peas, then top-and-tail each one, de-stringing as you go. Slice each bean in half or thirds.
  • For the dressing, measure the olive oil, red wine vinegar and honey and pour them into the jar. Add a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and then put the lid on & give the jar a good shake.
  • Drizzle the dressing around the large lettuce bowl and gently turn the leaves with your fingers.
  • Place the leaves in the serving bowls, then pour the broad beans, radish slices and snap peas into the bowl and mix to cover in the residual dressing. Then sprinkle over each bowl of leaves.
  • Break the goats cheese into small chunks with your fingers and divide over the salads with the marjoram leaves.
  • Finish by carefully placing the flowers on top of the bowls of salad. Serve immediately!

Notes: What does residual mean? Why do we use honey vinaigrette here instead of our usual lemony dressing? Can you name some edible flowers?

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A simple side salad

Posted on September 9, 2013 by melhm

This is a lovely salad to pair with heavily flavoured dishes and is easy and quick to assemble. You get the option too of inventing your own salad dressing!

ourkitchengarden.net

Fresh from the garden: lettuce, rocket, radishes, snap peas, edible flowers, garlic, herbs
Recipe source: Melissa
Serves: 6 tastes

Equipment:

  • Bowl – large
  • Asalad spinner
  • Tea towel, kitchen paper
  • Chopping board& knife
  • Citrus juicer
  • Jar with lid
  • Serving bowl

 

 Ingredients:

  • A small head of lettuce
  • A few garnishing flowers
  • A couple of radishes
  • A small handful of snap peas

Salad dressing ingredients:

  • Balsamic or red wine vinegar or lemon juice
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
  • Mustard
  • Garlic
  • Honey
  • Herbs
  • Flaked salt

What to do:

  • Fill up the big bowl with cold water & wash the salad leaves & flowers separately in several changes of water, making sure that no dirt remains. Spin the leaves dry and then wipe the bowls dry.
  • Scrub the radishes clean under running water and then slice into thin discs.
  • Wash the snap peas and then top and tail each one, de-stringing as you go. Chop any large snap peas in half or even thirds.
  • Tip the leaves into a bowl, tearing large leaves into smaller mouth-sized pieces. Tear the petals from the flowers and put in bowl too with the radish slices and snap peas.
  • Make your salad dressing – you can use any combination of the ingredients listed above, and use honey, garlic or mustard if you like. The correct ratio is 3 times as much oil to vinegar – so for example 1 teaspoon of balsamic to 3 teaspoons of olive oil. If you use herbs, make sure you wash, spin dry and prepare them first.Put your ingredients in the jar and shake well to emulsify, and taste as you go!
  • Drizzle the dressing over the leaves and gently toss the leaves, then pile the salad up into the serving bowls.
  • Serve immediately.

 Notes: How do you de-string a snap pea? Why do we completely dry the leaves before adding the dressing? What does to emulsify mean? What does to top and tail mean?

ourkitchengarden.net

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Leafy salad of mushrooms, goats cheese and roasted chickpeas

Posted on September 9, 2013 by melhm

There is a lot going on in this salad but it’s definitely worth the extra effort!

ourkitchengarden.net

Fresh from the garden: Lettuce, kale, rocket, mushrooms, edible flowers, garlic, lemon, parsley, marjoram, thyme, coriander, oregano
Recipe source: Melissa
Serves: 6 or 24 tastes 

Equipment:

  • Colander
  • Baking tray and paper
  • Bowls – 2 large, 2 med
  • Measures: 1/3 cup, tablespoon, teaspoon, ½ teaspoon
  • Scales
  • 2 salad spinners
  • Tea towel
  • Kitchen paper
  • Chopping board& knife
  • Mortar & pestle
  • Citrus juicer
  • Mezzaluna
  • Serving bowls

 

 

 

 

 Ingredients:

  • A large handful kale, rocket & lettuce leaves
  • A few garnishing flowers
  • A handful mushrooms
  • 100g goats cheese

Roasted chickpeas

  • A 400g tin of chickpeas
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon flaked salt
  • 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander

Herby vinaigrette dressing

  • 1 clove garlic
  • Flaked salt & black pepper
  • 1 lemon
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • A small handful mixed herbs: parsley, marjoram, thyme, coriander

What to do:

For the chickpeas:

  • Preheat oven to 170°C. Line the baking tray with baking paper.
  • Drain and rinse the tin of chickpeas and place in the large bowl. Sprinkle with the salt, olive oil and spices, toss to coat and then place chickpeas on prepared tray.
  • Roast the chickpeas for 30 minutes until golden and crispy. Cool chickpeas on baking tray.

For the salad:

  • Strip the kale from the stalks, then fill up the 2 big bowls with cold water & wash the kale leaves, the separated lettuce leaves and rocket separately in several changes of water, making sure that no dirt remains. Spin the leaves dry and then wipe the bowls dry.
  • Tear the salad leaves into mouth-sized pieces and slice the kale and rocket into very thin strips. Keep all the leaves ready to go in a big bowl.
  • Wash and carefully dry the flowers and keep reserved. Wash and spin dry the herbs, and pick off the leaves.
  • Wipe the mushrooms free from dirt using a piece of paper towel and then thinly slice. Place in a big bowl, drizzle over a tablespoon of olive oil with a pinch of flaked salt and toss.

To make the dressing:

  • Peel the garlic clove andput it in the mortar with a large pinch of salt.Pound to a paste.
  • Juice the lemon and add the juice to the mortar (without the pips) then stir the lot with the teaspoon and scrape it into the medium bowl.
  • Stir in the olive oil and grindsome pepper, then whisk the dressing lightly. Add the herbs, chopping any large leaves in the mezzaluna if needed. Add to the dressing in the medium bowl.

To assemble:

  • Whisk the dressing and then add to the bowl of salad leaves, kale and rocket. Add the mushrooms and gently turn in the dressing using your hands or tongs.
  • Transfer the dressed salad to the serving bowls, crumble over the goats’ cheese and then scatter over the chickpeas. Finish by carefully placing the flowers on each bowl.
  • Serve straight away!

Notes: What is the right way to wash the leaves?Why do we completely dry the leaves before adding the dressing? What do the roasted chickpeas taste like?

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