Chop Chop Salad in a Jar

Note: This is part of the Traveling Picnic episode were we featured three ethnic inspired lunches (French, Asian & Italian). I separated the recipes out individually to provide you with a better search option.

This is an Italian inspired lunch in the form of a salad - it's like an antipasto in a jar. Travels very well but because it has meat and cheese,  it should be kept in a cooler. For dessert, pick up some fresh fruit from a roadside stand, dip it in some cool and creamy mascarpone cheese and you have a fabulous roadside lunch. For a little extra zip, try drizzling the balsamic vinegar on the mascarpone before dipping fruit into it. Delizioso!

Serves 2       

Prep time: 20 minutes     

Cook time: zero

 Salad

1 romaine heart, washed, dried and chopped

½ pint cherry tomatoes, washed and halved

3 celery ribs, chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped

10-20 pitted Kalamata olives, rough chopped

10 basil leaves, cut into thin ribbons or torn

1/3 lb. fresh mozzarella, cut into small dice

1/3 lb. salami, cut into small dice

Vinaigrette

2 tsp. Diamond Kosher salt

freshly ground pepper

1 clove garlic, smashed (optional)

1/3 cup Lucini Balsamic vinegar

¾ to 1 cup California Olive Ranch extra virgin olive oil

Layer the salad ingredients in a large Mason jar. In a small jar that has a lid, add the salt, garlic (if using) and vinegar. Close jar and shake to dissolve salt. Add ¾ cup of olive oil, close jar and shake well. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. You may add additional oil and shake if you like your vinaigrette less piquant.

Pack the vinaigrette separately from the salad. Five to ten minutes before eating, dress the salad. You should start by using a third of the dressing and adding more to taste. You can dress the salad in the jar and give it a few good shakes, or toss the salad in a bowl to serve. Refrigerate and save any remaining dressing for your next salad.

Encores: Chop Chop salad is like an antipasto plate chopped up and made into a salad. It lends itself well to improvisation. If you have some leftover chicken, ham or steak, chop it up and add it to the salad in addition to or instead of the salami. You can experiment with the cheese as well. Substitute feta, chicken and rosemary in place of the fresh mozzarella, salami and basil and you will have a totally different and delicious salad. You may also add additional fresh or pickled vegetables that you have on hand.

Summer Solstice Salmon Breakfast

This weekend, the store where I work is having an incredible sale on wild Bristol Bay Sockeye salmon-$7.99 lb cut and wrapped! Incredible. Needless to say, I cleaned out my little freezer and bought one. I'm thinking I'll buy two more, maybe three. This Sockeye is soo delicious and fresh, you barely need to do any preparation.  I simply drizzled it with good olive oil, sprinkled with sea salt and pepper and baked it at 325' for about 15-20 minutes. When it is done to your liking (and I prefer mine a little more rare in the middle) squeeze some fresh lemon juice on top and boom! Done, divine and delicious.  I refrigerated what I didn't devour last night and made this beautiful breakfast to celebrate the Solstice. I prefer a savory breakfast and this was quick and easy and so satisfying. In five minutes I had breakfast: a bowl of baby arugula, half an avocado diced,  a hunk of salmon, two forkfuls of raw sauerkraut, half a lemon squeezed over the top, a drizzle of that good olive oil, sesame seeds and for the grand finale Jacobsen salt. To round it off, a lovely smattering of fresh picked raspberries from Sauvie Island from my friend Els. Try it, what a lovely way to begin your day with a healthy bowl of Superfoods!

Chicken and Feta Salad

Starting with what I like to call "chicken on the run", this rotisserie or roasted chicken salad is very versatile. For lighter fare you may wish to add tender mixed greens or for a more robust meal add cooked quinoa or couscous. We did both and it was delicious!

Chicken and Feta Salad

Prep Time: 20 minutes 
Cooking Time: none

Serves 4-6

4 cups of chopped, cooked chicken from a Rotisserie chicken

4 to 6 ounces of feta cheese, crumbled

12 mint leaves, chopped

4 green onions, thinly sliced

2 cups of grapes, washed and sliced in half (preferably organic)

Dressing

4 Tbls. lemon juice

1 Tbls. honey

1 tsp. Diamond Kosher salt

freshly ground pepper

¾ cup California Olive Ranch extra virgin olive oil

Optional

Sliced radishes

Chopped cucumbers
Chopped toasted nuts

Salad greens

Cooked Alter Eco Organic Royal Pearl Quinoa

Cooked rice

Pita bread

In a small lidded jar or bowl, combine lemon juice, honey and salt. Shake or whisk well. Add olive oil and shake to emulsify. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper. Set aside. In a medium bowl (or use your multi-task  Progressive Salad Spinner bowl) combine chicken, feta, mint, green onions and grapes. Mix gently and start by adding half of the dressing. Mix to incorporate dressing and add more as needed. You may add radishes, cucumbers or celery to the salad. A handful of toasted almonds, pecans or pistachios would also be delicious! 

With Quinoa

You can serve this salad on a bed of mixed greens, in a leaf of romaine or on a bed of cooked quinoa or rice. It also makes a great sandwich in a pita pocket with a few leaves of lettuce and additional dressing or mayonnaise.

Cabbage Slaw with Lime Dressing

This is a perfect accompaniment for the Chicken Molé. The lime and the creaminess of the dressing with the crunch of cabbage, balances nicely with the heat and spices in the complex molé.

Cabbage is a great alternative to tender lettuces in that it tends to hold up a better and is very versatile which comes in handy when camping or on the road.

Cabbage Slaw with Lime Dressing

Serves 4                  

Prep time: 5 minutes    

  

1 16 oz. bag of prepared slaw mix or about 1 lb. of cabbage sliced very thinly

½ cup diced red bell pepper

3 scallions, finely sliced

¼ cup chopped cilantro

Dressing

2 Tbls. Best Foods mayonnaise

½ cup Nancy’s plain yogurt or sour cream or buttermilk

3 Tbls. lime juice

1 Tbls. extra virgin olive oil

½ tsp. Kosher salt plus more to taste

fresh ground pepper 

In a small bowl or jar, whisk or shake together the dressing ingredients. Taste and adjust flavors with salt, pepper and lime juice. Dressing should taste a little extra salty and tangier than you prefer, as the cabbage will soak up the intensity of the flavors. About 15 minutes prior to serving, in a medium large serving bowl, toss slaw mix with the dressing. Taste and adjust seasoning.