Go ahead and skip the mayo with this Mediterranean Pasta Salad that is bright and briny with a wonderful array of ingredients. The zesty dressing made with Dijon and fresh herbs is a burst of flavour that takes this salad to the next level. Olives and pancetta add a nice texture and brininess to the pasta, while the spinach, cherry tomatoes and red onion keep it light and fresh. Mediterranean Pasta Salad is great for picnics, potlucks, backyard BBQ parties and your July long weekend. This salad holds up wonderfully the day it is made so there’s no fear of a soggy salad. The pasta and pancetta can be cooked up to two days ahead so tossing this salad together at the last minute is a cinch. Enjoy!
This recipe was one of the first posted to my blog back in 2016 and I forgot how delicious it is. I felt it deserved a little revival just in time to enjoy for summer.
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water until pasta is cool. Drain well and set aside.
Meanwhile, in a small skillet cook pancetta over medium heat until crispy and fat has been rendered, about 5-7 minutes. Drain well on a paper towel-lined plate.
Whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, basil, oregano, Dijon mustard, red pepper flakes, garlic, salt and pepper.
Toss together pasta, pancetta, spinach, cherry tomatoes, black olives, red onion, parmesan cheese and dressing until combined. Adjust seasoning and serve.
Notes
-fresh herbs are lovely in this recipe, however, if you need to use dry herbs use 1/3 of the amount stated for fresh.-this salad is best served the day it is made but leftovers will keep for 2 days covered in the refrigerator.
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Spring has sprung, and it’s time to start thinking about grilling, fresh berries and salads. Japanese Cabbage Salad is fresh, light and a little bit crunchy for the perfect picnic, side or lunch salad. The change of season brings about fresh and light recipe ideas for blogging but also a welcome change for everyday living. It’s the opportunity to jog outdoors, enjoy long walks and drive to and from work in daylight. These are important things in my world. What’s got you excited for spring?
What I enjoy most about this salad is the almonds, they give a great crunchy texture to every bite. Using the chicken seasoning package from the noodles in the dressing is also genius. It provides a wonderful savoury and salty addition to the mound of cabbage. Japanese Cabbage Salad is great for picnics or potlucks because it holds up very well and there is no mayonnaise to cause concern if left to sit for a while. Have it as a meal by adding grilled or rotisserie chicken, it’s a great lunch.
The recipe suggests letting the salad rest for 30-60 minutes to meld the flavours, but truthfully, I enjoy it just as much the next day after the cabbage has absorbed more of the dressing. It’s rather embarrassing how much of this salad I can eat in one sitting, stopping only because my gut aches from eating so much raw cabbage. I’m not sure that salads are usually what people can’t stop eating but this one hits all the right notes for me. Enjoy
Whisk together the first six ingredients and set aside.
In a large bowl toss together shredded cabbage, almonds and green onion. Add dressing and toss to coat evenly. Break apart ramen noodles into small pieces with your hands and toss with salad. Cover salad and allow to rest in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes to meld flavours and soften the noodles slightly. The salad can be made up to 2 hours in advance, tossing lightly just before serving.
Notes
-Slivered almonds are preferred as they offer the best crunch and size. To toast the almonds preheat the oven to 350°F. Arrange almonds in a single layer in a pie plate or other shallow baking tray. Toast for 8-10 minutes until just starting to turn golden. -Easily make this salad into lunch by topping with cooked chicken.
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Here’s to having plenty of summer days that are too hot to want to cook. Tarragon Chicken Salad is perfect for just such days. No need to cook when tender chicken pairs up with mustard and creamy mayo for a wonderful salad that’s amazing on a crusty roll, croissant, lettuce wrap or cracker.
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Start with cooked chicken, preferably leftovers or even a pre-cooked roaster chicken for convenience. While I’m all for making as much homemade as possible, it’s hard to deny the lure of a plump, juicy roast chicken that’s ready when you need it. Whatever chicken you use, chop it chunky and avoid over mixing it after adding the other ingredients. Overmixing tends to break down the fibres of the chicken a little too much for my liking, so be gentle.
Along with the crisp chopped celery, I also like to add a few of the celery leaves for a bit of freshness. I have left out adding any onions to this chicken salad, however, thinly sliced scallions would be a nice additional touch if desired.
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The tarragon is a wonderful flavour to go with chicken and mustard. You’ll find that the longer it sits in the salad the stronger the flavour will be. It does take a little time for it to meld with everything. By all means use fresh tarragon if you can, using about 3 times the amount of the dry, so in this case, I’d use a tablespoon of fresh. The fresh won’t require the same amount of melding time, simply mix and enjoy!!
Add all ingredients to a medium size bowl starting with 1/3 cup of mayonnaise. Stir gently until combined adjusting creaminess with additional mayonnaise and seasoning to taste with salt and pepper.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes and up to several hours to allow flavours to meld.
Recipe Notes
-The tarragon flavour will become more pronounced the longer the chicken salad sits.
-A precooked roaster chicken that has been chilled works wonderfully.
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It will soon be summer with salads of crisp greens and bitter radicchio. What better way to dress your salad than with homemade Catalina Dressing. I’d say it’s a bit of a forgotten dressing, one that’s been in the shadows of more trendy dressings made with avocado and tofu. Kinda like it doesn’t get to hang out with the cool dressings, but there’s no reason for the snub. Catalina Dressing is sweet and zingy, and just what your greens are screaming for.
It’s not new and maybe even a bit old fashion, but I thinks it’s more that everyone has forgotten how good it really is and all the other great uses it has. Dressing is dressing you might think, but how about mixing it with mayonnaise for a great burger and sandwich spread.Â
Next, you’ll want to add a generous splash of sriracha to that spread and serve as a dip for sweet potato fries or potato wedges. Â
Oh, and did I mention Catalina Dressing makes fantastic chicken wings, yes you read that right, CHICKEN WINGS. Coming soon to the blog, I promise! So never, never underestimate this humble salad dressing, it’s anything but boring.Â
Recipe for Catalina Dressing adapted slightly from:Â Epicurious
Add all ingredients to a medium bowl and whisk until smooth. Allow to rest at room temperature for at least 1 hour to meld flavours. Move to fridge if not using shortly after. Will keep for 1 week refrigerated.
Want a nutritious and satisfying lunch without heavy carbs? Zesty White Bean and Tuna Lettuce Wraps are a great lunch option when trying to cut back on the breads and other starches. A healthy lunch packed with complex carbohydrates, protein and fiber. Plus, the beans and tuna are a good source of vitamins B-6, A, B-12, potassium and magnesium. It’s not your ordinary tuna salad, this one has zip from a little Dijon mustard and lots of capers. There’s plenty dill and parsley and just enough mayonnaise to hold everything together and make things a tad creamy. Perfect with crunchy sprouts and butter leaf lettuce.
These wonderful Zesty White Bean and Tuna Lettuce Wraps are easy to toss together for a quick lunch. The salad can be made ahead of time and wrapped in lettuce at the last minute. Also a good way to extend that can of tuna if you’re looking to have budget friendly meals. If you love white beans, you’ll also want to check outBraised Celery and White Beans Enjoy!
Recipe source for Zesty White Bean and Tuna Lettuce Wraps: Â Compelled To Cook
In a medium size bowl stir together mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, green onions, capers, celery, dill, parsley, salt and pepper. Gently stir in tuna and white beans.
Spread out 2-3 butter leaf lettuce leaves overlapping each leaf to create a solid surface for the salad. Mound an approximate 1/3 cup of tuna and bean salad onto the center of the lettuce bed. Wrap lettuce around salad, tucking in the ends as you roll, much like a cabbage roll. Cut in half and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
Use any white bean that you like here as well as your favourite sprouts or pea shoots for crunch.
Recipe yields a generous 2 cups of tuna and bean salad.
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