I'm not much of a "salad" eater, but this I love. When cooking for one, I typically prepare pasta, rice, carb-heavy dishes for myself. Sausages and rigatoni, tomato sauce. Rice, eggs, and spam. Fried potatoes with lots of pepper, eggs and pesto. My diet was certainly vegetable and fruit deficient!
But the first time Monsieur P and I cooked together he made me this salad. It was so good we made it again the following night. And again, and again. And since then, I've adapted this staple as my own. It's simple to prepare and utterly delicious.
We buy all the ingredients from the Greenmarket and Whole Foods. The fruits and cheese can be changed/substituted, but the only thing that MUST stay are the cornichons. The salad is not the same without those tart, crisp bites. I get these by the pound and often snack on them for breakfast - nothing like a pucker to wake you up in the mornings.
Here what goes in the salad. Chop, toss and eat.
- 1 bunch red leaf lettuce
- 1 avocado
- 2 small tomatoes
- 1 pear, peach or nectarine
- A dozen or so cornichons
- Crumbled blue cheese or feta, a generous handful
- Olive oil
- Balsamic vinegarPretty straightforward right? I wash the lettuce first. While it dries, I chop up the avocado, tomatoes, and the fruit (we've been using nectarines recently). Then I mix in all in a bowl, adding in the blue cheese or feta (sometimes BOTH ;), and the cornichons. Add olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and give it a light toss. All
pau!
[Note: we always eat the salad with another dish on the side. Tonight it was mac and cheese with crumbled sausage, hehehe.]
Lunch for One: Bouley Studio
Sugar Rush: Strawberry Panna Cotta at Bouchon Bakery
A Sandwich a Day: Salt and Pepper Yam at Num Pang
Sugar Rush: Bagel Pudding at Russ & Daughters
Lunch for One: Mexican at Panya
Sugar Rush: Brioche Gelato Sandwiches at Mia Dona
Sugar Rush: Chocolate-Stuffed Sourdough at Levain Bakery...
...cracked open!
Sugar Rush: Lemon-Raspberry Cake at Almondine Bakery
...at Ben and Sanu's with Monsieur P. How gorgeous is that paella?
Ben whipped up the paella using a recipe from his mother in Spain. It was packed with chorizo from Despaña, fresh shrimp, chicken and pork butt. And ohhh, the seasonings and spices, the crispy top layer of saffron-kissed rice...I wish you could have been there!
Prosciutto, watermelon, and many glasses of prosecco to begin the night. Whites, rosé and reds throughout the meal. And dessert? A smooth finish of green tea and dark chocolate ice cream. Häagen-Dazs seriously makes the best commercial green tea ice cream.
We tumbled home just after midnight, Vicky Cristina Barcelona on the couch. And all of a sudden, it's Monday morning :)
