Avocado Chopped Salad Two Ways: with Grilled Shrimp or Potato Gallette – And Grillin’ Season Continues!

June 15, 2011 in Healthy Fare, Side Dishes, Vegetarian Entrees

Potato Galette Avocado Salad Square

Potato Gallette Avocado Chopped Salad

I grew up in heat. Lots of heat. Giant blow-dryer heat. Cook-an-egg-on-the-sidewalk heat. Skin-sticks-to-the-chair heat.

They say in Tucson, “it’s a dry heat,” so it feels cooler. I disagree. If it’s 115 out, it’s hot, hot, HOT.

We kids used to do odd things to keep cool in the summers. We ran through the sprinklers. We laid in the shady carport so our bare stomachs could be against the cool smooth cement playing Go Fish.  We drank lemonade all day long. We rode around town at night with all the car windows rolled down. Sometimes we ate banana splits for dinner. And we ate tons and tons of cold salads.

One of my favorites is the simplest chopped salad you can make: cool, creamy avocados paired with ripe tomatoes and tart grassy green onions. All tossed with a light Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette. This is a salad that just screams “SUMMER” in your mouth, and on your plate.

Grilled Shrimp Avocado Square

Avocado Chopped Salad topped with Smoked Paprika Grilled Shrimp

 

It’s also a healthy take on potato salad for the June Daring Cooks challenge and the potato version makes for a perfect Meatless Monday treat.

So, let’s summarize: easy, cool, refreshing, healthy. Summer conquered!

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Southwest Sweet Potato Salad

March 30, 2009 in Gluten Free, Healthy Fare, Side Dishes, Vegan Recipes

Southwest Sweet Potato Salad

It’s true, I can’t get enough. I could eat sweet potatoes every day, easily. (As could my almost-one year old daughter!) Here’s another, great for spring and summer, perfect for picnics as there’s no pesky mayo to worry about, and sure to be a healthy hit.

SOUTHWEST SWEET POTATO SALAD

1/4 cup red wine vinegar
5 garlic cloves, 2 minced and 3 peeled but whole
2 teaspoons cumin
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
dash chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 1/2 to 2 inch chunks
2 poblano peppers, seeded, roasted, skinned and diced*
2 cups corn
2 red bell peppers, diced
3 scallions, chopped
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped

Whisk together vinegar, seasonings and the two minced garlic cloves. Slowly whisk in olive oil; set aside. Boil sweet potatoes and remaining three whole garlic cloves in salted water just until fork tender – approximately 20 minutes. Drain and let cool, discarding garlic cloves.

In a large serving bowl, stir together vinaigrette, poblano peppers, corn, bell peppers, scallions and cilantro. Add sweet potatoes and toss together. Add additional salt and coarse black pepper to taste.

*For tips on roasting peppers of all kinds, check this out from The Wednesday Chef!

– posted by Anne