Salads of Summer
There is so much incredible produce available in summer, and given that I hate turning my oven on in the warmer months, I've been mixing up delicious salads of all kinds with simple ingredients.
A salad can be whatever you want it to be. Maybe it’s a starter to keep your first-time dinner guest distracted as you try to look effortless and cool while cooking for them. It could be an entrée topped with grilled flank steak as Sunday dinner for you and your SO. Or it could even be a make-ahead lunch packed with beans and fresh veggies that gets better throughout the week (dubbed a DBS or dense bean salad by
). This edition of Sidecar Quips contains one of each, featuring some of the best fruits and vegetables available in summer months. I hope you can keep these salads in your back pocket for when you need them most.For Starters: Tomato, nectarine, avocado
The first time you cook for a new friend can bring a lot of performance anxiety. This salad is great for that - it’s pretty hard to mess up.
Ingredients: Arugula, nectarine, tomato, avocado
Dressing: Salt, lemon juice, and olive oil
The Main Event: Steak and cherries
I am a big believer in proper Sunday Dinner - something a little more special than what you eat throughout the week. I marinated some flank stake in lime juice, soy sauce, and honey for a few hours before my boyfriend grilled it for us. While the steak was absolutely delicious, the cherries were the true star of this dish.
Ingredients: Spring mix, mint, cherries, cucumbers, pistachios, feta, flank steak
Dressing: Lemon Basil Vinaigrette (lemon, basil, olive oil, salt)
Ready for Anything: Corn, tomato, black beans
This is by far the least salad-y of these salads, but it still counts in my book. Corn is abundant this time of year, especially in the U.S., and goes well with ripe cherry tomatoes and whatever beans are in your pantry. Some avocado would also work well tossed in here. It stores well in the fridge, and you can eat it with lettuce, on chips, or with a spoon.
Ingredients: Grilled corn, cherry tomatoes, beans of choice. Optional: avocado
Dressing: Lime juice, salt, pepper, cumin, olive oil
