California Cooler Salad Recipes

CALIFORNIA SALAD WITH RASPBERRY VINAIGRETTE DRESSING RECIPE

Steps:

• Toss baby salad greens, tomatoes, cheese, and pecans together and set aside.
• Blend the olive oil, jam, and rice vinegar together (either in a blender or food processor) until completely combined.
• Pour desired amount over the salad and serve while it's fresh. (I always have leftover dressing that I store in the fridge and use throughout the week).

CALIFORNIA-STYLE CHOPPED SALAD WITH SHRIMP

Steps:

• For the salad: Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill. In a large bowl add the romaine lettuce, corn, zucchini, and shrimp and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Grill the romaine lettuce, turning occasionally, until crisp-tender and browned in spots, about 2 minutes. Coarsely chop the grilled lettuce and add it to a large salad bowl. Grill the corn and zucchini for 2 minutes on all sides until crisp-tender. Remove the kernels from the corn and add to the salad bowl. Chop the zucchini into 1/2-inch pieces and add to the bowl. Grill the shrimp until the meat is opaque and cooked through, about 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Cool slightly and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Add the chopped shrimp, butter lettuce, tomatoes, and avocado to the bowl.
• For the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil and agave nectar until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until all the ingredients are coated. Garnish the salad with tortilla strips and serve.

CALIFORNIA COBB SALAD

Steps:

• Spread the lettuce out on the bottom of a large rectangle platter. Working from one narrow side of the platter to the other, place the remaining ingredients over the lettuce in rows of stripes. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
• Make the vinaigrette: In a medium bowl, whisk together the mustard, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Mince the garlic with salt and mash with the side of a knife until it becomes a paste. Add it to the bowl, whisking constantly. Slowly pour in the olive oil in a thin stream until thick and creamy. Whisk in the pepper and pour over the salad.

CALIFORNIA COOLER SALAD

Steps:

• 1. In a medium bowl, stir strawberries and sugar set aside.2. In a small saucepan over high heat, bring soda to a boil. In a large metal bowl, pour soda over gelatin. Stir until gelatin is dissolved. Stir in rose. Place bowl in a larger bowl which contains cold water and ice. Stir gelatin mixture until syrupy. Remove bowl from water bath.3. Stir in strawberries with sugar, pears and food color. Pour into a 5-cup mold. Cover and chill at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.4. Unmold to serve. Garnish with strawberry fans and mint sprigs if desired.

CALIFORNIA COBB SALAD

Steps:

• For the blue cheese dressing: Combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon, honey, Worcestershire, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and 1/4 cup of the crumbled blue cheese in the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Stir in the chives and the remaining 1/2 cup blue cheese. Adjust the seasoning to taste with salt and pepper. Hold in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
• For the salad: Toss the romaine and quinoa with 2 tablespoons of the dressing in a serving bowl. Arrange the bacon, eggs, tomatoes, avocados and radishes in even sections over the top of the lettuce. Drizzle with more dressing and serve immediately.