Piquant Mixed Vegetable Salad Recipes

MIXED FRUIT & VEGETABLE SALAD

Steps:

• Cut the apple, cantaloupe, cucumber and peppers into a small neat dice.
• Zest the orange, then slice off the skin. Cut the flesh into a small neat dice.
• Discard the skin, save the zest and the orange flesh.
• Discard the lime after zesting and juicing.
• Stir the orange zest, orange flesh, lime zest and lime juice, basil strips and remaining ingredients into the fruit and vegatable mixture. ( At this point you are combining all ingredients).
• Transfer to a serving bowl, garnish with additional cinnamon and basil.

MIXED VEGETABLE SALAD

Steps:

• Cook vegetables as directed on package.
• Drain and cool.
• Drain and rinse beans.
• Mix first 6 ingredents together.
• In a small sauce pan combine vinegar, Splenda and corn starch.
• Cook until slightly thickened.
• Adjust vinegar and Splenda to your tastes.
• Should have a sweet/sour taste.
• Add dressing to vegetables.
• Serve cold.

LITHUANIAN MIXED VEGETABLE SALAD (DARZOVIU MISRAINE)

Steps:

• It is very important not to overcook the vegetables, especially the potatoes. All vegetables should be at room temperature. Place vegetables, egg and pickle in a large bowl.
• In a small bowl, stir the sour cream to loosen it up. If it is very thick, stir in 1 or 2 tbl. milk.
• Sprinkle half the salt and half the dill on the vegetables. Add some freshly ground pepper. Add half the sour cream and stir carefully, taking care not to mash the vegetables. Repeat with remaining salt, pepper, and sour cream.
• Serve cold or at room temperature. Leftovers should be stored covered in refrigerator, and will be good for about a week. (If you will be storing more than a couple of days, do not mix in the eggs - add to the portion you are serving. Eggs do not do well over time).
• Note: Canned beets can be substituted for fresh. Frozen mixed vegetable or mixed peas and carrots can be used. Cauliflower or cooked white beans are also excellent in this dish. Change the ingredients or proportions to meet personal preferences. Just keep the ratio of cooked vegetables at about 7 cups to 1 cup of sour cream.
• Note2: Dried dill is not very good in this dish, I would use fresh parsley if dill not available. I also tend to use little salt, so check the level to suit your needs.

MIXED VEGETABLE SALAD

Steps:

• Cook the mixed vegetables on the stove or in the microwave until crisp-tender. Drain; place in a large bowl. Add kidney beans, celery, onion and green pepper. In a saucepan over medium heat, bring sugar, vinegar and cornstarch to a boil, stirring constantly, until thickened. Cool slightly. Pour over vegetables and toss. Refrigerate.

MIXED VEGETABLE SALAD WITH PEANUT SAUCE (GADO-GADO)

Steps:

• (a variety of the following): cabbage, in 1-inch squares; bean sprouts; carrots, sliced or julienned; green beans, in 2-inch pieces; potatoes or sweet potatoes in large dice; sliced cucumbers; watercress sprigs; tomato wedges.
• This is from a new cookbook I just got.
• Haven't tried this recipe yet, but it looks dead on.
• This is a rather free-form salad of lightly cooked vegetables; the exact contents depend on what is available.
• What makes it gado-gado is the dressing, a creamy peanut sauce.
• Remove tofu from package and drain.
• Place on a plate lined with cloth or paper towels, top with another layer of towel and an inverted plate, and place a weight of a pound or more on top.
• Let stand for 30 minutes, unwrap, and discard liquid.
• Cut tofu into bite-sized squares or triangles and sprinkle with kecap manis.
• Fry in 350F oil until golden brown and puffy; transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Reserve oil to cook peanuts.
• One at a time, blanch vegetables in lightly salted water, rinsing them in cold water to stop cooking as soon as they reach the desired degree of doneness.
• Cabbage and bean sprouts require only a few seconds; carrots, green beans, and potatoes may take several minutes depending on size and tenderness.
• Do not blanch cucumbers, watercress, and tomatoes.
• use them raw.
• Place Gado-Gado Sauce in a small bowl in the center of a large platter.
• Arrange vegetables on platter around sauce.
• Garnish with wedges or slices of hard-cooked egg and fried onion flakes.
• To serve, spoon some sauce onto each plate and dip vegetables into sauce.
• Serves 4 to 6 with other dishes.
• --------------GADO-GADOSAUCE----------------.
• To prepare sauce in a mortar: Pound garlic, shallot, galangal, shrimp paste, and chile to a paste.
• To prepare sauce in a blender: Chop together in a 1-cup jar.
• In a wok or deep skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until a peanut sizzles on contact.
• Fry peanuts until lightly browned; transfer to paper towels to drain.
• When peanuts have cooled, grind in a mortar or food processor to a coarse, grainy paste, adding a little oil if necessary to facilitate blending.
• (May be made up to a week ahead and stored covered in refrigerator.) Remove all but 2 tablespoons oil from pan and reserve for another use.
• Return pan to medium-low heat and add pounded mixture.
• Cook until quite fragrant, but do not burn.
• Add peanuts, sugar, and coconut milk and bring to a boil, stirring.
• Simmer until thick and season to taste with salt and lime juice.
• Allow to coot to room temperature before serving.

PIQUANT CHEESE SALAD (NO MAYO OR PASTA)

Steps:

• In a serving bowl, mix cubed cheese, onion rings, diced salami, diced tomato & sliced gherkins.
• In a separate bowl, combine brown sugar, pineapple juice, Tabasco, pepper, olive oil & diced pineapple chunks. (I use a glass jar w/a tight lid & just shake to combine).
• Just b4 serving, toss salad in dressing & serve garnished w/chopped chives as desired.
• NOTE: To make ahead & avoid a mushy cheese effect, follow same prep except DO NOT include diced cheese in the mix of Step 1. Store the cheese ready to use in a sandwich bag or refrigerator container & combine w/salad ingredients at the same time the dressing is added just before serving.