Sicilian Chopped Salad Recipes

SICILIAN TOMATO & ONION SALAD

Steps:

• Cut tomatoes into bite size pieces.
• Sprinkle with garlic salt and pepper.
• Peel a cut onion in half vertically.
• Along edge of open side, "sliver" cut onion and add to tomatoes.
• Add the rest of ingredients and toss lightly.
• Marinate for at least an hour.
• Serve with Italian bread, provolone cheese and hard salami (or other Italian meats.).

SICILIAN CHUNK VEGETABLE SALAD

Steps:

• Steam green beans over pasta water if preparing the above recipe, or simmer beans in 1-inch of boiling water for 3 minutes. Drain green beans, run under cold water to cool off and chop them into thirds. Combine all salad ingredients in a bowl and toss. Dress salad with vinegar, oil, salt and pepper and serve.

SICILIAN HARVEST SALAD

Steps:

• Put the raisins in a small bowl and pour boiling water over them to cover. Let stand until plump and soft, about 10 minutes. Drain.
• Put the raisins, grapes, apricots, rosemary and onion in a large bowl. Add the lemon juice and stir in the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
• Separate the radicchio into leaves, saving the heart for another use. Tear into bite size pieces and add to the dried fruit mixture along with the spinach. Toss well. Divide among 4 plates and top with the prosciutto, if using. Scatter the pine nuts over the top.
• Frying rosemary on the branch removes its slightly soapy, bitter flavor so you can use more. Heat 1-inch oil in a deep saute pan to 350 degrees F. Deep-fry the rosemary for 30 seconds and drain on paper towels. Strip the leaves off the stems and crush the leaves in the paper towels to remove any excess oil. Mince and store in a clean, tightly sealed container. Use the fried rosemary to make a seasoned salt by adding it to a mixture of black pepper, dried lemon zest and salt.

SICILIAN GRILLED VEGETABLE SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Place eggplant, onion, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and zucchini on the grill and cook until slightly softened and grill marks have formed on each side, 15 to 30 minutes. Remove vegetables from grill and cut into cubes. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Add tomatoes, vinegar, olive oil, basil, salt, and pepper. Toss thoroughly. Refrigerate 8 hours to overnight. Toss again before serving.

SICILIAN SALAD DRESSING

Steps:

• In a very big bowl, combine everything, I use a hand emulsion blender to blend thoroughly. Chill for 1 hour.
• In an empty salad bowl, dump 1/4 cup of cold dressing and toss in torn cold romaine lettuce.
• Put on individual salad bowls.
• Top with diced tomatoes and chopped chicken.
• Scatter grapes and mangoes on top.
• Garnish with croutons and pine nuts.

FRESH SICILIAN MARINATED CALAMARI SALAD

Steps:

• Wash Squid well and cut Body into 1/2 inch slices (rings) and depending on the size of the squid halve tentacles lengthwise, if on the small side leave whole.
• In a large Stock Pot add water with salt and bring to a boil. Place Squid in pot and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until the squid is firm, do not cook too much or it will come rubbery.
• Put the squid in ice water to prevent further cooking.
• Drain the water and pat the squid dry
• Place in a large mixing bowl and add the Olive Oil, Vinegar, Sea Salt, Pepper, Garlic and Parsley and Celery and mix well. Let marinate for a few hours or better overnight. Serve with Lemon Wedges

SICILIAN CHOPPED SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. Drizzle with dressing and toss to coat.