I’m not afraid to admit that I’m obsessed with salads and side dishes. In fact, when I eat out, I’m totally guilty of planning my entire meal around the starters and sides that grab my attention first. Get me in front of a buffet or hand me a big takeout menu and I will go to town, creating an entire meal out of salads and vegetables with no entrées to get in the way.
Because my love for these dishes is grand, I’ve spent way too much time over the years cooking them at home while the rest of my household not so patiently waits. These recipes always take longer to make than I think they will; ingredient lists tend to be unbearably long and prep times creep up and up and up. Blame the insane amount of chopping required.
But I refuse to give up! Instead, I’ve learned to follow two simple rules: select the biggest-bang-for-your-buck ingredients and use smart shortcuts. Here I share some of my favorite simple recipes, like Smashed Chickpea Salad Lettuce Wraps and Thai Beef Salad. Plus, I offer a few fresh ideas for healthily revamping indulgent favorites like Caesar salad. Because who wants to play the shame game?
Grilled broccolini & escarole salad