Cuisine: Salad

Blistered Shishito and Corn Salad

Shishito peppers have become popular. They are mostly mild, but about one out of ten are spicy, which adds an element of surprise. The person that gets the spicy one will have good luck! This Blistered Shishito and Corn Salad is a flavorful salad to add to your repertoire.

By Leslie Blythe

The McCarthy Salad

The McCarthy Salad is almost as famous as the Polo Lounge where it was first served. Neil McCarthy was a regular guest at The Beverly Hills Hotel and captain of a local polo team in the 1940s. One day at the Polo Lounge he requested a very specific list of ingredients for a salad and the McCarthy salad was born. The recipe has remained untouched and has been a signature dish at the hotel ever since.

Here it is on the current menu.

McCARTHY SALAD $44
Iceberg, Romaine, Grilled Chicken, Egg, Beets Tomatoes, Cheddar, Smoked Bacon, Avocado Balsamic Vinaigrette

By Leslie Blythe

Lentil Chickpea Salad with Maple Tahini Dressing

This Lentil Chickpea Salad with Maple Tahini Dressing is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and a power bowl of nutrition. It lasts in the fridge for up to 5 days, which makes it the perfect packable lunch.

By Leslie Blythe

Jennifer Aniston Friends Salad

I guess I might as well jump on the bandwagon with this recipe that is flooding the internet. Actually, the reason I made it is because I can never figure out what to have for lunch. I absolutely hate eating the food I make while catering because I've shopped for it, cooked it, and served it. By that time, I want something else.

This is the salad that Jennifer Aniston ate every day for 10 years on the set of Friends. What I like about it is that it's very versatile, you can easily adapt it to suit your taste. I used a packet of ready-made 7 grains instead of bulgar. You could use quinoa, brown rice, or any combination. You can change the kind of cheese, nuts, etc. Next time I make this, I will use green onions instead of red onions, I'm not a fan of red onions even after I soak them in water to remove some of the "oniony" taste. Anyway, it's a very good, healthy and nutritious lunch.

By Leslie Blythe

Curried Chicken & Pasta Salad

This recipe was printed in The Los Angeles Times in 2000. It's from the Mustard Seed Café in LA. The original recipe calls for shells, but I used fusilli. The combination of curry powder, turmeric, mango chutney, mixed into mayonnaise makes the perfect dressing and the celery and almonds give it crunch. It’s great for a hot summer day.

By Leslie Blythe

Lentil Salad with Lemon Dressing

This Lentil Salad with Lemon Dressing great for a picnic. The combination of cucumbers, sun-dried tomatoes, red onion and fresh mint goes perfectly with the lemony dressing. Lentils are an excellent source of B vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc. They are high in protein, fiber and a great choice for the heart and for managing blood pressure and cholesterol. I could go on with even more health benefits of lentils!

By Leslie Blythe

Tuna Salad with Yogurt, Capers, and Za’atar

My husband loves tuna salad, and I gave him this recipe for Tuna Salad with Yogurt, Capers, and Za'atar to try. He loved it! You can serve it on a bed of lettuce or with pita bread. Za'atar is a spice mixture from the Middle East. You can buy it or make it yourself. I have provided a recipe.

By Leslie Blythe

Marinated Chickpea and Feta Salad with Spring Vegetables

This Marinated Chickpea and Feta Salad with Spring Vegetables makes a great lunch. It also has farro, which is a food composed of the grains of certain wheat species. Because it contains more fiber than other popular grains like rice or even quinoa, farro might have even more positive benefits when it comes to digestion and cardiovascular health. It's also exceptionally high in protein for a grain and supplies more than 10 different vitamins and minerals. Trader Joe's sells 10 Minute Farros, which is fast and easy to make.

By Leslie Blythe

Ramen Noodle Salad

Yesterday for lunch, I made this Ramen Noodle Salad. It's another one from Chrissy Teigen's book. She calls it Dump and Done Ramen Salad. I have made many salads using crushed up uncooked ramen noodles. It adds a lot of crunch and nice texture. I have adapted it to suit my tastes, like using green onions instead of red onions, etc. You could add some cooked shrimp or chicken to add protein to this salad. It's absolutely delicious and very adaptable to your own tastes.

By Leslie Blythe

Black-Eyed Pea Salad

Eating Black-Eyed Peas on New Year's Day is thought to bring a prosperous year filled with luck. This year we could all use some luck! The black-eyed peas are symbolic of pennies or coins, and a coin is sometimes added to the pot or left under the dinner bowls. This Black-Eyed Pea Salad is a delicious way to dress up a can of black-eyed peas!

By Leslie Blythe