Slaws, Salads, And Other Vegetables

"The reason we should eat our vegetables isn't because they're good for us. We should be eating them because they are damned delicious." René Redzepi, chef/owner of Noma in Norway, called by many the world's finest.

The Zen of Slaw. Slaw is slaw, right? Wrong! Cole slaw is the world's best salad. Crunchy, juicy, refreshing with bright sweet/sour/salty/savory flavors, it kicks the butissimo of any wimpy limpy lettuce leaf salad. But more important, slaw is the perfect accompaniment for barbecue. There are scores of great slaw recipes with a wide variety of ingredients, and each recipe can be prepared with a wide variety of techniques. They are easy to make, but like anything else, there are secrets that separate everyday from holiday slaw. Here are some tips on technique to make your salad slawsome.

Simple Creamy Cole Slaw with Mayonnaise. Not too sweet, this slaw is perfect for piling on top of a pulled pork sandwich Carolina style or on a Hot Dog West Virginia style.

Wonderful Waldorf Slaw. Here's a great slaw recipe with a twist: Inspiration from the famous Waldorf salad. It is my fave.

Thai Cucumber Salad. One of the simple pleasures of dining in a Thai restaurant is the lovely delicate cucumber salad they serve as an appetizer. The delicate piquance of the mild rice vinegar is a great counter-point to the sweetness of a classic Kansas City sauce. And the best part is that, unlike so many other cucumber salads, there is no oil in this recipe!

Caprese Tomato Salad. This classic rustic salad from the Isle of Capri off the west coast of Italy (Caprese means "of Capri"). It is pure August on a plate.

Italian Vinaigrette Salad Dressing. A first rate all-purpose oil and vinegar dressing loaded with herb flavors that can also double as a marinade.

Caramelized Onions. Mahogany colored caramelized onions are a wonderful sweet savory topping for ribs, chops, steaks, burgers, hotdogs, baked potatoes, your lover. My favorite substrate is pizza.

Pickled Onions. Crunchy, sweet sour pickled onions are a great topping or relish on the side.

Grilled Asparagus Spears to the Heart. Grilled asparagus develops rich flavors you just can't get by boiling or steaming. Seasoned, grilled, drizzled with good olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and topped with curls of Parmegiano-Reggiano cheese, this is by far my favorite prep.

French Green Beans. Quick and easy, crunchy and flavorful, even my Dad ate these and he hated veggies.

Green Salad With Grilled Apples. This is my favorite Thanksgiving salad. Autumn is apple time, and apples are great on a salad. Grilling them just adds excitement.

...more to come (to be notified when new recipes and other articles come online, be sure to subscribe to my free, spam free, email newsletter).