Just three weeks ago I was lamenting the mediocrity and thoughtfulness of most meatless entrees that are so often cobbled together from sides of other dishes. Because I love plot twists, it seems only right that this week I tell you about my favorite salad that happens to be — you guessed it — cobbled from the sides of other dishes. I used to order it from a taco shop in our neighborhood before they changed the recipe, and while I knew it was just the most filling salad, the pickled onions, sliced radishes, pepitas, and crumbled cotija were what they used to garnish theirs other offerings masquerading as lettuce, I didn’t care. Sometimes it works. Here it sings. It’s absolutely perfect: crispy, light, creamy and inhalable.
At home it definitely zhuzh (a word I just learned how to spell to my delight) more – I like to heat the pepitas in oil until they become crispier and more fragrant. I add avocado, which I also made at home when we ordered it. Sometimes I get sweet and cut the iceberg lettuce into small wedges. I measure the pads with my heart, but there are measurements underneath that work too. I don’t know about you, but I could and will try to eat this once a week forever.
Funny things!
Would you like to buy a signed cookbook as a gift for yourself or someone else? Ahead of Mother’s Day, you can order autographed cookbooks from two different popular NYC bookstores that ship nationwide. Details:
* Books are magic: Order signed and personalized [i.e. “To [name]’ and/or ‘Happy Mother’s Day!’ or ‘Happy Mother’s Day, [name!”] Copies of one of my three cookbooks. You can have these mailed to you or pick them up at one of the two branches in Brooklyn. Closing date for orders: 22.4.
* beach bookstore: Order a signed copy [no personalizing this round] I was reading my latest cookbook, Smitten Kitchen Keepers. You can have it shipped to you or pick it up at their store near Union Square. Although the order deadline is Mother’s Day (14/5), The Strand recommends that you order by 26/4. order if you want it to get somewhere by Mother’s Day.
events: While book tours have otherwise slowed down, I’ll be in New Jersey on Saturday, May 6th for the Montclair Literary Festival.
Until now
6 months ago: Focaccia onion board and crisp apple cheddar salad
2 years ago: Pasta bake with winter squash and spinach
3 years ago: Skillet Turkey Chili
4 years ago: Chicken Curry
5 years ago: Even more perfect apple pie
6 years ago: Quick pasta and chickpea and chocolate olive oil cake
7 years ago: Mussels steamed with garlic wine and butter, baked Alaska, Indian-spiced cauliflower soup and pan-fried noodles with five cheeses
8 years ago: My old school baked ziti and cannoli pound cake
9 years ago: Better chicken pot pies and better chocolate babka
10 years ago: Miso Sweet Potato and Broccoli Bowl and Purple Plum Pie
11 years ago: Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
12 years ago: apple pie cookies
13 years ago: Mushroom Lasagna
14 years ago: Quiche Lorraine and Breakfast Apple Granola Crisp
15 years ago: Majestic and moist honey cake, best challah (egg bread) and Mama’s apple pie
16 years ago: Peter Reinhart’s bagels and peanut butter brownies
17 years ago: lemon cake