Category: Salads

Arugula, Goat Cheese, and Couscous Salad

Arugula, Goat Cheese, and Couscous Salad

Last weekend we had a long-awaited visit from our daughter, Savannah. Savannah is a CPA in Atlanta. Too far away for this mama, but as long as she’s happy. We have not been able to see her very much this year. With Covid and this year’s busy season, our visits have been limited. We were thrilled to have her home, but the visit was way too short!  

Savannah may get her smarts from her dad, but she gets her love of cooking from me. She whipped up one of her favorite salads for dinner one night. Don’t you just love for someone to treat you like royalty and cook for you? She made us a delicious Arugula, Goat Cheese, and Couscous Salad.  

This recipe is from Jessie James Decker’s cookbook, Just Feed Me. I will definitely be making it again! The peppery arugula paired with the creamy goat cheese with couscous and veggies was absolutely terrific! Our dinner consisted of the salad only, but baked or grilled chicken, or fish, would be great served over the top. 

Arugula, Goat Cheese, and Couscous Salad
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Arugula, Goat Cheese, and Couscous Salad

Course Salad
Author Amye Melton

Ingredients

  • 1 cup pearl couscous
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 small red onion cut into thin rings
  • 1 medium zucchini sliced into 1/2-inch rounds or half-moons
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
  • 1 cup baby arugula
  • 8 ounces goat cheese chilled and crumbled

Instructions

  • Cook the pearl couscous according to the package directions. Set aside in a large bowl.
  • In a small skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over low heat. Add the onion and cook until caramelized, about 20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, preheat the broiler.
  • On a sheet pan, toss the zucchini with the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Slide under the broiler and broil until cooked through and charred slightly, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the zucchini and onion to the cooked couscous. Add the lemon juice, parsley, vinegar, arugula, goat cheese, and some salt and pepper and toss to fully combine before serving.

Layered Salad in a Jar

layered salad in a jar
After a weekend in Atlanta helping our daughter move, it is clear that people are ready to be out and about. From the cars in business parking lots, you would never know this country, or the world has been through all that it has with the coronavirus.

I have the itch to travel, and I’m sure I’m not alone. I am not even picky at this point. A trip to the beach would be fabulous, but I would take the mountains too. I am ready for some time away from home more than I can even explain. The thing is, I am still a little hesitant in making any plans. I am not comfortable flying right now, and I do not think I am ready to stay in a hotel either.

Greg and I bought a camper in November and have taken it out a few times. Never really far away, but as it turns out, our timing may have been perfect. Hooking up the camper and driving somewhere should be relatively safe. Maybe we will see a few state parks this year!

Planning the menu for camping is always fun, and these layered salads in a jar are a perfect, easy, and delicious lunch! These would also be great for a picnic or beach day.

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Layered Salad in a Jar

Course Salad
Servings 12
Author Amye Melton

Equipment

  • 12 (1-pint) wide-mouth canning jars with lids

Ingredients

  • Dressing:
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 2 medium lemons)
  • 1/2 cup white balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons mild honey
  • 2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 cup feta cheese crumbled
  • Salad:
  • 1 pound orzo pasta
  • 1 (16-ounce) bag baby greens, spinach, arugula, or romaine
  • 5 green onions, white and green parts thinly sliced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives coarsely chopped
  • 1 cucumber coarsely chopped with peel
  • 1/2 cup feta cheese crumbled
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano, or 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano leaves

Instructions

  • TO MAKE THE DRESSING: In a boel, whisk together the lemon juice, vinegar, honey, and olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Whisk in the feta. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
  • TO MAKE THE SALAD: In a large pot, cook the orzo in salted water according to the package directions. Drain and run cold water over the pasta to stop the cooking. Put the orzo in a large bowl and toss with 1/2 cup of the dressing, set aside.
  • In a small bowl, stir together the green onions, tomatoes, olives, and cucumber, set aside.
  • In a separate small bowl, stir together the 1/2 cup feta and the oregano, set aside.
  • TO ASSEMBLE THE LAYERS: Have 12 (1-pint) wide-mouth canning jars with lids ready.
  • Spoon 1/3 cup of the orzo into the bottom of each jar, and follow with 1 layer each of the following; 1/4 cup green onion-tomato-olive-cucumber mix, 2 teaspoons feta-oregano mix, and 1/2 cup packed greens. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the dressing on top of each salad.
  • Top with lids and refrigerate until needed.
  • To serve, shake the jar to distribute the dressing.

Notes

The dressing and orzo can be prepared up to 1 day in advance and refrigerated.  Assemble the salad in jars up to 6 hours before it is to be served.  Keep it cold until serving time.  

Greek Cucumber Salad

greek-cucumber-salad

Our garden has taken just about all of the long hot days and rain that it can at this point. Greg has already pulled up some of the plants, and we gather very little from the others now.

We are still getting a few cucumbers though, and I think they may be my favorite part of the garden anyway. I enjoy them sliced with a little lemon pepper or in the delicious cucumber salsa I shared with you recently or in a number of salads.

One of my favorite salads is this Greek Cucumber Salad. The vinaigrette with the fresh vegetables and tangy feta cheese works wonderfully together. Its light and refreshing and works as a great side dish for any meal!

Greek Cucumber Salad
 
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Ingredients
  • 2 cucumbers
  • 1 c. small tomatoes halved or Roma tomatoes, diced
  • ½ c. onion, sliced
  • ¼ Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
  • ½ c. extra-virgin olive oil
  • Juice of 2 lemons, or more to taste
  • 2 tsp. dried oregano
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • ½ c. crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
  1. Quarter the cucumber lengthwise and remove the seeds. Chop into ¼ to ½-inch pieces.
  2. Combine the chopped cucumber, tomatoes, onion and olive in a large bowl, set aside.
  3. In a small bowl whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, oregano and salt and pepper. Taste to see if you need to make any adjustments.
  4. Pour over the cucumber mixture and toss. Sprinkle with feta cheese and mix.

 

Fried Okra Salad

Fried Okra Salad

I go through phases with my recipes. I find a new dish that my family loves, and I seem to make it over and over until we are thoroughly over it.

Our church has decided to publish a cookbook. So, while looking through recipes to submit, I ran across this Fried Okra Salad.  I made it several times a few years ago but it has been a while.
 
A friend gave me the recipe several years ago. Her family loved it, but honestly, I questioned it. Fried okra in a salad did not sound very good to me. To my surprise, it turned out to be one of my favorite combinations! I love the sweet, tangy dressing and the crumbled bacon and fresh vegetables make fried okra taste like something you have never had before! This salad makes a great addition to any summer meal. Toss with dressing just before serving.

Fried Okra Salad
 
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Ingredients
  • 2 (12-oz.) bags freshly frozen breaded okra
  • 8 sliced bacon, fried and crumbled
  • 1 c. grape tomatoes, halved
  • 4 green onions, chopped
  • ¼ c. vegetable oil
  • ¼ c. granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp. white vinegar
  • dash hot sauce
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
  1. Fry the okra as directed on the package, set aside. In a large bowl add the crumbled bacon, grape tomatoes, and green onions. Add the fried and drained okra and set aside. In a small jar add vegetable oil, sugar, vinegar, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. Shake to combine. Just before serving drizzle the dressing over the okra mixture. Toss to coat and serve.

 

South of the Border Salad

South of the Border Salad

I still remember the Thanksgiving that my grandmother made a pot full of pickled green beans on Thanksgiving. These were green beans she had canned during the summer that were apparently not marked accordingly, and her nose did not detect the difference. I fixed my plate with turkey and dressing, sweet potato casserole, and a spoonful of Bo’s beans. What horror when I took a big bite of them!

Our sense of smell and tastes change as we age. As of a year or so ago I no longer eat yellow squash, and I had eaten it all my life. One of my favorite herbs has always been cilantro. In fact, even before I knew what a herb was, I loved cilantro. I know some people have never liked it and I have read that it has a lot to do with their genes.  A good salsa has always been one of my favorite snacks. Then, over the past couple of weeks, something has changed. I know it’s not a gene thing and I am hoping that it is only temporary, but I am not enjoying cilantro as of late! With squash, I could take it or leave it. However, without cilantro in my life, I am really sad. There are many of my favorite recipes that include cilantro. If it’s not an actual ingredient, I sprinkle fresh cilantro over the top of many dishes.

I have been making this pasta salad for years. I love the little bits of pepper jack cheese and the crunchy jicama mixed with the tiny orzo pasta, creamy dressing, and most of all the fresh taste of the cilantro! For those of you who do not care for cilantro but want the fresh herb element, try substituting a mixture of fresh basil and fresh mint.

 

South of the Border Salad
 
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Ingredients
  • 1 lb. box Orzo, cooked and drained
  • 1 (8.75-oz.) can whole kernel corn, drained
  • 1 (15-oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 c. cubed Pepper Jack cheese
  • 1 c. peeled and diced jicama
  • 1 c. chopped green bell pepper
  • 2 - 4 green onions, chopped
  • 1 - 2 medium tomatoes, seeds removed and cubed
  • Dressing:
  • ½ c. mayonnaise
  • ½ c. sour cream
  • Juice of half lime
  • ¼ - ½ c. chopped cilantro
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
  1. Combine cooked orzo, corn, black beans, cheese, jicama, green pepper, onions, and tomato in a large bowl, set aside.
  2. In a small bowl combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, salt, pepper, and lime juice. Stir until smooth. Stir in cilantro.
  3. Add dressing to pasta mixture and combine. Store in refrigerator.