The SALAD DAYS of summer
We’re on the verge of sun and warm weather and, one would hope, not repeating the summer we had last year when my patio garden practically turned into an oasis of moss, lichen and ferns.
Whether we have warm or cool weather, I always love a great salad whether it be the main attraction or a part of a summer meal.
Today I’m sharing some great warmweather salads.
One of my favourite Szechuan salads is a simple one made with cucumbers, and then lightly spiced with chilies and Chinese black vinegar. Served chilled, it’s so refreshing.
Two Japanese- inspired salads include a luscious miso- marinated vegetable salad with hints of ginger and roasted sesame, while the other is a simple coleslaw, lightly tossed with a delicate rice vinegar- based dressing. These three can all be made ahead and chilled until ready to serve and make a great addition to any barbecue or picnic.
For something more showy, there’s Maenam chef- owner Angus An’s wonderful Thai Roasted Pork ( or spot prawn when they’re in season) with chili jam, tossed with herbaceous and aromatic South East Asian herbs. Or Sun Sui Wah’s Ying Yang Salad featuring shredded cold poached chicken and Chinese barbecued duck, tossed with fresh apples and melons.
And two of my personal lunch favourites include a sublime Alsatian tarte flambé smothered with quark, sweet caramelized onions and lashings of smoked bacon, topped with baby peppery arugula from the newly opened Le Parisien; as well as what I consider a perfect summer salad: Nicoise Salad, showcasing fresh summer ingredients at their finest, from Tableau at the Loden Hotel.
Whether it’s from the East or the West, any salad is fine with me this summer as long as I’m not a slave to my hot indoor kitchen. Enjoy.