My 5 Favorite Salads

I love a hearty salad.
The perfect one plate meal.

Here are 5 that are at the top of my list.
It's no surprise that most come from my all time favorite cookbooks.

1. Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Warm Cider Vinaigrette

The Barefoot Contessa does it again!
This recipe, featured in her Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics Cookbook is a great winter time meal, accompanied by a nice bowl of soup and crunchy bread.

Time Saver: I buy squash that has already been peeled and cut so all I have to do is throw it on a pan.

2. Salad of Mache, Raw Asparagus, Pistachios and Parmigiano-Reggiano

This recipe comes from the Zuni Cafe Cookbook  and is a great Spring salad, especially with the season's first crop of asparagus.

Judy Rodgers is a genius. Zuni Cafe is one of my all time favorite restaurants and the cookbook is a gem.

Time Saver: Trader Joe's sells Mache pre-washed in bags. I also buy my shelled pistachios there.

3. Winter Chopped Salad

This recipe comes from Diane Rossen Worthington's: Seriously Simple Holidays.

I make this over and over and over.
I crave it.

Time Saver: Buy a rotisserie chicken!

4. Persimmon & Pomegranate Salad with Arugula & Hazelnuts

This gorgeous salad is from Suzanne Goin's Sunday Suppers at Lucques.

It's another great winter salad. Persimmons are at their peak.
Always worth waiting for, especially in this salad.

If you haven't had the pleasure of a Sunday Supper at Goin's consistently awesome LA restaurant Lucques, you can recreate some of her menus at home.

This is a must-own cookbook.

5. Iceberg Lettuce and Watercress Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing

Nothing wrong with a wedge. Decadent and delicious. Crunchy Goodness. Yum!

The recipe for this Blue Cheese Dressing is my hands down favorite and comes from The Gourmet Cookbook by Ruth Reichl. It's a well-worn and loved cook book in my kitchen.

When I serve this at a dinner party there are no leftovers on the plates.

Sometimes when I am home alone (which is very seldom) I make this recipe, pour a glass of wine and sit down and savor the delights of this salad.

It is a bit naughty, especially when I crumble a piece of well cooked bacon on top so I don't do it often, but when I do it's worth the extra workout.

So what are your favorite salads?

I'd love to hear.  It's always great to get a new one into rotation.

xoxo Carrie