There are two ways I usually add greens to my dinner table. One is to do a quick stir-fry, the other is to make a salad. We used to buy a lot of mixed salads in big boxes. It came washed and ready to use. So it saved a lot of time cleaning, chopping, and drying. When I have time on the weekend, I buy whole heads of salad greens and make a big salad. It does take a bit more time and effort, but it makes your salad extra fresh and tasty. Just like the one in this picture. When you’re using whole heads of salad greens, be sure to use a salad spinner to get rid of any extra water. And let them sit a bit longer to air dry. This step is crucial. Having wet salad leaves will make your dressing watery and difficult to coat on the ingredients. This recipe is inspired by a cranberry spinach salad I like. The original recipe uses cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, and a lot of sugar. I wanted an Asian style dressing to go with the mango, so I chose a mild vinegar – rice vinegar – instead. I used honey instead of sugar because it is healthier and adds a nice aroma to the dressing. The shallots and toasted sesame seeds are added to give the dressing more dimension.
Creating a delicious salad is easy when you get the key components right. – Use the ratio of 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar (or citrus juice). It does not need to be this extract ratio every time, but if you’re inventing something in the kitchen, this ratio will put most of your creations right on the money. – You don’t need to add too many things into your salad. Sometimes less is more. What I usually like is: something green, something sweet, something nutty, and something pungent. – Do toast the nuts. It only takes a few minutes and it brings out the fragrance of the nuts and makes your salad extra delicious. – Combine all the ingredients for the salad dressing in a jar and shake it. The dressing will emulsify thoroughly with a few shakes. Plus, you can put any leftover dressing directly into the fridge. It usually stays good for 2 to 3 days.
– Toss the salad gently with your hands in a large bowl, right before serving. I used to serve salad with the dressing on the side. Then I learned from my culinary program that I was doing it wrong. Tossing salad mixes the ingredients, coating them evenly with dressing. It will make your salad taste better using less dressing. Now I make sure I toss the salad thoroughly, every single time, before serving it. That’s it! We especially enjoy serving this salad with grilled chicken, roast duck, and braised lamb meat. When you’re cooking the main, just spend a few minutes to get the salad ready, so you’ll have a healthy and delicious meal that is colorful and nutritious. I hope you enjoy the dish!
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This post and recipe were updated on May 11th 2016.
