The Greatest Salad

[ChrisTaylor]

Salad Nicoise. The greatest of all salads. Discuss.

[Keith_W]

Must say I am partial to a good panzanella myself

[ScottyBoy]

I'll take a VERY traditional Caesar any time, any day!

My cameras keep breaking! I made my first fresh corn dog last night. I love corn dogs and this might be dangerous to my health when I get the recipe perfect...

[ambra]

I have to agree about the ceasar. I just left a restaurant that served "ceasar salad dressed with mayonaise and worcestershir dressing." That was the menu description.

But I do really love a nicoise too.

[Alcuin]

I'll take a VERY traditional Caesar any time, any day!

Does very traditional mean no anchovy though? I heard the original version didn't have anchovies, but good salt-cured anchovies are crucial to the dish. I want one now just thinking about it!

[ScottyBoy]

Oh anchovies are a mus, didn't know the original left them out.

I need a waiter in a tux to pull the salad cart up next to my couch right now and start mixing...

[Hassouni]

MMM Niçoise. Agreed on anchovies being a must!

[EatNopales]

I'll take a VERY traditional Caesar any time, any day!

Does very traditional mean no anchovy though? I heard the original version didn't have anchovies, but good salt-cured anchovies are crucial to the dish. I want one now just thinking about it!

Actually whether you believe the Cesar Cardini or Alex Cardini descendants' side of the story... both brothers' version of the salad early on had Anchovies... the Alex Cardini version known in Mexico City as Ensalada de Aviadores up until the 1970's always kept the whole Anchovies... and it wasn't until Cesar moved from Tijuana to Los Angeles and started bottling the dressing that the Cesar was popularized without salted anchovies accommodating to local tastes.

[Keith_W]

I heard that the original version of the Caesar salad had no anchovies because the Worcestershire sauce used to make it had more anchovies in it back then. They have since changed the recipe for the Worcestershire, so we now need to add anchovies ...

[ScoopKW]

Tuna Poke.

Best. Salad. Ever.

If by salad you insist on leafy greens, Spinach salad -- with lots of home-cured bacon and backyard eggs.

[Hassouni]

I'm partial to a really good fattoush, too....

[Beebs]

Caprese salad made with perfectly ripe heirloom tomatoes, and plenty of crusty bread to sop up the juices.

[thayes1c]

Taco salad. It's like nachos, but cold and with a little bit of lettuce as garnish.

[Mjx]

Baby rucola, cherry tomatoes still warm from the sun (split), tiny whole basil leaves, thread of olive oil, pinch of salt, grind of coarse pepper. Perfect.

[Ashen]

I really love Nicoise , but I still like a well made horiatiki salad better.

[nickrey]

Tonno e fagioli (tuna and bean salad). Tinned tuna in oil, sliced onion soaked in water to remove sharpness, cannellini beans, salt, pepper, olive oil, balsamic vinegar. Perfection. Thank you Marcella Hazan.

Edited October 21, 2011 by nickrey (log)

[Prawncrackers]

Kinda partial to Thai salads, you know green papaya or green mango, carrot, cucumber, lots of fresh zingy herbs and searingly hot chillies. Lime, fish sauce and sugar dressing. In the summer I'm seriously addicted to them.

[Panaderia Canadiense]

Shredded green mango, beet, carrot, broccoli stem, chochos, and baby lettuce greens, in spicy peanut balsamic vinagrette, and topped with a bit of grilled chicken. Muy yummy.

[heidih]

Kinda partial to Thai salads, you know green papaya or green mango, carrot, cucumber, lots of fresh zingy herbs and searingly hot chillies. Lime, fish sauce and sugar dressing. In the summer I'm seriously addicted to them.

My favorites as well. For a meal I like grilled meat tossed with it.

[ScottyBoy]

Found it really odd that i can't get into greed papaya salads, even when I was in Thailand.

[Tri2Cook]

Does the olive salad they use on the Muffuletta sandwiches in New Orleans count as salad? Otherwise, I'd probably have to go with the classic Caesar... with the disclaimer that I don't eat a lot of salad.

[EatNopales]

I heard that the original version of the Caesar salad had no anchovies because the Worcestershire sauce used to make it had more anchovies in it back then. They have since changed the recipe for the Worcestershire, so we now need to add anchovies ...

No that was just Cesar's story after he started bottling the dressing in Los Angeles as a convenience product.

[Peter the eater]

I don't believe in one Great Salad. There are at least ten.

[LindaK]

My favorite salad has no name: peak season green beans and tomatoes, shredded basil, crumbled french feta, and a lemony vinaigrette.

But if forced to choose among those salads with pedigrees, I'll bow to the nicoise as the greatest I've tasted.

[Ashen]

Just out for sushi tonight.. Wakame salad is one of my favourites too.