Salads
A shortlist of the salads that hold up as dinner. Composed, chopped, and grain-based, all built on the same three rules: dry the leaves, season every component on its way into the bowl, dress at the last possible minute. Each one names the dressing it wants.
saladClassic Caesar
Cold romaine hearts, torn croutons, grated parm, and unapologetic dressing.
35 min·hardThe benchmark. Dry the romaine completely or the dressing slides straight off it.
saladThe Cobb
Rows of cooked chicken, bacon, egg, avocado, blue cheese, and tomato.
30 min·easyComposed, not tossed. The rows exist so every forkful is a decision.
saladSalade Niçoise
Composed platter of tuna, haricots verts, potato, olives, egg, and anchovy.
60 min·mediumThree cooking times on one plate, and a nine-minute egg holding it together.
saladPanzanella
Torn day-old bread, juicy tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and basil in vinaigrette.
62 min·mediumStale bread is an ingredient, not a leftover. The tomato juice does half the dressing.
saladGreek Salad (Horiatiki)
Ripe tomato, cucumber, red onion, olives, and a slab of feta with oregano and oil.
20 min·easyNo lettuce, by definition. The tomatoes carry it, so buy them in season or wait.
saladThai Crunch Salad
Shredded cabbage, carrots, edamame, herbs, peanuts — dressed heavy.
25 min·easyThe vegan pick, and the reason the peanut-lime dressing exists.
saladSom Tam
Pounded green papaya with lime, chili, palm sugar, peanuts, and dried shrimp.
30 min·mediumPounded, not tossed — the mortar bruises everything just enough to take on the dressing.
saladWedge Salad
A crisp iceberg wedge draped in blue cheese dressing, bacon, and chives.
35 min·easyIceberg earns its place: it is the only leaf cold and rigid enough for the job.
saladMassaged Kale and Apple
Lacinato kale, sweet-tart apple, toasted walnuts, and soft goat cheese in a maple-dijon dressing.
20 min·easyMassage the leaves for a full two minutes. Dressing cannot soften kale on its own.
saladClassic Coleslaw
Finely shredded green cabbage and carrot tossed in a creamy, tangy mayo dressing.
50 min·easyDress it, then give it half an hour cold — the cabbage has to soften into the dressing.
saladGerman Potato Salad
Warm potatoes, bacon, and grainy mustard tossed in a tangy vinegar dressing.
50 min·mediumWarm, bacon-and-vinegar dressed, no mayonnaise. Dress the potatoes while they steam.
saladTabbouleh
Mountains of parsley and mint with bulgur, tomato, lemon, and olive oil.
50 min·easyA herb salad with bulgur in it, not a grain salad with herbs on top.
saladMexican Street Corn Salad (Esquites)
Charred corn, cotija, lime, chili, and cilantro-crema tossed off the cob.
35 min·mediumCorn charred hard in a screaming pan and dressed while still warm. Unapologetically a side.
saladRoasted Beet and Citrus
Deep purple beets, orange supremes, pistachios, and crumbled goat cheese.
80 min·mediumRoasting concentrates the beets; citrus supremes keep the plate from turning to jam.