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Orange Lettuce Salad


This simple salad can be whipped together in minutes! Oranges are the main feature.  

The pink are called Cara Cara and the red are Blood Oranges. There are two types of blood oranges. Here I used the Moro orange which are available December through March. The other blood orange is Tarocco and are available from January through May. The Cara Cara is a cross between two naval oranges and their peak seasons are December and April. I bought them in February.

The mixed spring greens are beautiful and easy. I have found really fresh greens at Aldi, the European discount grocery store.

Edamame is very popular. I used the shelled version which is called mukimame. It’s all soybeans. The Target brand Archer Farms makes a frozen version I like!

High quality olive oil and white wine vinegar are essential for this delish dressing. I use champagne balsamic vinegar or a white balsamic vinegar from a local oil and vinegar shop. Mercato di O & V

Here’s what you need:                   Serves 4

4 cups mixed spring greens

2 Cara Cara oranges

2 blood oranges

1 cup shelled soybeans, also called edamame (mukimame)

1/4 cup high quality extra virgin olive oil

1/8 cup white balsamic vinegar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon or less black pepper 

Here’s how to do it:

  • Place the lettuce on salad plates
  • Sprinkle soybeans over lettuce
  • Slice the ends off the oranges, then slice the rest of the rind off from end to end. Leave no rind or white pulp
  • Cut each orange crosswise in 4 thick slices
  • Layer 2 of each orange slice on the salad
  • Combine the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl with a small whisk or shake it all together in a small jar with a lid
  • Pour about a tablespoon or so over each salad
  • Sprinkle with black pepper if you want 
  • Voila!

Caesar Salad 

Caesar Salad is very common in today’s menus. Really it’s too common!  This recipe is adapted from the 1961 Antoinette Pope School Cookbook. It was a cooking school in Chicago where my mom took classes in the 1940s and 1950s. 

I’ve omitted the anchovies and the coddled egg. Everything else is the same. They gave you a choice with the garlic too. Either rub it in the bowl and discard it or leave it in the bowl to blend in with the dressing. Instead I minced the garlic and salt and then added it to the dressing.  

The original recipe uses oil, no specific type.  I like sunflower oil. It is very mild and allows the flavor of the dressing ingredients to blossom! Definitely don’t use olive oil.

Serves 8-10
4 medium cloves garlic

2 teaspoons salt

3/4 cup sunflower oil (not olive oil)

1/4 cup good quality white wine vinegar or white balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

2 teaspoons dry mustard

2 teaspoons black pepper

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for sprinkling on the salad if you want

2 pounds romaine lettuce

1 cup small croutons or more

16 oz grilled chicken breast or more, optional

  • Rinse the lettuce well and drain. Wrap in paper towels. Keep in the frig
  • Mince the garlic and salt together to form a paste
  • Combine the garlic paste and oil in a medium bowl
  • Beat the mixture with a fork, whisk or immersion blender/stick blender until it’s thick.
  • Add the wine vinegar and lemon juice and continue to beat together
  • Add the Worcestershire, dry mustard, pepper and Parmesan. Continue to beat together. 
  • Tear the lettuce into bite size pieces. Place it in a large serving bowl 
  • Toss in the salad dressing to coat all the lettuce
  • Add the croutons
  • Add sliced grilled chicken if you like and drizzle more dressing over it all. 
  • You can also brush the dressing on the chicken before grilling or make a double batch of dressing and use half of it to marinate the chicken before grilling!
  • Sprinkle more Parmesan over your salad
  • Voila!

Rinse and drain the lettuce.  Place on paper towels and then roll it up. Keep it in the frig until ready to eat!

We’ve followed this recipe dozens of times! Can you tell? I hope you enjoy it too!