If you're honest with yourself, you know you need some salad assistance. Here is the post you didn't know you needed to read until now. Your salad game may never be the same.
My kids always snubbed hot dog or pizza days at school and demanded my homemade lunch. Same same bday parties, they wanted my mac and cheese only. (4 cheeses grated 1:1 to macaroni)
Regarding iceberg lettuce, it seems that it has been fashionable to 'discredit' it for some time now for its low nutritional density. The fact is, many salad ingredients are quite low in nutritional density. A comparison of acceptable romaine to the 'unacceptable' iceberg shows that while romaine is indeed in most areas more nutritionally dense, the actual difference in nutrients for a typical serving is rather small with just a few exceptions. In a few areas iceberg beats romaine (such as protein content.) So I wonder why the opposition to iceberg? It tastes good, lasts a long time in the fridge without going bad, it sits well in my tummy (unlike arugula and spinach), and organic iceberg is not that expensive. Iceberg has joined the same club as red delicious apples. I frequently see stories very critical of that variety as being tasteless, the worst of all apples, etc. I regret that those folks have never tasted a good one, because despite the rantings against it, it has that name for a reason - they are one of the best apples around, unless you get one picked green, etc. I do agree that there are many red delicious apples sold that taste terrible - but they are easy to spot if you like a good red delicious. Sorry for getting off subject, but if you are eating for nutrient density, do not eat lettuce of any type - it takes up space in the tummy while offering little nutrition. But if you are trying to eat something with less carbs and calories, that tastes good, has a satisfying crunch and is easy on the tummy and wallet - I can't beat organic iceberg lettuce. And I find that a nice salad, though relatively light in calories, is satisfying and will hold me very well over my 12-16 hour fast, even using the humble and often maligned iceberg lettuce.
Here's to 'throwing some sun' to fellow icebergers.
Hi Dale, you make good points. My rejection of iceberg in salad has to do with the taste only, not the nutrient content. It’s far too watery for me.
But there’s a Latin phrase my dad used often when he was alive: “de gustibus non disputandum est” which means “in matters of taste there can be no dispute.”
If you really love iceberg, more power to ya. But at least try my bacon/goat cheese on red leaf lettuce salad that I’ll post next week. Your love for iceberg may weaken.
P.S. I’ve never had a red delicious apple that I like. But maybe I’ve never had a good one. 🤔
You may find this odd but I found this “manual” quite hysterical and I mean that in a good way. The way you “sounded” was so much fun that I now am looking forward to more salad glory! So much fun reading yet packed with so much info. So this means that I’ll be running headlong into the salad Frey .. soon!
Guess there’s gonna be a great salad on your family’s day of cooking on the island! 😉
Getting an immersion blender really leveled up my homemade salad dressing game. It gives the dressing an amazing texture and really helps it cling to the lettuce.
I am one of those people with gut issues who can no longer consume lettuce, but your post made me miss salads! The closest I can come is a broccoli salad containing bacon, green onions, and dried cranberries. Lovely!
Good morning Leslie, I woke up at 5 a.m. and was so excited to see a new post from you to read, only to be accosted by.....salad. Talking about how long it takes to eat the meal, the exact thing I don't like about salad! The most unsatisfying meal ever is what I call it. They are only tolerable if I can bury it in meat and cheese deep enough that I can quit eating when I get to the veggies! I say it's time to return to your fasting columns, although my lovely wife will now be your biggest fan I'm sure. Have a great day!
Yeah, I may have just alienated my male cohort. However, I ask you to kindly remember the many, many treatises I have written in the favor of meat, tons of meat, piles of meat, meat, meat, and more meat.
I fell in love with salads all over again with the Whitewater cookbooks (Canadian) & their signature dressing involving maple syrup, garlic, balsamic & sesame oil, soy sauce (or coco aminos) plus olive oil.
We also go gaga for green goddess around here, and are not averse to a Big Fat Salad Bar for dinner sometimes.
Can I add one more? I put one grind of Himalayan salt on my salad right before I eat it. Dressed lightly, with a tiny salty crunch, my chopped salad is delicious. Chopping things up is key—totally agree with you!
Well, you convinced me to make more salad. I'm saving this for another read, and I will be sending a couple of clients to have a read too! Great work on this one.
Ah, yes, I remember now. The hot dog. I can’t praise the hotdog enough. If you can find one that doesn’t contain any garbage like fillers, nitrates/nitrites, etc. then they are most definitely the underdog of the culinary world! Pun very much intended. Here, let me woo you. First of all, they’re delicious: smoky, savoury, salty, a little fatty. The nuance of carefully measured herb and spice can’t really be matched by anything else in the meat world. Second, the nutrition in them is difficult to beat- they almost always contain off-cuts, cartilage, organs, sinew, and all kinds of things that most people wouldn’t ordinarily eat. I dare say they are a dirty secret and even the worst hot dogs are better for you than eating like the food pyramid (that’s a quote from Dr. Ken Berry and I dare say I agree). Third, they come pre-cooked and are so cheap and easy. I used to eschew the hot dog, too, before I had kids. But they are a much-loved thing in our household (along with raw meat and raw milk and raw eggs from our hens) and I simply boil them in my well water and we enjoy them just like that. 100 cals a piece, loaded with minerals and protein. I fill my freezer when the good ones go on sale, so we only eat those. But like I said… even a bad hot dog makes a good friend. Eh the downside is they’re packaged in plastic. I never met one that wasn’t. But according to my math, balancing cost, practicality, taste, and nutrition always boils down to: eat the hot dog. Eat it.
Ya this is the way I was taught to make salads. We’re Italian. My inner nonna approves. But I myself do partake in a little chiffonade of the much maligned iceberg, especially in cold noodle salads. Quite good with chiffonade of radicchio. You’d probably never know it was iceberg. That’s how iceberg does the sleuth. I love iceberg but I agree that it is better as a vessel rather than a salad component. Bibb lettuces and the like are definitely the best. Also- I love soggy leftover salad. It’s delicious. It’s pre-digested and goes awesome in a wrap or mixed up with some tuna and mayo once you squeeze out the extra water a bit. But yeah with all its watery goodness it’s great tossed with- yup, cold noodles like soba. That noodle salad AGAIN. Ok what’s the other blasphemy I was gonna say…. I can’t remember right now but it was BAD. It’ll come to me. Well one more thing, here’s something else the poor person in me discovered that I shall pass along to all ye good folk who enjoy being inventive: never throw away that feta cheese brine in the bin it comes in- that makes an excellent salad dressing component (salty and sour and cheesy all in one). I recommend. And I second the blender recommendation from Joanna, for certain dressings that have an emulsifier like mustard, this makes for a fabulous texture.
Now I can’t wait to eat salad! Thank you!
My kids always snubbed hot dog or pizza days at school and demanded my homemade lunch. Same same bday parties, they wanted my mac and cheese only. (4 cheeses grated 1:1 to macaroni)
Ah we made monsters - but the good kind.
True dat! 🤣
Regarding iceberg lettuce, it seems that it has been fashionable to 'discredit' it for some time now for its low nutritional density. The fact is, many salad ingredients are quite low in nutritional density. A comparison of acceptable romaine to the 'unacceptable' iceberg shows that while romaine is indeed in most areas more nutritionally dense, the actual difference in nutrients for a typical serving is rather small with just a few exceptions. In a few areas iceberg beats romaine (such as protein content.) So I wonder why the opposition to iceberg? It tastes good, lasts a long time in the fridge without going bad, it sits well in my tummy (unlike arugula and spinach), and organic iceberg is not that expensive. Iceberg has joined the same club as red delicious apples. I frequently see stories very critical of that variety as being tasteless, the worst of all apples, etc. I regret that those folks have never tasted a good one, because despite the rantings against it, it has that name for a reason - they are one of the best apples around, unless you get one picked green, etc. I do agree that there are many red delicious apples sold that taste terrible - but they are easy to spot if you like a good red delicious. Sorry for getting off subject, but if you are eating for nutrient density, do not eat lettuce of any type - it takes up space in the tummy while offering little nutrition. But if you are trying to eat something with less carbs and calories, that tastes good, has a satisfying crunch and is easy on the tummy and wallet - I can't beat organic iceberg lettuce. And I find that a nice salad, though relatively light in calories, is satisfying and will hold me very well over my 12-16 hour fast, even using the humble and often maligned iceberg lettuce.
Here's to 'throwing some sun' to fellow icebergers.
PS - I still like your column Leslie.
Hi Dale, you make good points. My rejection of iceberg in salad has to do with the taste only, not the nutrient content. It’s far too watery for me.
But there’s a Latin phrase my dad used often when he was alive: “de gustibus non disputandum est” which means “in matters of taste there can be no dispute.”
If you really love iceberg, more power to ya. But at least try my bacon/goat cheese on red leaf lettuce salad that I’ll post next week. Your love for iceberg may weaken.
P.S. I’ve never had a red delicious apple that I like. But maybe I’ve never had a good one. 🤔
Can't wait for the recipes. Impressed that you knew about seed oil so early!!
Yes, please share the salad recipes - especially the dressings.
You may find this odd but I found this “manual” quite hysterical and I mean that in a good way. The way you “sounded” was so much fun that I now am looking forward to more salad glory! So much fun reading yet packed with so much info. So this means that I’ll be running headlong into the salad Frey .. soon!
Guess there’s gonna be a great salad on your family’s day of cooking on the island! 😉
Getting an immersion blender really leveled up my homemade salad dressing game. It gives the dressing an amazing texture and really helps it cling to the lettuce.
Awesome tip! Thanks, Joanna.
Leslie...you forced me to explode in laughter 🤣 sooo many times in this fabulous post! Thanks for your excellent content too!
I am one of those people with gut issues who can no longer consume lettuce, but your post made me miss salads! The closest I can come is a broccoli salad containing bacon, green onions, and dried cranberries. Lovely!
Bummer. Maybe eventually your gut will heal, and you can have salad again.
Good morning Leslie, I woke up at 5 a.m. and was so excited to see a new post from you to read, only to be accosted by.....salad. Talking about how long it takes to eat the meal, the exact thing I don't like about salad! The most unsatisfying meal ever is what I call it. They are only tolerable if I can bury it in meat and cheese deep enough that I can quit eating when I get to the veggies! I say it's time to return to your fasting columns, although my lovely wife will now be your biggest fan I'm sure. Have a great day!
Yeah, I may have just alienated my male cohort. However, I ask you to kindly remember the many, many treatises I have written in the favor of meat, tons of meat, piles of meat, meat, meat, and more meat.
Excellent tips! #saladlife ❤️
I fell in love with salads all over again with the Whitewater cookbooks (Canadian) & their signature dressing involving maple syrup, garlic, balsamic & sesame oil, soy sauce (or coco aminos) plus olive oil.
We also go gaga for green goddess around here, and are not averse to a Big Fat Salad Bar for dinner sometimes.
Love it!
You go, girl!
Can I add one more? I put one grind of Himalayan salt on my salad right before I eat it. Dressed lightly, with a tiny salty crunch, my chopped salad is delicious. Chopping things up is key—totally agree with you!
Great tip! Freshly ground salt on salad is life changing! It’s the little things that can make the biggest difference.
I love making -and eating salads! Can’t wait for the recipes!
Well, you convinced me to make more salad. I'm saving this for another read, and I will be sending a couple of clients to have a read too! Great work on this one.
Ah, yes, I remember now. The hot dog. I can’t praise the hotdog enough. If you can find one that doesn’t contain any garbage like fillers, nitrates/nitrites, etc. then they are most definitely the underdog of the culinary world! Pun very much intended. Here, let me woo you. First of all, they’re delicious: smoky, savoury, salty, a little fatty. The nuance of carefully measured herb and spice can’t really be matched by anything else in the meat world. Second, the nutrition in them is difficult to beat- they almost always contain off-cuts, cartilage, organs, sinew, and all kinds of things that most people wouldn’t ordinarily eat. I dare say they are a dirty secret and even the worst hot dogs are better for you than eating like the food pyramid (that’s a quote from Dr. Ken Berry and I dare say I agree). Third, they come pre-cooked and are so cheap and easy. I used to eschew the hot dog, too, before I had kids. But they are a much-loved thing in our household (along with raw meat and raw milk and raw eggs from our hens) and I simply boil them in my well water and we enjoy them just like that. 100 cals a piece, loaded with minerals and protein. I fill my freezer when the good ones go on sale, so we only eat those. But like I said… even a bad hot dog makes a good friend. Eh the downside is they’re packaged in plastic. I never met one that wasn’t. But according to my math, balancing cost, practicality, taste, and nutrition always boils down to: eat the hot dog. Eat it.
Ya this is the way I was taught to make salads. We’re Italian. My inner nonna approves. But I myself do partake in a little chiffonade of the much maligned iceberg, especially in cold noodle salads. Quite good with chiffonade of radicchio. You’d probably never know it was iceberg. That’s how iceberg does the sleuth. I love iceberg but I agree that it is better as a vessel rather than a salad component. Bibb lettuces and the like are definitely the best. Also- I love soggy leftover salad. It’s delicious. It’s pre-digested and goes awesome in a wrap or mixed up with some tuna and mayo once you squeeze out the extra water a bit. But yeah with all its watery goodness it’s great tossed with- yup, cold noodles like soba. That noodle salad AGAIN. Ok what’s the other blasphemy I was gonna say…. I can’t remember right now but it was BAD. It’ll come to me. Well one more thing, here’s something else the poor person in me discovered that I shall pass along to all ye good folk who enjoy being inventive: never throw away that feta cheese brine in the bin it comes in- that makes an excellent salad dressing component (salty and sour and cheesy all in one). I recommend. And I second the blender recommendation from Joanna, for certain dressings that have an emulsifier like mustard, this makes for a fabulous texture.