This salad has an intriguing array of flavors and textures. Roasting the peppers until the skin is charred provides a nice smokiness, contrasting with the sweetness of the mozzarella and the saltiness of the olives. SERVES 4 1 large red bell pepper 1 large green bell...
Creamy Garlic Tofu Dressing or Dip
The texture of tofu changes dramatically when it is pured in the blender and makes an unusually smooth and flavorful salad dressing, dip, or sandwich spread. MAKES 1ВЅ CUPS ВЅ pound firm or soft tofu, patted dry 2 tablespoons lemon juice (about ВЅ lemon) Вј cup olive...
Creamy Dill Dressing
In produce stands now fresh dill is nearly as commonplace as fresh parsley. This is fortunate because dill loses much of its flavor when dried. I love to use it in salads, breads, dips, marinades, and spreads, so I try to always have some on hand. The most convenient...
Classic Vinaigrette
Hereвs an all-purpose vinaigrette that has a perfect balance of flavors. 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 2 cloves garlic, minced Вѕ cup olive oil Salt to taste Freshly ground pepper to taste Put all of the ingredients into a jar with a screw...
Avocado and Bathed Bread Vinaigrette
The combined flavors of the perfectly ripe avocado and thin slices of toasted French bread in this garlicky vinaigrette are incomparable. Black pebbly skinned Hass avocados are the best variety because they are the creamiest. SERVES 4 ВЅ cup Classic Vinaigrette 2...
Asparagus Vinaigrette
I have tried all methods of preparing asparagus to ensure even cooking dicing the stalks, tying them together with a string and cooking them upright, cutting a cross in the stalks to encourage quicker cooking, etc., and none of them has ever been satisfactory to me;...
Arugula and Boston Lettuce Salad
The incomparable flavor of arugula can easily be overpowered by a strong salad dressing. The best way to accentuate its wonderful flavor is to use only a light dressing of lemon juice and olive oil with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. SERVES 4 1 head Boston lettuce,...
Hummus
Although there are some store-bought varieties of hummus that are good, none compares to this luxurious version. For a delicious lunch, try spooning leftover hummus over sauted vegetables that have been stuffed into pita bread. MAKES ABOUT 2ВЅ CUPS 16-ounce can...
Pesto on Toasted French Bread
Pesto is usually served as a sauce on pasta and sometimes is used to enhance vegetables. But by far the most luscious way to enjoy pesto that I know of is to spread it on slices of toasted French bread and have them as an appetizer. MAKES 12 SLICES 12 slices French...
Indian Eggplant Dip
This is a richly flavored, spicy dip that is very easy to prepare. It is one of my favorite appetizers, and a good choice to acquaint newcomers to the flavors of curry. I highly recommend serving it with hot pita bread triangles so you can scoop it up, but it also...