Sicilian Olive Salad Food

SICILIAN HARVEST SALAD

Steps:

• Put the raisins in a small bowl and pour boiling water over them to cover. Let stand until plump and soft, about 10 minutes. Drain.
• Put the raisins, grapes, apricots, rosemary and onion in a large bowl. Add the lemon juice and stir in the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
• Separate the radicchio into leaves, saving the heart for another use. Tear into bite size pieces and add to the dried fruit mixture along with the spinach. Toss well. Divide among 4 plates and top with the prosciutto, if using. Scatter the pine nuts over the top.
• Frying rosemary on the branch removes its slightly soapy, bitter flavor so you can use more. Heat 1-inch oil in a deep saute pan to 350 degrees F. Deep-fry the rosemary for 30 seconds and drain on paper towels. Strip the leaves off the stems and crush the leaves in the paper towels to remove any excess oil. Mince and store in a clean, tightly sealed container. Use the fried rosemary to make a seasoned salt by adding it to a mixture of black pepper, dried lemon zest and salt.

SICILIAN TOMATO & ONION SALAD

Steps:

• Cut tomatoes into bite size pieces.
• Sprinkle with garlic salt and pepper.
• Peel a cut onion in half vertically.
• Along edge of open side, "sliver" cut onion and add to tomatoes.
• Add the rest of ingredients and toss lightly.
• Marinate for at least an hour.
• Serve with Italian bread, provolone cheese and hard salami (or other Italian meats.).

SICILIAN-STYLE CITRUS SALAD

Steps:

• Make the vinaigrette: Whisk together olive oil and vinegar in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper and set aside. It should be tart but not over-vinegary. Taste and add a little more olive oil if necessary.
• To peel the citrus fruit, use a small serrated knife. First, cut off a thin slice of peel from the top and bottom of the orange, so it can sit flat and securely on the cutting board. Use a sawing motion to take off the peel, cutting from top to bottom, following the curve of the fruit. Remove only the peel and white pith, not the flesh of the orange. It should now be perfectly spherical and naked. Peel remaining oranges and grapefruit in this fashion.
• Carefully slice peeled citrus crosswise. Arrange slices on a large serving platter in a random pattern, letting them overlap a bit here and there. Scatter onion, fennel and celery over top. Dot the surface with olives. Surround with salad leaves, if using.
• Whisk vinaigrette, and spoon evenly over the salad. Sprinkle lightly with flaky salt and serve.

SIMPLE SICILIAN SALAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Mix together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, oregano, salt and pepper.

SICILIAN OLIVE SALAD

Steps:

• In a large sieve rinse olives and drain well. Thinly slice celery, carrot, onion, and garlic and in a bowl stir together with remaining ingredients. Marinate salad, covered and chilled, at least 1 day and up to 3 days. Bring salad to room temperature before serving.

SICILIAN POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Place potatoes and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a Dutch oven; add water to cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook, uncovered, until tender, 12-15 minutes. Drain; rinse with cold water. Pat dry., Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, bring 1 cup water to a boil. Add beans; cook, uncovered, just until crisp-tender, 3-4 minutes. Drain; immediately drop into ice water. Drain and pat dry., Peel and cube potatoes; sprinkle with remaining salt and the pepper. Transfer to a serving bowl. Add beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, onion and 3/4 cup basil leaves. Whisk together oil, vinegar and garlic. Drizzle over vegetables; toss to coat. Sprinkle with remaining basil.

SICILIAN OLIVE SALAD (MUFFALETTA)

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl add all ingredients except salad dressing. Toss well to mix the meats and cheese blend with vegetables.
• Depending on how well the mix is drained add salad dressing to cover.
• Chill at least one hour. Spoon on bed of mixed greens. Or scoop out large tomatoes drain and fill with mix.

ITALIAN OLIVE SALAD

Steps:

• Drain olives, capers and artichokes.
• Coarsely chop.
• Add parsley, celery, garlic and oregano and olive oil.
• Stir to mix.
• Put in refrigerator for at least 2 days.
• Will last for several weeks in the refrigerator.
• Great on italian hoagies or muffletas or spooned on top of a green salad.

SICILIAN ORANGE SALAD

Steps:

• On a serving platter, alternately arrange orange and onion slices, with the slices slightly overlapping. Sprinkle with basil. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with pepper.