Spicy Squash Salad With Ginger Lime Dressing Food

SPICY SQUASH SALAD WITH GINGER-LIME DRESSING

Steps:

• Bring 2 inches of water to a boil in large pot with a steamer insert or colander. Add squashes and season with salt. Cover and cook until just tender, about 7 minutes. Transfer, in a single layer, to a baking sheet and let cool about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, combine shallot and lime juice in a small bowl and let stand 10 minutes.
• Whisk oil, chiles, and ginger into shallot mixture.
• Toss squash with 1/2 cup dressing and herbs. Season with salt. Toss lettuces with 2 to 3 tablespoons dressing; season with salt. Arrange squashes and lettuces on plates. Serve, topped with more herbs and drizzled with remaining dressing.

TANGY GINGER LIME SALAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Combine soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, chili oil, lime juice, vinegar and onion powder in a blender. Process until evenly combined. Chill before serving.

LIME AND GINGER DRESSING

Steps:

• Whisk first 5 ingredients in small bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in vegetable oil and sesame oil. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)

GINGER LIME SALAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a glass jar or plastic container.
• Shake well until dressing is combined.
• Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Shake well before serving.
• Keeps well in refrigerator.

THAI SALAD WITH CILANTRO LIME DRESSING

Steps:

• Finely grate enough zest from limes to measure 1 tablespoon. Cut limes crosswise in half; squeeze juice from limes. Place zest and juice in a blender; add cilantro, sugar, red chile pepper, garlic, salt and pepper. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream., In a large bowl, combine cabbages, cucumber, edamame, avocados, carrots and green onions. Drizzle with dressing; toss to coat.

FRUIT SALAD WITH HONEY GINGER LIME DRESSING

Steps:

• All fruit should be washed and dried before being ready for the salad.
• Cut skin from pineapple, so no brown spots are left. Cut peeled fruit into quarters lengthwise, cut off core, then dice each quarter into approximate one-inch chunks. Place in large bowl.
• Peel and remove seeds from the cantaloupe, then cut into one-inch cubes. Place in bowl with pineapple.
• Halve or quarter strawberries, depending on size, and add to bowl.
• Slice each nectarine into about 10-12 slices, then gently pull each slice away from pit and add them to the bowl.
• Cut the ends off of kiwi fruits, then insert a small spoon just under peel of each, and slide it around the fruit, just under the peel, until the peel is separated from the fruit. Cut each peeled kiwi in half lengthwise, then each half into four or five slices. Add to the rest of fruit.
• Add blueberries and blackberries to the rest of fruit. Prepare dressing (below).
• In a small bowl (I actually prefer a mason jar to shake the ingredients together in), mix together honey, lime juice and zest, ginger (I use a microplane to grate it fine), and poppy seeds. Whisk well, then pour over fruit and toss gently to coat.
• (You can prepare this salad up to a day ahead of time, but keep the different kinds of fruit separated from each other just until serving, or the colors will bleed. It tastes best at room temperature. The dressing actually tastes better made a day in advance anyway).
• TIPS ON FINDING RIPE FRUIT: For pineapple, the skin should be slightly yellow, firm to the touch but not hard--will give a little. And, when a leaf near the top of the fruit is tugged gently, it should easily remove from the fruit. For cantaloupe, it should be firm but give slightly, a bit yellowish on the rind--those "veins" are a good sign--it means they were left long enough on the ground to ripen properly. And, if you poke a fingernail in the top "dime" spot, you should be able to smell the fruit. If you can't smell anything, it's not ripe. Strawberries should be shiny and fragrant. Nectarines should have a slight give and be fragrant. Blueberries and blackberries should be firm and deeply colored. Kiwi fruit should be firm, but not rock hard--must have a very slight "give".

NECTARINE FRUIT SALAD WITH LIME SPICE DRESSING

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk the first 5 ingredients. Place nectarines, grapes and mint in a large bowl. Drizzle with honey mixture; stir gently. Refrigerate, covered, 1-2 hours. For topping, mix mascarpone, confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla. Serve fruit salad with topping, pistachios and additional mint leaves.