What's your favourite "substantial salad"?

[Cies]

You know, the kind of thing that can be served as a one dish meal with bread and maybe cheese alongside. In the summer dh and I often have something along these lines, but I fear that I have fallen into a rut.

To get the ball rolling, my current favourite is Delia's couscous and roasted vegetable salad.

Mozzerella, ripe tomatoes, black olives, boiled egg, avacado, spinach and crispy pancetta or proscuitto. Olive oil and lots of salt and pepper. Oh, and a few leaves.

Yum.

You can't beat a big fat Greek salad imho, with pitta bread and homemade tsatziki.

Although I am v tempted by puy lentil and feta now as well.

I have a recipe for a haloumi and pomegranate one as well, which I keep meaning to try.

Lightly cooked florets of broccoli and cauliflower, halved cherry tomatoes, green beans, with fillet steak dry fried (coated in Worcestershire sauce first) till it's rare, then allowed to cool.

Mix all ingredients together, then dress with a dressing made from olive oil, horseradish sauce, finely chopped garlic, white wine vinegar, salt/pepper and Dijon mustard

(I think - this is from memory - will type the recipe out if required!)

Ohhh, lots of delicious ideas.
I'm going to print this and pin it on the kitchen corkboard for meal planning inspiration.

I think I have all the ingredients for this one atm: FreakoidOrganisoid Mon 31-May-10 13:52:49
Chunks of roasted butternut, beetroot, chickpeas, spinach, pinenuts and feta. Often add chicken to it too.

this is lovely squash and barley, mmmmm

M&S do a fabby bulghar wheat and carrot salad - wish I knew how to make it.

Avocado, bacon and baby spinach with a warm dressing.

Warm chicken, bacon, avocado (obviously not warm), blue cheese & rocket.

These pre cooked puy lentils are a good addition. There is a version with sundried tomatoes as well.

orienteerer, that sounds lovely - all my favourite things together.

Chicken breasts marinaded in PeriPeri sauce then grilled serve with baby spinach, spring onions, red pepper, roasted sweet potatoe and red onions.

Good old nicoise. I know there is debate about what should be included but I'd go tuna, potatoes, green beans, black olives, tomatoes, red onion, hard-boiled egg and salad leaves. Definitely substantial. Sadly my DH hates tuna so I tend to order it when I'm out instead.

Peas, broad beans or soya beans, finely sliced fennel, dressing made from olive oil, mustard, lemon juice and dill. Top with boiled egg and crispy bacon.

Mark Sergeant's recipe from Gordon's Healthy Appetites

warm goat's cheese
nicoise
greek

I had a lovely one the other day:

tin of chick peas
steamed asparagus
thinly sliced red onion
mustard balsamic dressing

mmmm must get me some of those cheery tomatoes!!

new pots
baby tomatoes
grapes
bacon
basil
artichoke -sliced from a jar
olive oil from the artichoke jar poured over

served on toasted bread

tomato and mozzarella and basil, and torn up olive ciabatta(hot) all tossed in basil olive oil and balsamic cream, not vinegar.

and feta

Watercress and rocket leaves, spring onions, cherry toms, chargrilled red peppers, smoked mackerel fillets, poached egg, sunflower and pumpkin seeds.

bacon, avocado and spinach

goats cheese, walnut and salad leaves

mozzarella, basil, tomato, black olives, with some lovely salami

crumbled soft blue cheese, ripe pear or figs, walnuts, honey and red wine vinegar dressing,watercress/rocket etc.

that's made me hungry now.

Avocado, tomatoes, mozzarella, dressing of choice.

I'll have some of those cheery tomatoes as well.

Yum, I must admit that the online food shop I've just done was based largely on this thread

Mouth watering thread!

I love a lentil salad, ones with some bite, green or puy. Dress while still warm with LOTS of olive oil, lemon, salt, pepper, herbs (mint, corriander, chives, what ever's to hand). That's a base, add chilli, roast toms, feta, olives, etc as the mood takes you!

Courgette...thinly slice courgettes length ways and griddle. While warm toss in lemon, basil, olive oil, touch of garlic, mint, toasted pine nuts if you can be a**ed. Feta's a nice addition if you want protein.

I love thai style salads too. Cold noodles dressed with tamari, sesame oil, lime, corriander, and thinly sliced salad veg, eg, Q, carrots, pepper, bean sprouts...no need to slice those! Etc. Fried tofu and / or peanuts. Apologies to anyone thai for insulting your food culture with this over simplified thing.