lettuce

Roast *Almost* Everything Salad

From CSA member Camie Hoang

After looking at what was left of our box, the easiest way to use it all up was to roast almost everything.
I find that when you get lettuces from the local farm, sometimes it is a bit bitter and rough. Maybe someone will know and can answer why? Is it because it's later in the season that it was harvested or because it is a strain that is bitter? or?!?

But I find that if you roast it in the oven, it counteracts the bitterness and actually adds a bit of sweetness. So here is my version of a roast *almost* everything salad

ingredients:
1x head of lettuce - from CSA
1x red cabbage - from CSA
4 sections of Garlic(half clove) - from CSA 3x zucchinis - from CSA
1 bunch radishes - from CSA
olive oil -6 glugs... so maybe 1/2 cup
salt - 1/2 tbsp
1x lemon- for juice and zest
Parmesan (as desired)
***seasoning

what you'll also need: 2x sheep pans
large mixing bowl

Directions

Pre-heat oven 380F degrees
Do a rough chop of the zucchinis, cabbage and garlic.
Slice radishes into slivers approx same size as the veg above, set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, mix the chopped zucchinis, cabbage, garlic, and half of the salt and olive oil together. Coat well.
Place on a sheet pan and spread evenly.
Place on the lower rack of the oven. Roast of approx 30 minutes. Give it a turn once or twice. Add more olive oil if it's looking dry.

In the meantime, slice the head of lettuce in half and place on a sheet pan. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle salt on top. Place on the top rack of the oven. This should take approx 15min., The desired result is to have a bit of char but the body of the lettuce should be slightly wilted. Remove and plop on some parmesan, it's as much or little as you want. Now, this is ready to eat as is or you can cut it up and set aside to put in with the rest of the vegetables at the end.

Back to the rest of the vegetables- they should be ready at this point (see photo). Remove and place in a salad bowl. Put in the radishes (the only non-roasted member of the team).

Zest the skin of one lemon (or as desired) onto the vegetables.
In a small bowl, you will make a dressing by using 3/8 cup (just a little over 1/4 cup) of OO, half of a lemon's worth of juice, and salt to taste, and beat with a fork until it looks cloudy.
Mix the dressing into vegetables and serve with the lettuce! I've also made a version with some leftover pasta (for anyone who needs a carb version).

Enjoy!

CSA Salad Recipes

The beginning of the CSA season always brings a LOT of greens! It’s easy to get stuck in a rut with salads. One of our CSA member recommends a sesame-ginger dressing to inspire you. Here are some of her favorite combos, and a recipe for the dressing!

Sesame-Ginger Dressing

  • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce (or sub coconut aminos)

  • 2-3 tablespoons rice vinegar

  • 1 ½ tablespoons pure maple syrup

  • 2 cloves garlic, finely minced

  • 1 tablespoon freshly minced ginger

  • Optional if you want a creamy dressing: add 1 tablespoon tahini or cashew butter

Make the dressing by whisking together the following in a medium bowl or shaking in a mason jar: sesame oil, olive oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, maple syrup, garlic and fresh ginger. If you want a creamier dressing, add in a tablespoon of tahini or cashew butter.

Salad1

Combo 1

CSA Oakleaf lettuce
CSA Tomatoes
CSA Cucumbers
Grapes
Manchego cheese
Toasted Sunflower Seeds
Sesame-Ginger Dressing

Salad2

Combo 2

CSA Arugula
CSA Scallions
CSA Tomatoes
Avocado
Toasted Sunflower Seeds
Sesame-Ginger Dressing