Quinoa Salad

A favorite quinoa salad punctuated with crunchy cucumbers and toasted cashews. There’s creamy feta, wisps of arugula, flecks of red onion and herbs, and a special ginger-curry dressing. So delicious!

Continue reading Quinoa Salad on 101 Cookbooks

This favorite quinoa salad checks all the boxes. I hope you make it! Let’s talk it through. A nutritious quinoa base is punctuated with crunchy cucumbers and toasted cashews. There’s creamy feta, wisps of arugula, and flecks of red onion and herbs. The thing that makes this salad stand out from other quinoa salads is the bright, strong, ginger-curry dressing made with garlic and a good splash of orange juice. It’s *so* tasty.
quinoa salad on a picnic table

Quinoa Salad

Five reasons to love this recipe:

  1. This quinoa salad is all about the ginger-curry dressing. The dressing is flavor-packed and can be made up to a few days ahead of time. It is also a great spread on sandwiches, and drizzled over grilled vegetables or bruschetta.
  2. This salad is even better on the second day. Re-toss with a bit of extra dressing and you’re good to go.
  3. A quinoa salad like this one is a fantastic option for family meals and potlucks where you might have to accommodate a range of allergies. It is gluten-free and can be nut free if you swap pepitas or sunflower seeds for the cashews.
  4. If you’re looking for something a bit more substantial, turn this salad into a hearty one-bowl meal by topping the salad with a hard boiled egg, slivered omelette, or tempeh crumble.
  5. It’s loaded with goodies like toasted nuts, cucumbers, herbs, and arugula. Along with the quinoa, and the spice-forward dressing, you have all the good stuff in one bowl.

This salad is big on flavor, colorful, a crowd-pleaser, fresh, and healthful. All around, a great summer salad. 
quinoa, cashews, red onions, feta, and arugula in a bowl

Quinoa Salad Ingredients

This salad comes together quickly, especially if you make the dressing ahead of time or keep it on hand.

  • quinoa
  • red onion
  • arugula or spinach – you can use any chopped green, really. Thin shavings of green cabbage is another option. Peppery leaves of arugula is my first choice though.
  • toasted cashews
  • chickpeas
  • feta cheese – taste your way through different feta over time. The range of feta available dramatic and super interesting. Some are saltier than others. You will find varieties made from sheep milk, cow milk, goat milk, or a blend. True Greek feta is made with sheep’s milk, and I tend to grab that. Opt for blocks of feta over crumbles.
  • herbs
  • ginger-curry dressing

quinoa salad ingredients in a mixing bowl

How To Cook Quinoa

This recipe has you start out with a couple cups of cooked quinoa. You can use any color quinoa you like. If you aren’t sure how to cook quinoa, or how to be sure it turns out nice and fluffy, there’s a post for you. This page explains how to cook quinoa, and talks through a lot of ways to work this special ingredient into your cooking.
ginger curry dressing in a glass jar
As I mentioned up above, the ginger-curry dressing is what makes this salad really sing. The recipe below has you make more than you need, so you’ll have extra to use on other things throughout the week.
quinoa salad ingredients in a mixing bowl
Here you see all the ingredients coming together. The key is tossing everything really, really well. Then introduce the feta cheese so it holds its shape.
quinoa salad on a large plate with a serving spoon

Serving & Storing

This quinoa salad is best at room temperature. If you’re thinking of serving refrigerated leftovers, allow the salad to sit on a counter at room temperature for long enough to lose the chill before serving. The same applies to the dressing, bring it to room temperature before using.

Want to cook more quinoa recipes?

Double Broccoli Quinoa
Baked Quinoa Patties
Warm and Nutty Cinnamon Quinoa
Kale Quinoa Bites
– more fave quinoa recipes

Salad Recipes

If you’re looking for more salad recipes and inspiration, you’re in the right place.

– 50+ salad recipes in one spot
Spicy Sesame Coleslaw
Grilled Wedge Salad with Spicy Ranch Dressing

 

Continue reading Quinoa Salad on 101 Cookbooks

Cajun Potato Salad

Cajun Potato Salad is creamy, spicy, smoky, and absolutely packed with flavor! It’s the perfect side dish for any summer gathering.

The post Cajun Potato Salad appeared first on Budget Bytes.

If there’s one seasoning blend you need in your cabinet, it’s Cajun Seasoning. Whether you make your own blend or buy it pre-made from the store, this punchy blend of herbs and spices will bring life to whatever you’re cooking. Case in point: this Cajun Potato Salad. If regular potato salad is just a little too boring for you, you’ve got to try this slightly spicy, super flavorful, and ultra-creamy potato salad. You’ll never want it any other way.

Overhead view of Cajun Potato Salad in a bowl.

What is Cajun Potato Salad?

To avoid confusion, this isn’t a classic Cajun dish, but rather potato salad seasoned with a Cajun seasoning blend to give it a ton of spicy, smoky, herb-filled flavor. In addition to adding a hefty dose of herbs and spices, I used spicy Creole mustard and a dash or two of hot sauce in the dressing to really take it over the top. I also added a handful of chopped and green onion to keep that Cajun flavor theme going. This potato salad is just PACKED with flavor!

What Kind of Potatoes to Use

Usually, I like a waxy potato like Yukon Gold or red potatoes for a potato salad, but for this Cajun Potato Salad recipe I used softer Russet potatoes. I like the way the Russet potatoes kind of break down and half-mash as you mix them with the dressing. If you do want to use Yukon Gold or red potatoes, make sure to cut them into smaller pieces so you get a nice potato to dressing ratio once mixed together.

Homemade Vs. Store-Bought Cajun Seasoning

I used my own blend of Homemade Cajun Seasoning for this potato salad, but if you don’t have a well-stocked spice cabinet you can definitely use a store-bought Cajun seasoning blend. Make sure to check the bottle to see if the seasoning blend contains salt. If the store-bought seasoning does not contain salt, make sure to add some to the recipe below (½ to ¾ tsp added to the dressing should do it).

What to Serve with Cajun Potato Salad

This flavorful potato salad is the perfect side dish to go with grilled or BBQ meat, or to take with you to a summer BBQ or potluck. Serve it along side Slow Cooker Pulled Pork, Red Beans and Rice, Roasted Bratwurst with Peppers and Onions, Baked Chicken Drumsticks, or Quick BBQ Chicken. And don’t forget to make some Collard Greens to go along with it!

Close up side view of Cajun Potato Salad in a bowl.
Close up overhead shot of Cajun Potato Salad in a bowl.
Print

Cajun Potato Salad

Cajun Potato Salad is creamy, spicy, smoky, and absolutely packed with flavor! It's the perfect side dish for any summer gathering.
Course Lunch, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Total Cost $5.22 recipe / $0.87 serving
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 1 cup each
Calories 441kcal

Ingredients

Cajun Seasoning*

  • 1 tsp smoked paprika $0.10
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme $0.05
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano $0.05
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder $0.02
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder $0.02
  • 3/4 tsp salt $0.04
  • 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper $0.02
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper $0.02

Potato Salad

  • 2.5 lbs. russet potatoes $1.90
  • 1 tsp salt (for cooking water) $0.05
  • 2 large hard boiled eggs $0.42
  • 2 stalks celery $0.47
  • 3 green onions $0.33
  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley $0.20
  • 1 cup mayonnaise $1.22
  • 2 Tbsp Creole mustard (or spicy brown mustard) $0.15
  • 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar $0.13
  • 1/2 tsp hot sauce $0.02
  • 1/4 tsp sugar $0.01

Instructions

  • Combine the herbs and spices for the Cajun seasoning and set aside.
  • Peel and dice the potatoes into ½-inch cubes. Place the cubed potatoes in a large pot, sprinkle 1 tsp salt over top, then cover with water.
  • Place a lid on the pot and bring it up to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat slightly and continue to boil the potatoes until they are very tender (about 8 minutes, test with a fork). Drain the potatoes in a colander and rinse briefly with cool water.
  • While the potatoes are boiling, prepare the potato salad dressing so the flavors have some time to blend. In a bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, mustard, red wine vinegar, hot sauce, sugar, and the prepared Cajun seasoning. Set the dressing aside.
  • Chop the hard boiled eggs, finely dice the celery, slice the green onions, and chop the parsley.
  • Once the potatoes are mostly cooled, transfer them to a large bowl with the eggs, celery, green onion, and parsley. Pour the dressing over top, then stir until everything is well combined. Give the potato salad a taste and adjust the salt or other seasonings to your liking. Serve warm or chill until ready to eat.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Notes

*In place of the homemade Cajun seasoning, you can use about 1 Tbsp store-bought Cajun seasoning. Make sure to check if the seasoning contains salt and if it doesn’t, you’ll need to add salt to the potato salad dressing.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Cup | Calories: 441kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 30g | Sodium: 732mg | Fiber: 3g

How to Make Cajun Potato Salad – Step by Step Photos

Diced potatoes in a pot with salt being sprinkled over top.

Peel and dice 2.5 lbs. russet potatoes into ½-inch pieces. Place the potatoes in a pot and sprinkle 1 tsp salt over top. Cover the potatoes with water, place a lid on the pot, and bring the potatoes up to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, turn the heat down slightly and continue to boil the potatoes until very soft, about 8 minutes (test with a fork–the potato should pierce easily). Drain the potatoes in a colander and rinse briefly with cool water.

Cajun seasoning herbs and spices in a bowl not mixed.

For the Cajun seasoning, combine 1 tsp smoked paprika, ½ tsp dried thyme, ½ tsp dried oregano, ¼ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp onion powder, ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper, ¼ tsp freshly cracked pepper, and ¾ tsp salt.

Potato salad dressing ingredients.

While the potatoes are boiling, prepare the potato salad dressing so the flavors have time to blend a bit. Add 1 cup mayonnaise, 2 Tbsp Creole mustard, 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar, the prepared Cajun seasoning blend, ½ tsp hot sauce, and ¼ tsp sugar.

Mixed Cajun potato salad dressing in a bowl being stirred.

Stir the dressing ingredients together until smooth. Set the dressing aside.

Two eggs in a small pot with water.

Hard boil two eggs. I like to use my soft-boiled egg method, but increase the simmer time to 12 minutes, but you can also boil them using a traditional hard-boiled egg method. Cool the eggs, then chop them into small pieces.

Chopped vegetables on a cutting board.

Chop two stalks of celery into small pieces, slice three green onions, and finely chop about 2 Tbsp parsley.

Dressing being poured over potato salad ingredients in the bowl.

Add the cooled potatoes, eggs, celery, green onion, and parsley to a large bowl. Pour the dressing over top.

Finished Cajun Potato Salad in the bowl.

Stir until everything is evenly combined and coated in dressing. Give the potato salad a taste and adjust the salt, hot sauce, or other seasonings to your liking.

Overhead view of a bowl full of Cajun Potato Salad.

The post Cajun Potato Salad appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Classic Coleslaw Dressing

Coleslaw is one of those summer side dish recipes that you should be on everyone’s shortlist for the upcoming spring and summer
The post Classic Coleslaw Dressing appeared first on Salty Side Dish Recipes.

Coleslaw is one of those summer side dish recipes that you should be on everyone’s shortlist for the upcoming spring and summer

The post Classic Coleslaw Dressing appeared first on Salty Side Dish Recipes.

Salsa Coleslaw

Mexican Salsa coleslaw, full of incredible flavor, is a beautiful, bright, bold, and spicy side dish recipe perfect for summer BBQs, Cinco
The post Salsa Coleslaw appeared first on Salty Side Dish Recipes.

Mexican Salsa coleslaw, full of incredible flavor, is a beautiful, bright, bold, and spicy side dish recipe perfect for summer BBQs, Cinco

The post Salsa Coleslaw appeared first on Salty Side Dish Recipes.

Cilantro Salad

The best salad I’ve had in the past year was a cilantro salad. Meaning, no other lettuces. None. Unless you absolutely loathe cilantro, you 100% must try it. It is made with cilantro leaves and stems tossed with a simple shallot-forward soy sauce dressing, plus peanuts. I’ll often add asparagus.

Continue reading Cilantro Salad on 101 Cookbooks

This cilantro salad came to my attention in a round-about way. And I’m so thankful! I went to a lunch in Oakland a few weeks back. It was one of those special lunches that passes all too quickly – a warm April afternoon, a stretch of tables pushed together under a booming canopy of white flowers, good company, Lillet blanc, and some of my favorite cooks arriving with something to share, family-style. It was a celebration of Deborah Madison’s new book, and after all these years, I was finally able to thank her for inspiring body of work in person. All in all, a great afternoon. I would have been more than happy to stay right where I was, long after the plates were cleared, as I imagine dinner under the blossoming trees would be magic. But, that’s not actually what I was thinking about after I left. I was thinking about something I ate.
Cilantro Salad in a Bowl

Cilantro Salad: You Need This Salad in Your Life

There was this one salad at the lunch that I just couldn’t shake. It was made entirely of cilantro, tossed with a simple shallot-forward soy sauce dressing, toasted peanuts, and a vegetable. It was so simple, so bright, and it got me thinking about cilantro in an entirely new way. I can’t emphasize more strongly how much I want you to enjoy this salad as well.
Salad Ingredients in Large Bowl

The Inspiration

The Xinjiang salad was made by Carolyn Phillips from a Chinese cookbook specializing in the Northwest (you can see the write-up on her site here). You’ll also also see it featured in her upcoming book on regional Chinese cooking being published by McSweeney’s in 2014, All Under Heaven. She used red bell peppers, but I’ve been doing versions with whatever spring produce I have on hand. You can see the asparagus version as well as an all-cilantro version down below. Unless you absolutely loathe cilantro, you must, must(!) try this salad.
Cilantro Salad Recipe

What is it Good With?

I love this salad as side to just about anything. It’s great as a component to a grain bowl, wonderful in tacos, and I love it as a side salad to a rustic, savory tomato tart.

Cilantro Salad in a Bowl

Cilantro Salad: Pro-tip

This is the main thing that matters. The absolute key here is to use the brightest, best cilantro you can get your hands on. The stems should be crisp but not at all tough. The leaves need to be vibrant, with no shift in color (indicating onsetting spoilage).
Cilantro Salad Recipe

More Salads

I understand if cilantro isn’t your things. Especially if you’re one of the people who experiences it as soapy. Here are a bunch of other salad recipes for you to check out.

Continue reading Cilantro Salad on 101 Cookbooks

Kale Salad

Full of healthy texture and flavor, this nutrient-dense Kale Salad is enhanced with creamy buttermilk dressing, tamed red onions, and an addicting crunchy quinoa salad toppe

Full of healthy texture and flavor, this nutrient-dense Kale Salad is enhanced with creamy buttermilk dressing, tamed red onions, and an addicting crunchy quinoa salad toppe
Full of healthy texture and flavor, this nutrient-dense Kale Salad is enhanced with creamy buttermilk dressing, tamed red onions, and an addicting crunchy quinoa salad toppe

Homemade Caesar Dressing

This rich, tangy, and flavorful homemade Caesar dressing is easy to prepare, and will take all your homemade salads to the next level.

The post Homemade Caesar Dressing appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Is there anything quite like the rich, tangy, and umami-filled flavor of Caesar dressing? It’s no wonder Caesar salads are relatively simple. With a dressing like that, you don’t need much else! Homemade Caesar dressing is also very simple, despite its complex flavor, so don’t shy away from making it yourself at home. Our simple recipe takes has all that bold flavor you’ll find with a restaurant dressing made with just a few simple ingredients (and maybe just one special ingredient 😉).

Overhead view of Caesar dressing being poured over a salad.

What is Caesar Dressing?

Caesar dressing is a rich and tangy dressing with strong savory and umami flavors balanced with bright acidity and flecks of vibrant black pepper. It’s typically served over a simple bed of crisp Romaine lettuce, with freshly grated Parmesan, croutons, and sometimes a protein like chicken, salmon, or shrimp.

Ingredients for Caesar Dressing

You only need a few simple ingredients to make homemade Caesar dressing, and our version is even faster and easier thanks to the use of mayonnaise instead of making our own egg and oil emulsion. Here’s what you’ll need to make your own homemade Caesar dressing:

  • Garlic: Fresh garlic provides both a savory flavor and a little kick of heat to the dressing.
  • Anchovies: These little fish add a ton of deep umami flavor to this dressing, which really sets it apart from other creamy salad dressings. And don’t worry, it doesn’t make the dressing taste like fish! It just adds some subtle, deep, savory flavor.
  • Lemon: You’ll use both the juice and zest from a fresh lemon for this recipe. The juice provides acidity, while the zest adds a nice fresh flavor to balance the savory anchovies.
  • Mayonnaise: Making Caesar dressing from scratch usually involves emulsifying egg and oil to make a creamy dressing base, but we took a shortcut by using mayonnaise, which is pre-emulsified egg and oil! Easy peasy!
  • Dijon Mustard: Dijon adds another layer of slightly tangy flavor to the dressing.
  • Parmesan: Nutty Parmesan cheese makes the dressing even more rich, and punches up the umami flavor even more.
  • Black Pepper: Flecks of spicy black pepper add pops of flavor to Caesar dressing so that no bite is boring!

How to Store Caesar Dressing

Homemade Caesar dressing can be stored in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for 4-5 days. If you don’t think you can eat the entire batch within that time, use the serving adjuster in the recipe below to make a half batch and reduce waste. We don’t recommend freezing homemade Caesar dressing as it will likely separate upon thawing.

How to Use Caesar Dressing

Caesar salads are the obvious way to use Caesar dressing, but this mouth-wateringly delicious homemade dressing is great on a lot more than just salad! So don’t let your leftover dressing go to waste. Try using Caesar dressing in these creative ways:

  • Drizzle over roasted vegetables
  • Use it a sandwich spread
  • Use it as a dressing for pasta salad
  • When breading chicken or fish, use Caesar dressing in place of the eggwash
  • Toss chicken wings in Caesar dressing instead of buffalo sauce
  • Use it in the place of dressings for chicken and tuna salads, or coleslaw
Caesar dressing dripping off a spoon into a jar.
Caesar dressing dripping off a spoon into a jar.
Print

Homemade Caesar Dressing

This rich, tangy, and flavorful homemade Caesar dressing is easy to prepare, and will take all your homemade salads to the next level.
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Total Cost $2.71 recipe / $0.34 serving
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 8 2 Tbsp each
Calories 117kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Zest and juice the lemon. You'll need about 3 Tbsp juice and 1 tsp lemon zest. Mince the garlic and anchovy filets. Reserve about ½ tsp of the oil from the anchovy container.
  • Add the lemon juice, zest, minced garlic, minced anchovies, anchovy oil, and pepper to a boil. Whisk to combine.
  • Add the Dijon, mayonnaise, and grated Parmesan and whisk to combine again. Taste the dressing and adjust the ingredients to your liking. Serve with a fresh salad or you favorite foods.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

Serving: 2Tbsp | Calories: 117kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Sodium: 240mg | Fiber: 0.2g
Homemade Caesar dressing in a bowl with a whisk.

How to Make Homemade Caesar Dressing – Step by Step Photos

Lemon juice, zest, anchovies, garlic, and pepper in a bowl.

Zest and juice one lemon. Mince three cloves of garlic, and mince three anchovies. Add the lemon juice (about 3 Tbsp), zest (about 1 tsp), minced garlic, minced anchovies, ½ tsp of the anchovy oil from the package, and ¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper to a bowl. Whisk to combine.

Mayonnaise, Dijon, and Parmesan added to the bowl.

Add 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard, ½ cup mayonnaise, and ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese.

Whisked Caesar dressing in a bowl with a whisk.

Whisk the dressing until smooth. Taste and adjust the ingredients to your liking.

Caesar dressing being poured over a salad.

Pour the dressing over your favorite salad or vegetables, spread it onto a sandwich, or use it as a dip for any of your favorite foods!

Caesar dressing dripping off a spoon into a jar.

SO GOOD! 🤤

The post Homemade Caesar Dressing appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Cobb Salad

Nothing is more satisfying than a classic Cobb salad smothered in the perfect dressing. Packed with crisp lettuce, eggs, blue cheese, and
The post Cobb Salad appeared first on Salty Side Dish Recipes.

Nothing is more satisfying than a classic Cobb salad smothered in the perfect dressing. Packed with crisp lettuce, eggs, blue cheese, and

The post Cobb Salad appeared first on Salty Side Dish Recipes.

Salad Topper Crunchies

Salad Topper  is an easy and delicious way to add a tasty crunch to salads, soups & bowls.  Versatile and fun to play around with, keep it simple or add your favorite seasonings. Made with toasted quinoa and seeds. 

Salad Topper  is an easy and delicious way to add a tasty crunch to salads, soups & bowls.  Versatile and fun to play around with, keep it simple or add your favorite seasonings. Made with toasted quinoa and seeds. 
Salad Topper  is an easy and delicious way to add a tasty crunch to salads, soups & bowls.  Versatile and fun to play around with, keep it simple or add your favorite seasonings. Made with toasted quinoa and seeds.