Winter Crudite Salad Recipes

WINTER CRUDITE SALAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine mustard and vinegar. Slowly drizzle in olive oil, and whisk until mixture is creamy. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Peel celery root with a sharp knife. Cut root in half crosswise and slice each half as thinly as possible. Keep slices in a bowl of cold water until needed. Drain and pat dry when ready to toss with the vinaigrette.
• Place vegetables in separate bowls, season with salt and pepper, and toss well. Add about 1 1/2 teaspoons dressing to each bowl and toss again. Arrange vegetables in separate piles on salad plates and serve immediately.

WINTER FRUIT SALAD

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine the quinoa and water and bring to a boil. Simmer over low heat stirring often, until tender, about 12 minutes. Drain and cool completely.
• In a small bowl, combine the kumquats, cilantro, olive oil, lemon juice and salt. Allow to steep for 5 minutes.
• In a large bowl, combine the quinoa, pear and cucumber. Add the dressing and toss well. Add the watercress and toss again and serve.

WINTER CRUDITéS

Steps:

• PLAN AHEAD
• If serving crudités at a party, plan on 1/8 to 1/4 pound of vegetables for each guest. The selection shown here is a suggestion; feel free to vary the vegetables as desired and by season. Some vegetables (celery and carrots) can be served raw; others should be steamed.
• Prepare to Steam
• Set a steamer basket (or a colander) in a Dutch oven (or a pot with a lid). Fill with enough salted water to come just below basket, and bring to a boil. Prepare an ice-water bath; place a colander inside, over the ice. Line a baking sheet with a double layer of paper towels.
• steam vegetables
• Working with one kind at a time, steam vegetables, starting with the mildest-tasting and ending with the most pungent (this will keep potatoes, for example, from tasting like Brussels sprouts). Place vegetables in the basket; reduce heat to a simmer. Cover, and steam as directed. Add water to pan as needed between batches to prevent scorching.
• cool and drain
• With tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer vegetables to the colander in the ice-water bath to stop cooking (add ice as needed after each batch). Once completely cooled, transfer vegetables to paper towels to drain. Pat dry.
• Store
• Vegetables can be prepared up to 3 days ahead; wrap each type of vegetable separately in paper towels, then plastic (so flavors don't mix), and refrigerate.
• Serve
• Arrange on a platter with dip alongside.
• Lemon-Thyme Dip
• In a bowl, stir to combine sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon zest and juice, and thyme; season with salt and pepper. Dip can be refrigerated, covered tightly with plastic wrap, up to 3 days; transfer to a small dish and garnish with additional thyme just before serving.

CRUDITE SALAD A LA GRECQUE

Steps:

• Combine shallots, olive oil, and dried oregano in a small saucepan, and place over medium-low heat. Let cook until shallots are translucent and very soft, about 20 minutes. if oil starts to sputter or brown, reduce heat.
• Meanwhile, cut vegetables, and set each aside in its own, separate bowl: Cut cauliflower and broccoli into bite-sized florets. Trim stems from mushrooms, and cut them in half. Slice each celery stalk and carrot into 3-inch-long, thin sticks. Slice larger radishes in half.
• Season each bowl of vegetables with about 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Add lemon juice to shallots and warm oil; stir to combine. Pour just less than 1/6 of the mixture over each bowl of prepared vegetables, keeping in mind that the mushrooms will absorb the dressing and require a little more than the other vegetables. Toss each bowl of vegetables; let stand for between 1 and 4 hours. Arrange vegetables on platter, and serve.