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By :chef ssentongo Geoffrey

How to Make Salads at Home?

Here’s a simple and delicious Honey Dijon Chicken Salad recipe that you can whip up in no time:

Honey Dijon Chicken Salad Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked and shredded chicken
• 1 stalk celery, diced fine
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries
• Hearty rolls or croissants for serving

Instructions:

1. Place the cooked chicken, diced celery, and dried cranberries in a large mixing bowl.
2. Add in the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and honey.
3. Mix all the ingredients well until they are thoroughly incorporated.
4. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for about 2 hours.
5. Serve the chicken salad on rolls or croissants.

Pro Tips:

• Use a stand mixer to shred the cooked chicken easily. After shredding the chicken, add the rest of the ingredients to the stand mixer and let it do the work for you!
• For special occasions like bridal showers or baby showers, serve this chicken salad on croissants for an elegant touch.

Enjoy your delightful Honey Dijon Chicken Salad!

HOW TO MAKE GREEK SALAD AT HOME TWO WAYS

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Here are two simple and refreshing Greek salad recipes for you to choose from:

1. Traditional Greek Salad (Horiatiki)

Ingredients:

• 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced into half moons
• 4 medium juicy tomatoes, sliced into bite-sized pieces or wedges
• 1 English cucumber, partially peeled to make a striped pattern and sliced into half moons
• 1 green bell pepper, cored and sliced into rings
• A handful of pitted Kalamata olives
• 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
• Kosher salt (to taste)
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 (7-ounce) block of Greek feta cheese (in brine), torn into slabs

Instructions:

1. Soak the thinly sliced red onion in water.
2. In a large bowl, combine the sliced tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, and olives.
3. Sprinkle with dried oregano and season with kosher salt.
4. Drizzle the salad with extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar.
5. Top with torn slabs of Greek feta cheese.
6. Serve as a quick and easy first course or side salad. Enjoy!

2. Chunky Greek Salad

Ingredients:

• ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
• 2 large ripe tomatoes, roughly chopped
• ½ cucumber, deseeded and roughly chopped
• 100 grams reduced-fat feta cheese, drained and cut into cubes
• 50 grams black olives (preferably Kalamata olives), pitted and drained (in brine, not oil)
• A small handful of fresh mint leaves
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
• 2 wholemeal pita breads (warmed)

Instructions:

1. Combine the thinly sliced red onion, chopped tomatoes, cucumber, feta cheese, black olives, and mint leaves in a bowl.
2. Sprinkle with dried oregano and season with sea salt and black pepper.
3. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juice.
4. Serve alongside warmed wholemeal pita breads.
5. Enjoy this high protein dish

Feel free to choose the recipe that suits your taste buds!

BEEF SALAD

Here are two delicious beef salad recipes for you to choose from:

1. Thai Beef Salad (Yum Nua)

Ingredients:

• 7 to 8 oz (200 – 250g) good quality steak (sirloin or rib-eye)
• 2 cups mixed lettuce leaves
• 10 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 small red onion, very finely sliced
• 1/2 cucumber, optional (deseeded and cut into slices)
• 1/4 cup fresh coriander leaves (cilantro), lightly packed
• 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, lightly packed
• 1/4 cup roasted unsalted peanuts, finely chopped
• Dressing:
  • 1/2 teaspoon Thai chili (or bird’s eye chili, deseeded and finely minced)
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic (finely minced, about 1/2 small clove)
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped coriander stems
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons white sugar
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 3 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil (or canola/vegetable oil)
  • A small pinch of kosher salt

Instructions:

1. Season the steak well with salt and cook it to your liking (medium-rare is recommended).
2. While the steak rests, prepare the dressing:
   • Grind the coriander stems, chili, and garlic in a mortar and pestle to form a paste.
   • Mix in the sugar, fish sauce, lime juice, and oil.
3. Slice the steak into thin strips while it’s still hot.
4. In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cucumber (if using), coriander leaves, mint leaves, and peanuts.
5. Add the sliced steak to the dressing and mix well.
6. Toss the salad ingredients with enough dressing to coat.
7. Serve your zingy and flavorful Thai Beef Salad! 

2. Best Steak Salad with Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

• 10 oz grilling steak (boneless prime rib)
• Salt and pepper
• 1 teaspoon avocado oil
• 4 oz arugula
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
• 1/2 English cucumber, diced
• 1/2 avocado, sliced
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onions
• Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette:
  • 1/2 tablespoon grainy mustard
  • 1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pinch salt and pepper
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Instructions:

1. Season the steak well with salt and pepper.
2. Heat a pan until smoking hot and sear the steak until medium-rare.
3. Let the steak rest.
4. In a large bowl, combine arugula, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, and red onions.
5. Whisk together the dressing ingredients (mustards, olive oil, salt, pepper, and balsamic vinegar).
6. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.
7. Thinly slice the steak against the grain and add it to the salad.
8. Enjoy this juicy and flavorful steak salad! 

Feel free to choose the recipe that tempts your taste buds!

ITALIAN CLASSIC PANZANELLA SALAD TWO WAYS

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 Panzanella is a delightful Italian bread and tomato salad that celebrates the flavors of summer. Bursting with ripe tomatoes, fresh herbs, and chunks of toasted bread, it’s a simple yet satisfying dish. Here are a few variations of this classic salad:

1. Tuscan Tomato and Bread Panzanella

Ingredients:

• Hearty Italian bread (such as ciabatta), torn into chunks
• Ripe tomatoes, cut into wedges or chunks
• Red onion, thinly sliced
• Cucumber, peeled and sliced
• Fresh basil leaves, torn
• Mozzarella cheese, torn into pieces (optional)
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Red wine vinegar
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Tear the Italian bread into chunks and allow it to sit uncovered for a few hours or overnight to dry and harden.
2. Toss the bread with some extra virgin olive oil and toast it in the oven until crisp in some parts but still chewy.
3. In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, torn basil leaves, and optional mozzarella.
4. Add the toasted bread cubes to the bowl.
5. Drizzle with more extra virgin olive oil and a splash of red wine vinegar.
6. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Toss everything together gently.
8. Let the flavors meld for a few minutes before serving.

Enjoy this rustic and flavorful Tuscan panzanella! 

2. Classic Panzanella with Tomatoes and Basil

Ingredients:

• Day-old country bread, torn into chunks
• Ripe tomatoes, roughly chopped
• Cucumber, peeled and diced
• Red onion, thinly sliced
• Garlic, finely chopped
• Fresh basil leaves
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Red wine vinegar
• Salt

Instructions:

1. Place the torn bread in a salad bowl.
2. Add the tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and finely chopped garlic.
3. Sprinkle with salt.
4. Drizzle with good-quality extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar.
5. Toss everything together with your hands until well combined.
6. Add the basil leaves and mix again.
7. Let the juice soak into the bread cubes.
8. Serve and savor the flavors of Italy! 

Feel free to choose the version that speaks to your taste buds! Buon appetito!