I start every meal with a salad. I love the textures and flavors. I also like the way the vinaigrette plays off of each ingredient and makes the flavors POP. The trick to keeping salad interesting is to add a variety of textures and flavors.

For instance, I like to lightly grill my lettuces. During the warmer months I am outside with a platter of baby lettuces, all brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper. I add them to my grill, for just a few minutes on each side, until they are caramelized and lightly browned. The subtle flavor of the lettuce is enhanced by the brief charring. The result is a sweet and refreshing salad. When the weather is not cooperating, I use my grill pan to give my salads a little extra oomph!

For those watching their waistlines, a delicious and interesting salad can be the key to sticking to a diet. I like to grill my favorite vegetables. I scoop whatever is in season at the farmers market and lightly brush it with olive oil, grilling away until they are tender and caramelized. Here’s a chef’s tip for dieters: Many nutrients in vegetables and greens are fat soluble. A vinaigrette with a small amount of oil in it is the perfect foil for maxing out the vitamins and minerals your body needs. Do not skimp on the healthy fats!

Grilled Lettuce & Vegetable Salad

(Serves 6)

Ingredients:

2 heads of Romaine hearts

2 heads radicchio

2 heads favorite baby lettuce (I like Lollarossa, red leaf or green leaf)

Your favorite seasonal vegetables and fruits such as: carrots, broccoli, artichokes (outer leaves peeled off and choke cut out), onions, eggplant, tomatoes, figs, peaches, apricots, plums etc…

½ cup favorite nuts, toasted and chopped (optional)

Directions:

1. Grill the lettuces and vegetables until they are lightly caramelized and slightly softened.

Caesar Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

1 egg yolk

1 clove of garlic, minced

1 tablespoon Dijon style mustard

2 anchovy filets, minced

1 teaspoon of salt

½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1 cup neutral flavored oil (canola, a light extra virgin olive oil, safflower oil. grape seed oil)

½ cup parmesan cheese if making a dairy recipe

Directions:

1. Place the ingredients for the vinaigrette, except for the oil, in the work bowl of a food processor. Pulse the mixture until thoroughly combined.
2. With the motor running, add the oil, drop by drop, until the mixture begins to come together and emulsify (the mixture will look like mayonnaise). Once the mix has started to come together, you can add the oil more quickly.
3. If the vinaigrette is too thick, add a few teaspoons of water. If the vinaigrette is too thin, add more oil and it will thicken back up. Stir in the cheese if using.
4. The vinaigrette can be stored, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
5. Pile the lettuces and grilled vegetables and fruit on a platter. Drizzle with vinaigrette.

Basic Red Wine Vinaigrette

This is the workhorse vinaigrette in my home and professional kitchen. The flavors enhance lettuces, vegetables and summer fruits.

I like to add a small amount of toasted walnut or hazelnut oil. The flavor of the oil is sensuous and enriches the entire salad. If you have a nut allergy-just replace the nut oil with extra virgin olive oil.

Ingredients:

Yields slightly less than 1 cup

1 heaping tablespoon of Dijon style mustard

1 teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon freshly cracked pepper

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

½ cup extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons toasted walnut or hazelnut oil

Directions:

1. Whisk the mustard, salt and pepper and vinegar together until emulsified. Slowly pour the olive oil while whisking. Add the nut oil, if using, and store covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. If the oil becomes solid in the refrigerator, leave the vinaigrette at room temperature or place the bottle in a bowl of warm water to gently heat the oil.

Fig-Balsamic Vinaigrette

The sweet, perfumey flavor of figs enhances the syrupy balsamic to create a beautiful and versatile vinaigrette. I use this vinaigrette on salads, drizzled over chicken and fish.

Kosher balsamic can be a bit harsh. Dried figs coax out the fruity flavor of the grapes and wood from the barrels the condiment was aged in.

Ingredients:

2 cups balsamic vinegar

1 cup dried figs, chopped

Dijon style mustard

1 teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon freshly cracked pepper

¾ cup extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

1. Place the vinegar and figs in a small sauce pan and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat and allow the figs to very gently poach in the vinegar until the vinegar has reduced by ½.
2. Strain out the figs and discard. Cool the vinegar and whisk the ingredients together until emulsified. Store the vinaigrette, covered in the refrigerator for up to one month.