Winter salad, veggie

Savannah02K

Hello, has anyone got a recipe for a winter salad, vegetarian, that will keep in the fridge for a few days? I've got visitor staying next week who'd love something like this but all the recipes I've seen online seem to involve me buying loads of different seeds and spices that I'll never use again. I'll actually be away (they're house sitting for me) but I'd love to leave them a nice crunchy salad that they just come back to over a few days. Thanks.

empressemma

Do you have a lidl?
Their bags of baby spinach are £1 and last a few days. They also have, by the tills, little packs of mixed seeds for £1 ish.

Not sure about recipes, but hope the above helps x

Seakay

This one was in The Guardian and looks substantial. I've not come across giant cous cous but orzo pasta is the one which looks like grains

Giant couscous, butternut and walnut


Giant couscous, butternut and walnut from Kitchen & Co by French & Grace.

Giant (or Israeli pearl) couscous is a very quick and useful cupboard staple to throw into soups or salads and has a springy texture totally unlike the sandy grains of standard couscous. If you can't find it, barley, spelt, or orzo pasta are good substitutes.

Serves 6

1 large butternut squash, deseeded and cut into small dice
Big glug of good olive oil
1 tsp chilli powder
300g giant couscous
2 handfuls of walnut pieces, roughly chopped
1 pomegranate, seeds and juices reserved
1 lemon
2 handfuls of mint, roughly chopped

1 Preheat the oven to 200c/400F/gas mark 6 and tip the squash into a roasting tin. Drizzle with olive oil and add the chilli powder, using your hands to coat evenly. Roast for 30-40 minutes or until softened and crisp at the edges, and allow to cool.

2 Boil the couscous for 5-10 minutes in well-salted water, until al dente. Drain and refresh under cold water, drizzling with a little oil to prevent sticking.

3 When the couscous and squash are both cooled, add to a large serving bowl and stir, taking care not to knock the squash apart.

4 Add the walnut pieces and pomegranate seeds and juices, then turn gently to combine. 5 Just before serving, squeeze a lemon half through your hands over the salad, dress with oil and turn over again with the mint. Taste, and add more lemon if required. Scoop up with baby gem leaves, radicchio or hot pittas.

Kitchen & Co by French & Grace (Kyle Books)

Gigervamp

Whats wrong with a normal salad? A pack of little gem lettuces, baby plum tomatoes, spring onions, half a cucumber and a bag of watercress.

natbags

I love a coleslaw type (minus dressing) left in fridge in a sealed container or bag - it lasts well
White cabbage, carrot, onion - as a base, which can be dressed with a creamy dressing, vinegar/lemon juice & olive oil or any kind of dressing (noodles and sesame seed dressing are delish) - I like a blue cheese but if veggie this may not suit
I do mine in the food processor for slicing really thinly
This also goes well with other things added like raw cauli, brocolli, radish, savoy cabbage, chinese leaf, rocket, spinach

Savannah02K

Natbags, that coleslaw one was exactly what I was looking for thanks. I didn't want the standard type salad as I know friend is heavily into seasonal food (plus not too many air miles). Thank you!

Greytcatlady

Going along with the slaw theme, a nice winter slaw is celeriac, red cabbage, carrot and onion. Dressed with Mayo and salad cream mix. I know you said you didn't want nuts and seeds and things but teccos do little bags of 4 seed mix (whole foods or baking aisle) which I did toast in a pan. Some chopped parsley if you got it.

Do season with salt and pepper. I've only started doing this recently and am quite surprised at the difference it makes.

natbags

was going to add red cabbage goes well too and horseradish mixed with mayo as a dressing is very good too and very seasonal

meritaten

you could also try a 'Three bean Salad'. you just choose three different varieties of cooked beans (different colours look great), and make a nice vinegrette . add some finely chopped onion or spring onions and whatever fresh veg you fancy. mix together and season.