Category:  Sides

SEE RECIPE FOTO ON FACEBOOK/THE KITCHEN BUZZZ AND INSTAGRAM/THE KITCHEN BUZZZ

Prep time: 10 minutes
Serves: 4

Aside from serving watermelon as a fruit course, you can use it in a salad. This Watermelon, Beet & Mint Salad goes alongside meat, fish, vegetarian or vegan recipes. Its flavors are refreshing and complement savory and/or spicy dishes. Enjoy this salad all summer!

Ingredients:

4 cups fresh watermelon, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
3 pink or yellow beets, precooked* and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1/2 cup thinly-sliced red onion
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
salt and ground black pepper, to taste
1/2 cup slivered fresh mint leaves (this is done by holding multiple leaves in hands and using shears to cut thin slivers)

Directions:

1. In a 3-quart mixing bowl, combine the watermelon and beet cubes with the red onion slices.

2. Gently stir in the olive oil, Dijon mustard, salt and ground black pepper.

3. Taste and adjust seasonings. If you wish, add 1 to 2 more tablespoons olive oil.

4. Stir in 1/4 cup slivered mint leaves.

5. Transfer the salad to a serving bowl; cover with plastic wrap and set aside on counter until ready to serve (up to 5 hours).

6. At serving time, give the salad a stir (oil will have settled at bottom) and garnish with remaining slivered mint leaves.

*TO PRECOOK BEETS:
1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Cut off beet ends, peel beets and wrap each one in aluminum foil.
3. Set them on bottom oven rack.
4. Bake beets for 25 to 30 minutes or until a knife inserts easily into one beet.
5. Cool beets on a plate. Use as directed in this recipe.

Text & Photograph ©2024 Nancy DeLucia Real

SEE RECIPE FOTO ON FACEBOOK/THE KITCHEN BUZZZ;
INSTAGRAM/THE KITCHEN BUZZZ; TWITTER/THE KITCHEN BUZZZ!

This salad is vegan, fresh and easy to make. I chose ingredients with bright colors – they remind me of Spring and Easter. Although this salad stands on its own, it’s great when served alongside any meat or seafood dish at Easter or other occasion.

Prep time: 15-20 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients:
1 large carrot, peeled & julienned (cut into matchsticks)
2 Persian cucumbers, peeled & julienned
2 celery stalks, peeled & julienned
1 medium-large tomato, cut in half, pulp discarded & flesh julienned
1/4 of a red onion, thinly sliced into strips
1/2 teaspoon finely chopped Serrano Chile
1/2 cup corn kernels (canned & drained)
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, washed & patted dry with paper towels
4 to 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
juice from 1 lemon
salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:
1. In a large glass or porcelain serving bowl, combine carrot, cucumbers, celery, tomato, onion, Serrano Chile, corn and half of the cilantro together.

2. Add the olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper; toss. Taste and adjust seasonings.

3. Garnish with remaining cilantro leaves. Serve immediately.
Text & Photograph ©2022 Nancy DeLucia Real

SEE RECIPE FOTO ON FACEBOOK/THE KITCHEN BUZZZ;
INSTAGRAM/THE KITCHEN BUZZZ; TWITTER/THE KITCHEN BUZZZ!

In Mexico, cactus leaves (nopales) are usually combined with ingredients such as tomatoes, chiles & onions. This results in refreshing salads that act as a side dish to meat, poultry and fish.

Nopales (cactus) leaves can be purchased in Latin American supermarkets or grocery stores. Here is our exquisite take on this traditional dish –  Summer Cactus Salad.

Prep time: 15 minutes
Serves: 4 to 6

Ingredients:
3 cactus (nopales) leaves (found in Latin American grocery stores or supermarkets)
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
1/2 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
1/2 of a Serrano Chile, finely chopped
1/2 cup finely chopped, fresh mint leaves
3 to 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
juice of 1/2 lime

Directions:
1. Working on a cutting board, chop the cactus (nopales) leaves into 1/2-inch pieces.

2. Transfer the chopped cactus to a colander set over a bowl; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and set aside.

3. Meanwhile, combine the chopped red onion, red bell pepper, Serrano chile and mint in a mixing bowl.

4. Rinse the chopped cactus under cold water and drain.

5. Working in batches, transfer about 1/4 of the chopped cactus to double paper towels set on cutting board.

6. Take paper towels and pat dry (cactus will stick to the paper towels).

7. Release the dried cactus  from paper towels and add it to other ingredients in bowl. Repeat with remaining cactus.

8. Add olive oil and lime to salad ingredients and toss. Taste and adjust salt level, if needed.

9. Serve immediately or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 2 hours ahead.

Text & Photograph ©2020 Nancy DeLucia Real

SEE RECIPE FOTO ON FACEBOOK/THE KITCHEN BUZZZ;
INSTAGRAM/THE KITCHEN BUZZZ; TWITTER/THE KITCHEN BUZZZ!

It’s January 2020 and time for post-holiday diets! Here’s an easy, vegan dish that can be served alongside any delicious food you like.

Prep time: 25 -3o minutes
Serves: 4 to 6

Ingredients:
3 to 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch rounds
3 to 4 leeks, rinsed and cut into 1/4-inch rounds
12 ounces fresh spinach leaves, rinsed & spun dry
salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:
1. In a 12-inch skillet, heat the oil.

2. When oil is hot (but does not smoke), add the carrot rounds and saute on medium-high heat for 1 minute.

3. After 1 minute, add the leeks and saute on medium-high heat for 2 minutes.

4. After 2 minutes, add the spinach leaves and saute on medium high-heat for 2 to 4 minutes.

5. Cook vegetables for 2 to 4 minutes longer or until carrots are crunchy-tender and leeks and spinach are tender.

6. Add salt and black pepper, to taste. Serve immediately.
Text & Photograph ©2020 Nancy DeLucia Real

SEE FOTO ON FACEBOOK/THE KITCHEN BUZZZ &
INSTAGRAM/THE KITCHEN BUZZZ!

Take it easy on Thanksgiving – toss pumpkin cubes with paprika, Dijon and a few more ingredients. This Paprika-Dijon pumpkin side be absolutely  “délicieux” (that’s French for “delicious”)!

Prep time: 15 minutes
Bake time: 35 to 40 minutes
Serves: 4 to 6

Ingredients:
10 to 12 cups peeled & cubed pumpkin
2/3 cup chopped red onion
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons honey (you can add more, to taste)
Juice of 1 lime
1-1/2 teaspoons salt

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. In 16X14 baking pan, toss all ingredients together until uniform.

3. Place baking pan with pumpkin mixture on a rack set in center of oven.

4. Bake pumpkin for 30-35 minutes, stirring once or twice during the process.

5. After 30-35 minutes, taste pumpkin. It should be tender but not fall apart or purée.

6. When pumpkin is done, transfer pan tu upper rack, 6 to 7 inches away from top oven broiler.

7. Broil the pumpkin for 5-7 minutes or until it turns golden brown. You may have to stir it every 2-3 minutes until evenly roasted.

8. Serve pumpkin as a side with your turkey dinner on Thanksgiving.

9. Alternatively, serve pumpkin with any meat, poultry or fish dinner.
Text & Photograph ©2019 Nancy DeLucia Real