The thing I love about cooking and getting creative in the kitchen is that I can switch it up easily. I like variety. I tend to get bored with eating the same thing every day and my sense of adventure in the kitchen truly comes from me just wanting to try different flavor profiles all the time.
Last year I met a friend for lunch in Denver where we tried a new spot called North Italia, we enjoyed a long, leisurely lunch with a full bottle of wine and a salad that caught me off guard. We had ordered some cheesy bread for a starter, so I opted for a healthy-ish choice as my main, which was the Tuscan Kale Salad with Salmon. To be frank, I didn’t have huge expectations for this salad because first off, ordering kale can be a crap shoot depending on where you’re at. It needs love, massaging and seasoning for it to really rock. Secondly, I can tend to be a bit picky on how I like my salmon, seasoned well and not overcooked and dry. When the plate came out, I was pleasantly surprised. The kale was glistening and glossy and tossed with crisp apples, halved grapes, crispy pancetta, pistachios and chunky pieces of sharp pecorino cheese. The salmon was cooked to utter perfection and I right then and there I was transported to salad heaven.
When going to a fancy restaurant, I tend to always order a salad and I usually end up judging the restaurant based on that course because salads are actually not that easy to nail. Come to find out later, North Italia is a chain and there are many locations all around the US. Since my first experience with this Kale and Salmon salad, I’ve had it 3 more times at different locations. It’s the only thing I’ve ever ordered at this restaurant because it’s THAT good. Like I said before, I like adventure when it comes to my meals, but this salad was just too spot on and I found myself craving it like crazy. I had to experiment with my own version of the salad and I’m proud to say that it comes close, but I also had to add my own spin for added flavor. I’ve included my all-purpose rub which is a staple in this household and great on fish, shrimp, chicken and steak. I encourage you to make a batch of the rub and just keep it in your pantry when you want to throw a piece of salmon in the broiler like we do here. Enjoy!
If you’re looking for a great, seasonal entree salad, this one is a winner with a ton of nutrients, fiber and flavor.
If you’re in chilly weather and are still craving warm bowls of goodness, Loaded Baked Potato Soup, Turkey Chili and Red Lentil and Sweet Potato Stew will all do the trick. I made my Miso Tahini Ramen tonight for dinner and it hit the spot with the whole family. SO good!
Salad Tips
If you’re back in the swing of things and finally trying to incorporate more salads and healthier meals into your 2024 rotation, here are some helpful tips on how to take your salads up a notch.
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