Big Chopped Salad with Vinaigrette

Name: Big Chopped Salad with Vinaigrette
Yield: makes 8 servings
Ingredients: 1 big head of romaine lettuce; 1 bunch of arugula; 1 bunch of watercress; 2 medium cucumbers or 1 English (seedless) cucumber; 1 bunch of radishes; 2 yellow or red bell peppers; 1 small sweet onion, such as Vidalia; 2 carrots; 2 celery stalks; 1 cup extra virgin olive oil; 1/3 cup good-quality vinegar, more or less; 1 shallot, minced; 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard; Salt and freshly ground black pepper

December 20, 2011

This is a salad for a small crowd, though it can be made as big or as little as you like. But please, see this ingredients list as a series of suggestions rather than dogma—a chopped salad can contain any combination that appeals to you, including raw vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower or crunchy cabbages like bok choy, as well as nuts, seeds, and fruit.

Recipe notes

Mango Sticky Rice

Khao niaow ma muang, or steamed coconut sticky rice with ripe mango, is a classic in Thai cuisine—and you can make it at home.

Easy Egg Custard

With just a handful of ingredients, this old-fashioned egg custard is the little black dress of dinner party desserts—simple and effortlessly chic.

Simple Hot Cocoa for One

With rich chocolate flavor and easy customization, this hot cocoa recipe is just the one you want to get you through winter.

Béchamel Sauce

This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.

Crispy Salmon With Avocado Sauce

You’ll want to put this creamy (but dairy-free) green sauce on everything and it’s particularly sublime under crispy-skinned salmon.

Sheet-Pan Chicken Souvlaki

Tender, juicy chicken skewers are possible in the oven—especially when roasted alongside spiced chickpeas and finished with fresh tomatoes and salty feta.

Grilled Buttermilk Chicken With Summer Salad

Charred chicken breasts coated in a tangy dry rub sit atop a fresh salad of tomatoes, cucumber, and onions.

Jalapeño Popper Skillet Tacos

Roasted poblanos, jalapeños, and red onion are coated with a melty sauce—warm with the flavors of pepper jack, and stabilized with a block of cream cheese.