Insalate: Authentic Italian Salads for All Seasons [Paperback]

Susan Simon (Author), Manfredi Bellati (Photographer), Richard Eskite (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2001

Since the first insalata on Sicily, tossed together from the wild herbs and greens that covered the island, Italians have been enjoying the bounty of their fields and waters, creating fresh, flavorful salads. Insalate offers a delectable sampler of refreshing, authentic Italian favorites accompanied by enchanting photographs of open-air markets, artisans, and vineyards. Organized by season to take advantage of produce picked at the peak of ripeness, over 50 simple yet exuberant recipes use fruits and vegetables to create glorious palate-pleasers. With selections ranging from classic to contemporary, served as appetizers, main courses, or the crisp finale to a meal, Insalate offers acolorful way to recreate the flavors of Italy in your very own salad bowl.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Just when it seems that all possible Italian cookbook topics have been exhausted, along comes a book illuminating a little-discussed course in the Italian meal: the salad. Simon (The Nantucket Table; The Nantucket Holiday Table) provides more than 60 simple recipes for traditional, composed, entr‚e and numerous other salads, organized by season. Casual headnotes explain the origins of, and Simon's connection to, each recipe many are provided by Simon's Italian friends and acquaintances. An introduction explains the history and subtleties of the Italian salad, noting that while the recent American trend has been to eat salad at the end of a meal, Italians may begin with, make a meal of, or conclude a meal with salad. Simon, who runs a catering business in New York City, serves up favorites like Seafood Salad and Arugula with Parmesan and Pine Nuts, along with inventions like Italo-Sri Lankan Salad with pineapple, Asparagus and Vegetable Citronette. The Summer section includes a Salad of Wild Greens and Herbs and a Tomato and Mozzarella Salad. Not all of Simon's salads rely on greens (e.g., Pasta Salad with Eggplant and Mixed Berry Salad with Blueberry Sauce), and many (Fontina and Roasted Yellow Pepper Salad, for instance) are more likely to be presented as antipasto than as salad courses. What all these recipes have in common is their inventive use of fresh, in-season produce. 40 color photos. Agent, Marian Young. (June)Forecast: This little volume arrives just in time for summer's lighter eating, and has an appealing look and feel that will translate into healthy sales.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Susan Simon spent her first summer in Nantucket in 1960. She runs a catering business in New York City and is a part-time resident of the island.

Manfredi Bellati whose work has appeared in Vogue, Cosmopolitan, GQ, Grazie, and Town and Country. He lives both in Milan and on his family's historic estate in the Veneto region of Italy.

Richard Eskite is a San Francisco-based photographer.

Product Details

• Paperback: 132 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (June 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811828727
• ISBN-13: 978-0811828727
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 7.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,300,337 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Traditional, innovative, simple, July 16, 2001

By 

Lynn Harnett (Marathon, FL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Insalate: Authentic Italian Salads for All Seasons (Paperback)

Organized by seasons, Susan Simon's "Insalate" provides Italian salads for all meals, from the sublimely simple - melted gorgonzola poured over baby spinach leaves, or romaine and fennel salad, or tomato and mozzarella; to the simple and hearty - tuna and bean, bread salad, eggplant caponata. There are grilled salads with tomato and zucchini, fruit salads including mixed berry with blueberry sauce, grapefruit and carrot salad, grapefruit and avocado, orange salad with leeks and radicchio. She offers seven potato salads, including potato and green bean with pesto, potato and beet and a simple baked potato salad with sweet pepper and onion. There are only two pasta salads, one with eggplant, one with tomato and basil.

The emphasis is on fresh ingredients and the directions are simple, as is most preparation. Anyone who loves fresh vegetables and Italian flavors like olives and olive oil, capers, anchovies, tomatoes, basil, and parmesan will find the recipes and luscious color photos mouth watering.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NOT TO BE MISSED!!, June 4, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Insalate: Authentic Italian Salads for All Seasons (Paperback)

This is a sensational little book full of delicious, inventive recipes. Great for summer, but the rest of the year is thoroughly seen to as well. Highly recommended.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Creative salads that make an entire meal, October 10, 2010

By 

Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Insalate: Authentic Italian Salads for All Seasons (Paperback)

These salads are similar to French "salades composees" or salads with meats, fish and grilled vegetables that can make an entire meal. These are wonderful for luncheons, cool meals on hot nights, or even to take to work to tempt a jaded appetite, weary of sandwiches or burgers.

Some of the more interesting salads include one with chunks of butternut squash and pine nuts, a grilled tomato and zucchini salad and an orange, black olive and herring (or smoked trout.) I like the "Harlequin Salad" which is just a version of the German "buntesalat" which is a selection of grated or shredded vegetables in a light and piquant vinaigrette. This salad is a refreshing way to start a meal and if you've been to Germany, you've doubtless had one of these little salads to start a meal.

If you are stuck for meal ideas and want to include more vegetables the Mediterranean way, into your daily fare, this is a terrific book of recipes and ideas.