Customer Reviews

Insalate: Authentic Italian Salads for All Seasons

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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.

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.

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.