One day, not too far ago, I was casting around for something to eat for lunch. There was a rapidly softening tomato, a few sprigs of basil and a 1/4 cup of tiny mozzarella balls. Knowing that those items would make a nice salad, I started rummaging for something to add a bit of crunch and volume to the salad. There wasn’t a cucumber, stalk of celery or pepper to be found in my crisper.
However, there were a few dill pickle spears floating in a jar (the remains of these pickles, in fact). Roughly chopped and stirred together with the other salad components, a spoonful of the brine and glug of olive oil, it was the perfect lunch. I’ve now taken to adding dilly beans or pickled cauliflower to just about any chopped salad I make, both for the gentle crunch and the pucker they lend.
Wow–looks delicious! I never would have thought to add pickles, but I bet they go really well with the tomatoes and mozzarella.
Marisa, here’s another idea for using your pickles in salad: make some of your soba noodles in peanut and sesame sauce (https://foodinjars.com.s164546.gridserver.com/arugulapesto/2011/01/soba-noodles-with-peanutsesame-sauce-and-julienned-vegetables/), put a nice pile of noodles on top of a bed of salad greens tossed in a citrusy and/or gingery dressing, and then top if off with a variety of pickled veggies (dilly beans, carrots, radishes, cauliflower, etc). My favorite bar serves a similar salad and I love it so much I make a version of it at home to use up my various pickles (http://mavieenfood.com/2011/06/14/salad-with-cold-sesame-noodles-and-pickles/).
Brilliant! I love pickles of any kind. I just never would’ve thought to put them in a salad like this. Going to give it try soon…
I always add my pickled peppers to salad; delicious and no need to add dressing, just a little of the brine. I will try pickles next time. A question for you, Marisa. What do you do when your quince only produces about 10 golf ball sized quinces? Any ideas of what to add with them, or just make a small batch of quince jelly?
This looks wonderful. I would never have thought to add pickles to a salad, such a good idea!
I normally hate salads but this one looks very yummy! 🙂
I am so making this in the coming week! Genius!
This looks like a great way to finish up the remaining tomatoes in my garden. Thanks for the great idea! I never would have thought about adding pickles to a salad like this.
Your Italian Plum and star anise jam inspired me to try something similar with peaches and pluots – it turned out great. Thanks for a delightful blog!