Name: Detailed Salad with Three Creamy Dressings
Yield: makes 8 servings
Ingredients: Dressing of your choice (recipes follow); 1 medium head iceberg lettuce, cut into bite-size pieces, well chilled; 2 medium tomatoes, cut into bite-size pieces; 1 medium or 1/2 large seedless cucumber, thinly sliced or cut into chunks; 6 radishes, sliced; 2 celery ribs, sliced; 1/4 cup red onion slivers; 1 cup yogurt; 1/4 cup tahini; Juice of 1/2 lemon; 1 teaspoon cumin seeds; Kosher salt to taste; (makes about 1 1/4 cups); 1 cup mayonnaise; 1/2 cup picante sauce; Juice of 1/2 lime; Kosher salt to taste; (makes about 1 1/2 cups); 1/2 cup mayonnaise; 1/2 cup buttermilk; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1 garlic clove, mashed into a paste; 2 tablespoons chopped mixed fresh herbs of your choice—chives, parsley, cilantro, thyme, oregano (or 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning); 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; Kosher salt and black pepper to taste; (makes about 1 cup)

Since R. B. has expanded his blade assortment beyond an ax, a maul, and a cleaver to include a few kitchen knives, he’s more than happy to wield the Santoku for diced salad vegetables. This kitchen task is best suited for the detail oriented. Around here, that would be R. B., whose T-shirt collection is always impeccably folded, stacked, and arranged by hobby. Instead of limp baby weeds, we vote for a crisp head of chilled iceberg lettuce that cuts beautifully into bite-size pieces for serving with barbecue.

Recipe information

Yield
makes 8 servings

Ingredients

Dressing of your choice (recipes follow)

1 medium head iceberg lettuce, cut into bite-size pieces, well chilled

2 medium tomatoes, cut into bite-size pieces

1 medium or 1/2 large seedless cucumber, thinly sliced or cut into chunks

6 radishes, sliced

2 celery ribs, sliced

1/4 cup red onion slivers

Cool White Dressing

1 cup yogurt

1/4 cup tahini

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

Kosher salt to taste

(makes about 1 1/4 cups)

Engineer’s Dressing

1 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup picante sauce

Juice of 1/2 lime

Kosher salt to taste

(makes about 1 1/2 cups)

Pink Ranch Dressing

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup buttermilk

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 garlic clove, mashed into a paste

2 tablespoons chopped mixed fresh herbs of your choice—chives, parsley, cilantro, thyme, oregano (or 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning)

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

Kosher salt and black pepper to taste

(makes about 1 cup)

Preparation

Step 1
MAKE one of the following dressings. Chill.
Step 2
PLACE the lettuce in a large salad bowl and toss with the dressing.
Step 3
SCATTER the tomatoes, cucumber, radishes, celery, and onion over the lettuce or arrange them separately in a composed design.
Cool White Dressing
Step 4
COMBINE all the ingredients in a small bowl. Serve over the Detailed Salad.
Engineer’s Dressing
Step 5
COMBINE all the ingredients in a small bowl. Serve over the Detailed Salad.
Pink Ranch Dressing
Step 6
COMBINE all the ingredients in a small bowl. Serve over the Detailed Salad.

Cheater BBQ

Recipe information

Ingredients

Cool White Dressing

Engineer’s Dressing

Pink Ranch Dressing

Preparation

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Cool White Dressing

Step 4

Engineer’s Dressing

Step 5

Pink Ranch Dressing

Step 6

Recipe notes