Salad to go with pasta carbonara

[faerieevaH]

Hello all,

Bill and I have some dinner guests over for tomorrow. I am making my spaghetti carbonara, but am looking for a good salad to put on the side. Any ideas of what should go in?

Thanks in advance!

Eva

 

[Redstiletto]

I would do a fresh baby greens salad, with tomatoe, cucumber, and feta cheese. With a raspberry vinegarette dressing.

Just my suggestion. I dont think you would have to do a special kind of salad, just a basic salad is always nice.

 

[Veritas]

I'd try and copy the one from the Olive Garden. I just love that salad with Italian food!

 

[RoseofLima]

Spring mix, slivered almonds, thinly sliced Vidalia onions (sweet onions), and mandarin oranges with a little bit of olive oil and mild vinegar- like rice vinegar.

 

[RoseofLima]

Ooohh- I KNOW-- fresh mozzarella, grape tomatoes, red onion, basil, and spinach or leaf lettuce with a balsamic vinegarette.

 

[faerieevaH]

*get's inspiration*

Keep it coming, ladies (and gentlemen if you are so inclined!). though nothing with cheese please. I don't eat cheese. A tiny sprinkling of mozarella is a possibility...

 

[Rebekka]

Ooohh- I KNOW-- fresh mozzarella, grape tomatoes, red onion, basil, and spinach or leaf lettuce with a balsamic vinegarette.

Yum!!!


Very very simple:
rucola/rocket, finely chopped shallots, tomatoes, and dress the salad (last minute, at the table, or else the rucola will shrink) with salt, pepper, a nice extra virgin olive oil, and a nice vinegar (can be balsamic, doesn't have to be) - in this order. Then stir.
Optional: sprinkle toasted pine seeds over the salad.

No cheese. (But it's quite nice with a bit of feta, too.)

 

[RoseofLima]

You don't eat CHEESE!

I can't imagine life without cheese- it nearly killed me last Lent!

You can also do a tomato, onion, and cucumber salad-- you cut those things up (quarter the tomatoes) and marinate it in cider vinegar, sugar, and dill to taste. It is also very yummy with button mushrooms in there. I tend not to sevre mushrooms to company because mushrooms are one of those things people have strong opinions about

 

[RoseofLima]

Are you dead set on salad or is soup an option??

 

[Number 81]

Pasta Carbonara? Is that part of the all-carb diet or something?
Sorry, I can't help you with the salad. My dad makes this salad with spinach leaves, feta cheese, walnuts, and a raspberry vinaigrette he gets from the store, everyone except for me loves it...

 

[faerieevaH]

I prefer a salad, I only will have about an hour between coming home from tutoring and having people over. But if it's a really easy soup that I can make in advance....

 

[RoseofLima]

I have a 5-10 minute tomato bisque recipe--does that sound appealing?

 

[faerieevaH]

VERY. If I don't use it tomorrow, there is always another occasion. *G*

 

[RoseofLima]

Alright I'll post it!

 

[RoseofLima]

1 small finely chopped onion
2 cans diced tomatoes (the Muir Glenn organic fire roasted ones or Italian ones are great!)
1 Tablespoon light brown sugar or honey
1 bay leaf
2 whole cloves
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 cup + 3 Tablespoons evaporated skm milk
2 table spoons cornstartch

In a skillet- melt butter or heat oil (about a Tablespoon) over medium heat, add the onion and sautee about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes undrained, the brown sugar, bay leaf, clove, basil, and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer- stirring occassionaly- for about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile in a medium sized saucepan heat one cup of the evaporated skim milk to just under a boil. use the remaining 3 table spoons of milk- and dissolve the cornstarch in it (Iusually use my fingers to do this). Whisk this into the hot milk- stir constantly until thick and smooth , about a minute.

Remove the cloves and bay leaf from the tomato mixture. Very slowly add the tomato mixture to the milk. Go slowly or it will curdle Heat thoroughly, but do not boil. If it's too thick, you can thin it with some extra milk.


It is sooooo good and very quick!

 

[faerieevaH]

Sounds good!!!

 

[Autumnleaf]

The pasta carbonara sounds good! Just don't use cheap iceberg lettuce to make the salad and you'll be okay.

 

[faerieevaH]

The selection at the supermarket determined what I would make. They had some nice, vineripened tomatoes. Yay. I really hope they have that nice, deep, strong taste. So, it's going to be a salad with romana and tomatoes. Might throw something else in there but will keep it simple. And then a nice olive oil vinaigrette.

 

[Rebekka]

Eva, ummmm... sorry if I interfere too much... about the carbonara... do you use raw eggs? Is that safe in your blessed condition? Or do you use pasteurized eggs?

 

[faerieevaH]

I use raw eggs, but I am careful. They don't come out of the fridge before I make the carbonara, and I make sure that the mixture has warmed through.