Best 2 Summer Dinner Salad Recipes

SUMMER DINNER SALAD WITH CREAMY CAPER DRESSING

Steps:

• Creamy Caper Dressing: Whisk together the capers, vinegar, buttermilk, salt and pepper.
• Then whisk in the oil in a steady stream to emulsify.
• Salad: Prepare a large bowl of ice water.
• STeam the corn until tender, about 3 to 6 minutes, depending on the ripeness, immediately plunge the corn into the ice water, and remove as soon as it's cooled.
• Using a large sharp knife, cut the corn from the cob, being sure to catch any juice.
• Cut the tomatoes in half width wise, then scoop out the seeds with your fingers.
• Cut into 1/4 inch dice.
• Peel off the outer dark green leaves from the romaine and cut off 3 inches from the tip.
• Cut inner leaves into 1/2 inch ribbons, then wash and dry thoroughly.
• Remove any brown outer leaves from the endive, then cut leaves into 1/2 inch ribbons.
• Combine the corn, tomatoes, romaine, endive, bacon and croutons in a large bowl.
• Toss with the dressing to distibute evenly.
• Add salt and pepper as you toss, until the capery flavour of the dressing comes through on the leaves.

SUMMER DINNER SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for medium heat.
• Whisk the vinegar, mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of black pepper together in a large serving bowl. Whisk in the oil to make a smooth dressing. Remove about 2 tablespoons of the dressing to a small bowl. Add the beans and olives to the serving bowl and toss well. Let marinate while you grill the vegetables.
• Spread the peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, eggplant and onion on a baking sheet. Season with salt and black pepper. Stir the rosemary into the dressing in the small bowl and brush on the vegetables. Grill the vegetables, turning occasionally, until charred on both sides and just tender, 8 to 9 minutes for the onions, 7 to 8 minutes for the eggplant and peppers and 5 to 6 minutes for the zucchini and yellow squash.
• Transfer the vegetables as they're cooked to a cutting board. Cut the peppers into thick strips. If the eggplant slices are large, cut them in half. Separate the onion into individual rings.
• Grill the baguette slices, turning occasionally, until crisp on the edges and slightly charred, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the grill and lightly brush with olive oil on both sides. Season with salt and black pepper. While the baguette grills, place the goat cheese rounds on a piece of foil and warm them on the grill just until the cheese begins to soften, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add the grilled vegetables and mixed greens to the serving bowl and toss to combine. Arrange the baguette toasts around the bowl in pairs and top each pair with a round of warmed goat cheese.