Salads

July 20, 2011

Seven Layer Salad

Sometimes, food is good just because it looks cool. Like bagel bites and chicken nuggets shaped like dinosaurs. Or noodles made of zucchini. Or bananas flambe. Which is fruit on fire. So when it comes to jazzing up the basics, a simple twist in the presentation goes a long way. And the next time you think of salads, forgetting about mixing and tossing, and try some layers. This lovely bowl had stripes of chopped red onion, fennel, apple, raw asparagus coins, fresh dill, green onions, cherry tomatoes (heirloom of course), avocado, a twist of lime, a drizzle of vinegar and […]

June 20, 2011

Salt and Stove-Free Pasta

Hi! What did you do this weekend? I set my oven on fire. Yeah. I really did. I meant to make chips. I made a huge mess instead. And I’m pretty sure I’m inhaling tons of chemicals as I’m writing this. If anyone has advice on cleaning this thing out, please let me know. But let’s talk about something with less charcoal flavor and more taste. While my range is taking a brief vacation, I started to think about no-cook meals. Ways that I could eat food full of vitamins and flavor without using any kind of flame. And that’s […]

June 8, 2011

Root to Tip: Radish Greens Salad

Radishes are bonkers. When they are raw, they are crunchy and peppery. When they are roasted or cooked in a frying pan, they turn juicy and sweet. And I love using them in place of potatoes for hashes, salads, or a quick snack. But I recently realized that I’ve been quite rude with my radishes, always paying attention to what’s below instead of looking above their shoulders. I mean, if some guy treated me that way, you’d better believe they’d get a reminder that there’s more to this package then some sturdy roots. So yesterday, with two bushels of radishes […]

September 8, 2010

Toasts, Roasts, and BBQ Smoke

First of all, welcome back Sodium Girl readers! And thank you for the outpouring of love and lovely comments this past week while I took a brief hiatus to get hitched. The weekend was filled with dancing, laughing, and lots of low sodium treats. My feet are resting, my heart is bursting, and my stomach is most definitely full. All in all, I’d say it was a successful celebration. And as I jump out of the wedding whirlwind and back into reality, I thought I’d start off this short week with a quick recap of my favorite meal of the […]

July 16, 2010

Low-Sodium Pickled Beet Salad

For all of you who love the new “Biting Mr. Bittman” series, I have exciting news. I’m expanding it! Yes, it’s true. After consulting with my business development team (aka KMLake), I’ve decided to announce a new, weekly series called Salt-Free My Recipe. It’s like Pimp My Ride but for food. Without salt. And a lot fewer hub caps and decals. But there is a catch – it requires your participation. Just like Mr. Bittman has (unknowingly) been submitting his recipes to Sodium Girl for salt-free transformations, now you can send your favorite dishes to SG for a sodium-free make-over […]

June 1, 2010

Hot Potato

There are two things for which I always have an appetite: 1) crispy, fried potatoes and 2) my future mother-in-law’s curry chicken salad. So when food52.com posted their most recent challenge for the “best potato salad,” I knew exactly what I wanted to make: a Low Sodium, Hot Potato Salad with Curry Dressing. Since the potatoes are the true star of this dish, I decided to give them some extra special care by cooking them twice – first, a quick boil to soften them and second, a long roast in the oven to give them crunch. As for the other […]

April 9, 2010

Pack Up Your Picnic

As we head into the weekend – that is hopefully filled with sunshine and lawn games – I wanted to sign off with a perfect picnic recipe for curried chicken salad. There is something about the cool temperature of the chicken mixed with the flavorful heat of the curry that screams summer. Or at least whispers spring. And what really makes this dish a favorite is the balance between the creamy mayo and other crisp ingredients. But mayonnaise, the key ingredient, usually hovers around 100mg of sodium per tablespoon, and this recipe often doesn’t make the low sodium cut. Boy’s […]

March 18, 2010

Island Sides

Today, we continue our expedition into the world of low sodium Hawaiian cuisine. But first, a spoiler alert: Friday brings a big bang of a recipe for drippy, delicious, fall-off-the-bone Char Sui Spare Ribs. So leave your restraint and dignity at the door and grab yourself a bib for this one. Until then, I’m tiding you over with some low sodium Island sides that are as essential to a complete Hawaiian meal as a tropical drink with a miniature umbrella. First, Coconut Black Rice, or as it is also called, “Forbidden Rice.” This black grain turns a deep purple when […]

January 25, 2010

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, the Lunch Edition

Last week, I played caterer to a very special guest. Apron tied on tight, prep bowls aplenty, and a glass of white wine to keep me cool under pressure, I served a three course meal that was light, bright, and of course, low in sodium. While my companion’s identity will remain anonymous – sorry, I’m keeping this one to myself – I will share with you the secrets that made this mid-afternoon feast an easy success. I went simple, choosing recipes that I could make the evening before, that required minimal attention, and that, well, honestly, had a lot of margin […]

January 12, 2010

Take Home Take Out

Chinese chicken salad is to an extensive menu as “Don’t Stop Believing” is to karaoke. It is the ultimate go-to. History has proven that, without fail, you will find satisfaction with this choice. A cold bed of cabbage topped with juicy chicken, silky dressing, and those delicious crispy things. It is delicate enough to make you feel healthy, but full of savory bites so that you feel full. Now, as you’ve probably guessed, most prepared versions contain a high amount of sodium due to either the dressing, which is usually soy based, or the spice blend used to flavor the […]

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