Salads Are More Than Leaves

Freelance writer and food stylist Silcock (One Pan, One Meal) brings her experience in restaurants and as a recipe creator for the BBC to these pages. Salads are often an afterthought at dinner time, just a pile of mixed greens on the side, but Silcock puts them front and center here, showcasing them as the star of the meal. She starts with the how and why of building a salad with seasonal suggestions, dressings, toppers, and even a flow chart for visual learners. Beautiful photography highlights ingredients luring the reader into each page and the kitchen. Recipes are flavorful and built for improvisation, including substitutions for vegan and vegetarian dishes. Many recipes have multiple components, which can look intimidating, but the few extra steps to make crispy bits or homemade dressing are worth the extra minutes and make these dishes showstoppers. There are also components that can be made ahead, and these add versatility for quick dinners or work-from-home lunches. Best of all, Silcock delivers tons of expert tips that will help home cooks up their game.