This week’s French Fridays with Dorie recipe, Helene’s All White Salad, seemed quite apropos for the whiteout we’ve been having here in the Northeast. With several feet of white snow falling, it’s quite a winter wonderland. It blends perfectly with background. Which is to say, it’s also a little on the bland side. I love salad. In many incarnations. But there was not much flavor to this salad. It’s just celery and Napa cabbage with accents of mushrooms and Granny Smith apples topped with a light Greek yogurt vinaigrette. It’s light and fresh. And it’s very “vanilla”.
Being more of a chocolate girl myself, I think the best part of this salad were the semi-tart bites of apple. After the first plate was eaten, it was determined that the dressing also needed a lot more “jazzing” up. Three cloves of crushed garlic added just the zing it needed. Now, it was much better! Plus garlic still falls into the “white” category, so I don’t think I cheated too much.
This salad might get another chance over the summer. But I really don’t want to see too much more “white” this winter. Unless it’s a mound of mashed potatoes- with gravy.
While I cannot share the actual recipe, you can (and should!) buy the book and cook along with us. It’s great fun! Every Friday we make a new recipe. Looking forward to next weeks! For details and to see how others are recreating the dishes from this awesome book, check out the FFWD site.
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So great, love this. I will try yours and add more too!
Okay, garlic – that’s what it needs, definitely!
Garlic is white and packed with flavor – great adjustment!
Love the photos and the striking green!
Being more of a chocolate girl you should come and visit my page this week. lol. I couldn’t handle this white out this week so took a pass and clung to the memory of when I made this a few years ago. I opted not to give it another chance. I wonder if you will? 🙂
I think you were in the majority on this one. I enjoyed the sutle flavor though I will be taking the recommendations of adding some nuts and cheese to make it a nice lunch.
I liked this one but I agree it is very vanilla! I love the vibrancy of the colours in your photographs! You really gave the salad more life than it had!
Garlic is legal indeed and great “white” addition 🙂 Not a hit in our house and also as you said, if we are eating white things to match the ridiculously amount of snow that has hit PA lately…..I would like it to be warm and comforting. A heaping plate of mashed potatoes would be fabulous. Or maybe even Dorie’s celery root puree 🙂
It’s definitely a summer type of dish – I’ll be making it again when it’s warmer and less “white” outside!
Yes, this salad makes the plate as white as it is outside. I’m out of places to put the shoveled snow, and it’s snowing outside right now. I didn’t love this one so much, but crepes next week look delicious! Stay warm, Renee.
Garlic is a great addition! Mashed potatoes are a white that is always welcome, isn’t it? I have met only one person in my life who doesn’t like potatoes and we wonder what’s wrong with him!
Yes – I have had more than enough white in my world as of late.
Your salad looks lovely against the green background 🙂
Love the celery ribbons and your pictures!