Help me understand a confusing Giada salad
Hi All,
Just watching some FN Canada, and saw Giada make a bean salad containing a tin of canellini beans, equal amount of edamame, salt, pepper, 1/4 cup of parsley (which she described as adding a fresh minty flavour to the salad...wtf?), garlic infused olive oil, and chunks of pecorino romano.
that's it. No acidic component. I've never seen a bean salad (or any other, really) that doesn't have some sort of citrus-y or vinegar-y kick. Am I just a sheltered monkey?
I can't imagine how this would taste, it just doesn't make sense to me. Has anyone tried it? Am I missing something?
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13 Comments:
Oops! There was also some fresh rosemary added to the salad.
BananaMonkey at 6:00PM on 11/03/09
I make a black bean, corn, salad and don't add any acids. Sometimes I do add balsamic but not usually. I have no problem with it either way. I think its a personal preference. My mother hates it with balsamic
rumanddiet at 6:14PM on 11/03/09
I would imagine that the pecorino adds a good amount of saltiness which would help as far as the salad tasting flat. That said--me, I would add a bit of lemon juice or orange juice or grapefruit juice or red wine vinegar. Another thought would be to add some wedges of orange or some grape tomato halves to bring in the acid component but not incorporate it into the dressing. Make it your own and just use the recipe for inspiration is generally my motto.
dhorst at 6:46PM on 11/03/09
i make the black bean and corn salad too, but i like to add lemon juice. the acid just wakes the whole thing up IMHO.
nightmoon at 6:55PM on 11/03/09
@rumanddiet--good to know that at least people do it. In my head it would just taste oily without some acid.
@dhorst--recipes are purely inspiration for me too (baking aside). I've just never really come across a salad with oil for a dressing but without acid.
BananaMonkey at 6:59PM on 11/03/09
I make a black bean and corn salad with lime juice, among other things. Adds a nice zing at the end!
sweethunibabi at 7:36PM on 11/03/09
You are probably missing the low cut blouse that is kinda out of place in the kitchen.
BiereBeer at 7:43PM on 11/03/09
I make a string bean salad with garlic, salt, pepper, and cold pressed olive oil and nothing else. The garlic adds zing and sometimes I add some balsamic. Not every time but on and off.
JerzeeTomato at 9:05PM on 11/03/09
@bierebeer: i just laughed really long and hard.
i can not stand giada.
gastronomeg at 11:14AM on 11/04/09
@gastronmeg - my 3 yr old son and I enjoy Giada or as she is known in our house "Giada Big Boobs" - we just turn down the volume and watch
BiereBeer at 11:37AM on 11/04/09
My kids call Giada "Lollipop head" because of her disproportionately large noggin perched precariously atop a spindly pencil neck. That being said, I generally really like her recipes, though they seem rather obvious.
juliebugsmama at 2:18PM on 11/04/09
oh geez just add some acid - aged balsamic would be perfect
Gizmosma at 3:29PM on 11/04/09
@Gizmosma--I'm not asking for permission to add something to a salad... I'm not even planning on making the salad.
I'm curious as to SE'ers experiences with these sorts of dressings. It's a practical question based on a particular recipe...
BananaMonkey at 3:50PM on 11/04/09