Favorite cold dish ideas?

[lady_disdain]

This is a traditional summer dish in my family. It is generally served cool or room temperature but it is also good hot, if the temperature drops. It is substantial enough for a meal, served with salad or as sandwich fillings.

1kg of roast beef, sliced
2 large onions, sliced
2 tomatoes, crushed or chopped small (go ahead and use canned, fresh, whatever)
1 sliced or diced bell pepper
1 cup vinegar
1 cup water
1 cup olive oil or whatever vegetable oil you like
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 tablespoon sugar (to cut the vinegar a little)
100 grams of sliced olives
parsley, chives and cilantro to taste (I use plenty of cilantro, as I love it, but feel free to leave it out since so many people dislike it)

Make a vinaigrette with all the ingredients except the meat and sliced veggies. Alternate layers of meat, veggies and sauce. Refrigerate overnight or longer (it gets better and better). Eat.

[Katana_Geldar]

Ok, I have to ask this....why sugar in salad?

[NyaChan]

Ok, I have to ask this....why sugar in salad?

It tastes good?  It dissolves into the dressing and doesn't taste like dessert.  Have you ever had a raspberry vinaigrette or put craisins or apple in a salad?  The slight sweetness can be yummy.

[Katana_Geldar]

No. Never. I've tried Waldorf salad but didn't like it.

Salads in my mind are savoury, unless they are fruit salads. The two just don't mix in my mind.

[jpcher]

Ok, I have to ask this....why sugar in salad?

1 tablespoon sugar (to cut the vinegar a little)

It doesn't so much sweeten the dressing, it just takes a bit of the bite out of the vinegar without loosing the vinegar flavor.

[Pen^2]

This http://psimadethis.com/image/54344728644 looks amazing. It is probably a lot harder than it looks somehow, but I'm going to try to make it anyway. I'm getting a watermelon next grocery trip!

[kaybee]

vegetarian chopped liver

3 onions chopped and sauteed in 2 tbls oil
6 hard boiled eggs
2 cups walnuts
1 can peas
1 can string beans
puree in food processor until still a bit chunky.salt and pepper to taste.let it sit overnight before serving in the refrigerator

[ladyknight1]

Oh, I make a watermelon and Feta salad that is divine. Use your favorite lettuce, a little red onion or shallot, and top with Feta sliced from a whole block (more moist than the crumbled) and watermelon. I serve mine with a bottled Feta dressing, but any vinaigrette would work.

[workerbee]

Oh, I make a watermelon and Feta salad that is divine. Use your favorite lettuce, a little red onion or shallot, and top with Feta sliced from a whole block (more moist than the crumbled) and watermelon. I serve mine with a bottled Feta dressing, but any vinaigrette would work.

I do this too, only I also add tomatoes (and sometime fresh basil and mint) and make a simple homemade vinaigrette. So unexpectedly yummy!

My go-to summer salad is corn, black beans, chopped red/green pepper, chopped sweet onion, tons of cilantro, and a homemade lime/cumin vinaigrette.

[Winterlight]

I've done a chicken pasta salad that goes over well.

[LeveeWoman]

My mom made this several times each summer when I was a kid, and now I do, too.

½ medium head of iceberg lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces
½ C. celery, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
10-oz. package of frozen, green peas, thawed
½ medium red onion, finely chopped
1 C. mayonnaise
¼ C. salad oil
2 T. sugar
¼ Parmesan cheese, grated
1 C. Cheddar cheese, grated
8 slices bacon, crisp and crumbled
croutons (optional)
In a 9-by-13-inch casserole, layer first five ingredients.
Mix next three and spread .
Sprinkle Cheddar and bacon on top.

Cover with plastic and refrigerate 24 hours.

[jpcher]

^ 7-layer salad!

Thanks, LeveeWoman, for the reminder . . . I haven't had that in years! (Actually this was LDH's cold dish specialty.)

Putting that on my must-do summer menu. It is delicious. 

[ladyknight1]

I make a layered dip that is delicious too.

Take your favorite mashed beans and layer in a casserole dish evenly, top with fresh guacamole (just mashed avocado, fresh lime juice, and salt), top with sour cream mixed with taco seasoning. Top with shredded cheese, diced tomato, scallions, and whatever else you fancy. Serve with chips.

[Ginger G]

I stopped in a deli yesterday for some sliced ham and was looking at their cold salads display while waiting my turn.  On impulse, i purchased a small container labeled "Spicy Thai Noodles".

Oh my, was it ever scrumptious!  It had fettuccini noodles, shredded carrots, sliced spring onions, chopped peanuts.

I make something similar called Cold Sesame Noodles all the time (especially in summer).  I used to get it at a Chinese restaurant near my house, but they closed down and none of the other places near me have it, so I had to learn to make it myself.  I couldn't duplicate it exactly but have managed to come pretty close.  I use soba noodles when I can get them, if not then I use a whole wheat spaghetti or fettucini.  The dressing is made from tahini or peanut butter, soy sauce, a little sesame oil, grated garlic and ginger, brown sugar, siracha or chili sauce, and a little warm water.  Then I top it with shredded carrots, diced cucumbers, spring onions, and either sesame seeds or chopped peanuts.  It is one of my favorite things.

[Library Dragon]

One of my favorite summer dishes is Lentil & Barley Salad.

Party Size Ingredients
1 cup barley
1 cup lentils
1/4 cup olive oil
4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Sea salt and black pepper

Optional
1/2 cup chopped pitted kalamata olives
1/4 cucumber, chopped
1 cup grape tomatoes sliced in half
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Romaine lettuce leaves

Directions
Cook the barley and lentils together for about 45 minutes.  Don't over cook!  Drain and run under cold water to cool.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the oil, lemon juice, and ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper.
Toss the barley and lentils (and optional ingredients) with the lemon dressing. Serving the barley-lentil mixture over the lettuce is very attractive.