This is a version of my Dad's salad. He made this every night to go along with whatever dinner my Mom prepared. Back when we were kids, iceberg lettuce was usually the only lettuce available. I would watch him peel the leaves and wash them in a big bowl of cold water. Then he would shake the leaves dry by hand over the sink --no salad spinner! He would dry the leaves a little with paper towels and then he was ready to begin preparation. I still make this salad with iceberg --when it looks good. More often these days I use romaine. You can add ingredients to suit your taste: cucumbers, peppers, endive, raddichio, feta cheese, avocado, carrots, etc. The 2 important steps to remember when making this salad are seasoning with
salt and pepper and tossing with your hands! Do not skip these steps! Growing up I can remember countless visitors eating my Dad's salad and saying it was the best salad they ever ate. When I make it for friends today, I hear the same thing. It really is special, just like my Dad. xo
My Dad's Salad
A head of iceberg or several hearts of romaine, chopped into bite-size pieces
Red Wine Vinegar
Olive Oil
kosher salt
freshly ground pepper
Other ingredients are up to you!
Put all the ingredients into a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Toss salad with your hands to evenly distribute the salt and pepper. Taste it! You should notice that it tastes great even without the oil and vinegar --I would guess this is about 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. When you have the right amount of salt and pepper, sprinkle/pour a little vinegar over the salad (about 1-2 teaspoons). Then pour olive oil over salad (about 3-5 Tablespoons). Mix with your hands! Taste to see if you need to add any more oil or vinegar.
