Pamela Toman

Tag: almonds

Pasta Salad

Jess brought this delicious pasta salad to us early in the summer. It reminds me of one that Luke would make, whose recipe I seem to have lost. The fresh basil and feta make the salad.

Ingredients Step
¼ c. red wine vinegar
½ c. olive oil
juice of 1 lemon
1 t. honey
salt
pepper		 Blitz into an emulsified dressing.
6 c. broth
1 lb. orzo		 Bring broth to boil. Add orzo, reduce heat, cover partially, cook until al dente, then drain. Move to large bowl and toss frequently to cool.
2 c. grape tomatoes, halved
7 oz. feta, cubed
1 c. basil, chopped
1 c. green onion, chopped		 Mix in, then add vinaigrette. Let stand a few hours before serving.
½ c. slivered almonds, toasted Add at time of serving. Serve at room temperature.

Source: Giada De Laurentiis in Bon Appétit (April 2006)

Pasta Salad was published on 5 August 2025.

Recipe uses: feta, orzo, lemon, basil, tomatoes-cherry, stock, almonds

Carrot White Bean Salad

A lovely salad that works as a side dish for omnivores and an entree for vegetarians (easily vegan-izable).

Substituting other herbs and sweeteners works well. Thyme and maple syrup, for instance, is another nice combination.

Have it ready a bit before serving; it improves as it sits.

Ingredients Step
scant ¼ c. olive oil
heaping ⅓ c. shallot, very thinly sliced		 Saute briefly, just enough to take off the raw onion edge.
warmed shallots and oil
3 T. lemon juice
¼ c. dill, chopped
scant ¼ t. salt		 Combine and adjust dressing to taste. Don't sweeten yet. Set aside.
4 carrots, sliced (~2 c.)
olive oil		 Saute the carrots in batches so they stay in a single layer, until deeply browned (~12 minutes per layer).
3 c. white beans (2 cans) Add. Cook about 5 minutes, until the beans are heated through.
dressing
~2 T. honey		 Stir dressing in. Sweeten to taste (consider the carrots).
⅓ c. sliced almonds, toasted Serve with toasted almonds.

Source: Heidi Swanson (101 Cookbooks)

Carrot White Bean Salad was published on 5 May 2024.

Recipe uses: shallot, carrots, white-beans, dill, almonds