Around the World in 120 Salads – Review, recipe and giveaway

Katie and Giancarlo are a dynamic duo that met in 1997. He was a restaurateur and she an artist. He loved her painting, she loved his pasta and now the pair have two restaurants, a cookery school, have written over a dozen cookbooks and have two sons.

One of their newest titles, Around the World in 120 Salads: Fresh, Healthy, Delicious delivers globally influenced salads that are perfect for any time of day and occasion.

The book is divided into the following chapters: Dressings, Rise & Shine, First Things FIrst, Salads From the Farm, Salads From the Sea, Salads from the Garden, Simple Little Sides and On the Sweet Side.

First Things First hits on the basics for making a perfect salad, tips and techniques for textures and serving. Dressings, of course, lists myriad dressings, sauces and more to make our salads more flavorful and exciting. Then we get into the salad chapters with Rise and Shine – yes you can make a salad for breakfast! Doesn’t a Spinach, Bacon, Avocado & Tomato Salad with Poached Eggs or a Saffon Peach & Mint Salad with Banana Pancakes & Lemon Crème Fraîche sound like something to make even the sleepiest head jump out of bed?

The middle chapters include recipes with seafood, proteins and produce with Middle Eastern, Greek, and other global flavors. Simple Little Salads is one of my favorite chapters – I love the addition of a fresh element on a plate and there are recipes for small pops of flavor in the form of sides such as Ginger Vichy Carrot Salad, Smashed Cucumber Salad and more.

Of course, any good meal ends with a sweet bite and On the Sweet Side includes recipes for Raspberries & Red Currants with Whipped Ricotta, Lemon Curd & Ginger Crumbs and Roast Black Fruit Salad with Amaretto & Cashew Lime Cream for a healthier alternative to an indulgent dessert. Frankly, those sound as decadent as any other dessert – sign me up.

Special thanks to the publisher for sharing a recipe our members can try now and for providing three copies of this book in our giveaway below.

Pan-fried halloumi & roasted fennel salad with orange dressing
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serves 4 to 6

Giancarlo learned how to make this punchy orange dressing in Bistrot de Venise restaurant in Venice, and now we use it all the time. Reducing the orange juice makes it zing with color and sweetness. The dressing can be made in advance but cook the halloumi just before serving.

2 fennel bulbs, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
a large handful of watercress, arugula, or lettuce leaves
a handful of seedless green or red grapes, halved
8 ounces halloumi cheese, cut into 1/4-inch slices
a few fronds of wild fennel or dill, stems discarded
salt and freshly ground black pepper for the dressing
1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (approx. 2 small oranges)
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Add the fennel slices and boil for 5 to 10 minutes or until just tender, then drain.

Lay the slices onto a baking sheet, brush with the oil, and season.

Roast for 20 to 30 minutes or until they just start to burn. Little crispy areas are good. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, put the orange zest and juice in a small frying pan over medium heat, and leave it to bubble gently until reduced by about half. Leave to cool. When cool, mix with the oil, salt, and pepper.

Taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary.

Lay the leaves on a large platter, and top with the fennel and grapes.

Dry-fry the halloumi slices, in a nonstick frying pan, on each side for a couple of minutes or until just golden, and add to the salad. Drizzle with the dressing, season with black pepper and scatter the fennel or dill fronds. Serve immediately or the halloumi will harden.

The publisher is offering three copies of this title to our EYB Members in the US. One of the entry options is to answer the following question in the comments section of this blog post.

Which recipe in the index would you like to try first?

Please note that you must be logged into the Rafflecopter contest before posting or your entry won’t be counted. Please be sure to check your spam filters to make sure you receive our email notifications. Prizes can take up to 6 weeks to arrive from the publishers. If you are not already a Member, you can join at no cost. The contest ends at midnight on September 26, 2017.

Recipes taken from Around the World in Salads by Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi, published by Kyle Books. Photography by Helen Cathcart.

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70 Comments

  • infotrop  on  August 15, 2017

    Asparagus with roasted tomato dressing & baked lemon ricotta …what a great idea for asparagus!

  • lgroom  on  August 15, 2017

    Pomelo salad with coconut and lime dressing.

  • lmalter  on  August 15, 2017

    swedish cucumber salad

  • Joy001  on  August 15, 2017

    Charred corn & avocado salad with chile lime dressing sounds delicious!

  • Maefleur  on  August 15, 2017

    Ginger and turmeric fruit salad with whipped coconut cream

  • hae1123  on  August 15, 2017

    Oh, my. Korean Sesame Yogurt Sauce/Dressing sounds NICE! I'd love to try that!

  • Shelley.b  on  August 15, 2017

    Smoked whitefish salad

  • jr0717  on  August 15, 2017

    The green juice salad! And the Korean Sesame Yogurt Sauce sounds so very intriguing….so many options to choose!

  • ChefTamiMitchell  on  August 16, 2017

    Fig, Nectarine and Burrata!

  • RSW  on  August 16, 2017

    Saffron peach & mint salad with banana pancakes & lemon crème fraîche

  • lhudson  on  August 16, 2017

    Greek lemon chicken, grain & feta salad with tzatziki

  • horselady57  on  August 16, 2017

    Asparagus with roasted tomato dressing & baked lemon ricotta sounds delicious!

  • kmn4  on  August 16, 2017

    Greek lemon chicken, grain & feta salad with tzatziki

  • sgump  on  August 16, 2017

    The shaved Manchego, celeriac & radish salad with white truffle oil sounds delectable!

  • michalow  on  August 16, 2017

    Quinoa kabsa with nut hashu, because I have no idea what half those words mean, but the ingredients sound good!

  • sarahawker  on  August 16, 2017

    Swedish cucumber salad

  • JuneHawk  on  August 16, 2017

    Ginger & turmeric fruit salad with whipped coconut cream

  • dbielick  on  August 17, 2017

    Pineapple & cashew rice salad with hula pork & roast peppers

  • laffersk  on  August 18, 2017

    Fig, Nectarine and Burrata because we just bought a fig tree.

  • hirsheys  on  August 18, 2017

    Chicken shawarma, lettuce & cilantro salad with lemon crème fraîche

  • Siegal  on  August 18, 2017

    Avocado and orange salad! Yum

  • LaurenE  on  August 18, 2017

    Raspberries & Red Currants with Whipped Ricotta

  • Scotsman61  on  August 18, 2017

    Charred corn & avocado salad with chile lime dressing

  • t.t  on  August 18, 2017

    Chicken shawarma, lettuce & cilantro salad with lemon crème fraîche

  • Shana.  on  August 19, 2017

    Pan-fried halloumi & roasted fennel salad with orange dressing

  • love2chow  on  August 19, 2017

    Shaved Manchego, celeriac & radish salad with white truffle oil or Asian rainbow slaw with Korean beef in lettuce wraps

  • BMeyer  on  August 19, 2017

    Nut vinaigrette

  • Karla123  on  August 20, 2017

    Jeweled beet, orange, almond & dill salad…love all the fresh, healthy, and delicious ingredients in this salad.

  • fiarose  on  August 20, 2017

    oh my god how to pick from all of these beautiful salads–korean sesame yogurt sauce, ponzu, watermelon and feta salad with mint vinaigrette, saffron peach and mint salad, roast cauliflower in garam masala, thai poached shrimp, carrot, and cilantro salad, sea bass, lime, and cilantro ceviche, fruity salad with vietnamese roasted duck, spicy shrimp and cool cucumber salad, wakame seaweed salad, ginger, sesame, and shrimp noodle jar, soba salad with sesame, silken tofu with chinese chives, moroccan crushed eggplant and tomato, stuffed dates with feta and mint…this is my dream book.

  • matag  on  August 21, 2017

    Asian rainbow slaw with Korean beef in lettuce Wraps

  • ravensfan  on  August 21, 2017

    Spinach, bacon, avocado & tomato salad with poached eggs

  • rglo820  on  August 22, 2017

    Fig, nectarine, burrata & prosciutto salad with honey dressing

  • dvajefink  on  August 23, 2017

    Raspberries and red currant whipped ricotta:)

  • heyjude  on  August 23, 2017

    Smoked Whitefish Salad

  • cpasek  on  August 23, 2017

    Coronation chicken with lychees because my daughter loves lychees!

  • thewoobdog  on  August 24, 2017

    The Spiced Green Beans and Tomatoes looks intriguing!

  • sipa  on  August 24, 2017

    Moroccan crushed eggplant & tomato

  • Lafauvette  on  August 24, 2017

    Roasted vegetable & orzo pasta salad with basil, pine nuts & Parmesan

  • motherofpearl81  on  August 24, 2017

    Beet patties & beet green & cress salad with avocado & yogurt dressing
    love beets!

  • lils74  on  August 25, 2017

    Asparagus and new potato salad with walnut oil vinaigrette!

  • Joy001  on  August 25, 2017

    Chicken shawarma, lettuce & cilantro salad with lemon crème fraîche

  • lauriesk  on  August 25, 2017

    The first recipe I would try is the Swedish cucumber salad.

  • Julia  on  August 25, 2017

    Italian Seafood Salad.

  • sequoia55  on  August 25, 2017

    Swedish cucumber salad

  • Dmartin997  on  August 26, 2017

    Fattoush

  • Suzw  on  August 26, 2017

    Smoked whitefish salad

  • dna  on  August 27, 2017

    vegetables a la grecque

  • RickPearson54  on  August 27, 2017

    Fattoush

  • kalex426  on  August 27, 2017

    Greek lemon chicken, grain and feta with tzatziki

  • screenstarr  on  August 27, 2017

    Pan-fried halloumi & roasted fennel salad with orange dressing

  • Katiefayhutson  on  August 28, 2017

    Avocado and arugula salad with balsamic strawberry and basil cashew dressing

  • FrenchCreekBaker  on  August 30, 2017

    Saffron peach & mint salad with banana pancakes & lemon crème fraîche

  • InAHealthyKitchen  on  August 30, 2017

    The ginger and turmeric fruit salad would be nice

  • Rinshin  on  September 1, 2017

    wakame salad

  • chowfamily  on  September 1, 2017

    Hot spicy shrimp meet cool cucumber salad

  • bakeswithlove2369  on  September 2, 2017

    Pan-fried halloumi & roasted fennel salad with orange dressing

  • talieUS  on  September 2, 2017

    Sea bass, lime & cilantro ceviche

  • AnnaZed  on  September 3, 2017

    Nuoc cham Vietnamese dipping sauce (page 19)

  • JenJoLa  on  September 7, 2017

    Greek lemon chicken, grain & feta salad with tzatziki

  • tarae1204  on  September 7, 2017

    Greek lemon chicken, grain and feta with tzatziki

  • bstewart  on  September 8, 2017

    The green juice salad!

  • choppergirl  on  September 8, 2017

    Swedish cucumber salad

  • PennyG  on  September 9, 2017

    Always looking for ways to use tahini so looked no further than the very first recipe – Tahini and Lemon Dressing!

  • rosalee  on  September 11, 2017

    I'd try Spinach, bacon, avocado & tomato salad with poached eggs — the title is literally a list of my favorite ingredients!

  • kitchenclimbers  on  September 14, 2017

    Pan-fried halloumi & roasted fennel salad with orange dressing

  • ladybrooke  on  September 14, 2017

    Greek lemon chicken, grain & feta salad with tzatziki

  • orchidlady01  on  September 17, 2017

    Spinach, bacon, avocado & tomato salad with poached eggs

  • pcaradonna  on  September 17, 2017

    Italian Seafood Salad

  • verorenee  on  September 20, 2017

    roasted cauliflower with garam masala

  • tennyogirl  on  September 26, 2017

    Spiced green beans and tomatoes

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