Greek Lamb Salad With a Creamy Yogurt Dressing

"I have had this recipe for years and originally think it came from one of those small grocery store check out counter cookbooks. Back in the days, I hand wrote recipes I liked and often tossed the rest of the book. Even when I catered, I wrote each recipe by hand - crazy I know. Well, I am slowly going through a few old boxes and found this last night. I love lamb and Greek flavors and this just makes a great main dish salad. I use to rate my recipes and this has 4 stars which meant great, so I hope I feel the same way. I love salads and often have them for dinner, maybe with a cup of soup or just a nice slice of bread. It is a good way to eat your protein, vegetables with a bit lighter approach. For this particular recipe, I prefer a mix of mostly spinach with just a little romaine for crunch, but you can really use any mix you want. Grilled lamb (or pan seared), chickpeas, cucumber, red onion, garlic, olives, raisins and of course the yogurt dressing for a nice twist on an average salad. You can garnish with feta cheese if you like. Serve with grilled pita chips."
 
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Ready In:
45mins
Ingredients:
25
Yields:
4 Main Salads
Serves:
4
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ingredients

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directions

  • Lamb -- Mix the olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, fresh rosemary, oregano and red pepper flakes in a baggie and add the lamb. I like to marinade the lamb at least 2-3 hours. Remove from the fridge and let it come to room temperature while you make the dressing and the salad.
  • Dressing -- Mix the yogurt, lemon juice and zest, honey, scallions, garlic, salt, pepper. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
  • Salad -- In a large bowl, add the lettuce, cucumber, olives, and chickpeas and toss well. Reserve the cherries and raisins for the topping as well as feta cheese which is optional.
  • Lamb -- The lamb already has some olive oil in the marinade, so I spray a grill pan or saute pan just with Pam or a non-stick spray and grill on medium high to high heat. They literally, just take a minute or two on each side. I like my meat medium rare.
  • Finish -- Add the warm grilled lamb to the salad, add the chilled yogurt dressing, toss lightly, garnish with the cherries and raisins.
  • Feta cheese is another optional garnish which I like just a little, but it is optional. And Grilled pia chips are perfect with this as well.

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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

<p>Growing up in Michigan, I spent my summers at my cottage in the Northern part up by Traverscity. On a lake, big garden which had all the vegetables you could imagine. My mom taught school, so summers were our vacation time. Gramps and I fished all the time so fresh fish was always on the menu, perch, blue gill, walleye and small and large mouth bass. At age 5 I learned how to clean my own fish and by 10 I was making dinner, canning vegetables and fruits, making pies and fresh breads. Apples fresh picked every fall, strawberries in June and July, Cherries at the Cherry Festival in Traverscity. So fresh foods always were a big part. Mom worked as a teacher during the year so dinner was more traditional with pot roasts, meatloaf, etc, but it seemed we always had fresh fruits and vegetables as part of the meal. Mom also didn't use as many spices as I do, but times were different back then. <br /> <br />So ... My motto is ... There is NO Right and NO Wrong with cooking. So many people thing they have to follow a recipe. But NO ... a recipe is a method and directions to help and teach someone. Cooking is about personal tastes and flavors. I love garlic ... and another person may not. I like heat ... but you may not. Recipes are building blocks, NOT text ground in stone. Use them to make and build on. Even my recipes I don't follow most times --They are a base. That is what cooking is to me. A base of layer upon layer of flavors. <br /> <br />I still dislike using canned soups or packaged gravies/seasoning ... but I admit, I do use them. I have a few recipes that use them. But I try to strive to teach people to use fresh ingredients, they are first ... so much healthier for you ... and second, in the end less expensive. But we all have our moments including me. <br /> <br />So, lets see ... In the past, I have worked as a hostess, bartender, waitress, then a short order cook, salad girl in the kitchen, sort of assistant chef, head chef, co owner of a restaurant ... now a consultant to a catering company/restaurant, I cater myself and I'm a personal chef for a elderly lady. I work doing data entry during the day, and now and then try to have fun which is not very often due to my job(s). <br /> <br />I have a 21 year old who at times is going on 12, aren't they all. Was married and now single and just trying to enjoy life one day at a time. I'm writing a cookbook ... name is still in the works but it is dedicated to those people who never learned, to cook. Single Moms, Dads, or Just Busy Parents. Those individuals that think you can't make a great dinner for not a lot of money. You can entertain on a budget and I want people to know that gourmet tasting food doesn't have to be from a can of soup or a box, and healthy food doesn't come from a drive through. There are some really good meals that people can make which are healthy and will save money but taste amazing. So I guess that is my current goal. We all take short cuts and I have no problem with that - I do it too. I volunteer and make food for the homeless every couple of months, donating my time and money. I usually make soup for them and many times get donations from a local grocery stores, Sams Club, Walmart etc, with broth, and vegetables. It makes my cost very little and well worth every minute I spend. Like anyone, life is always trying to figure things out and do the best we can and have fun some how along the way.</p>
 
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