Salad recipes

Louisiana courtbouillon of redfish, the classic Cajun fish stew. Whole redfish or red snapper steaks simmered in a brown roux, holy trinity, tomatoes, herbs, and white wine. Spooned over rice, this is bayou comfort food.

French-Canadian veal pot roast braised in a cast iron pot with whole potatoes and onions, no added liquid. The veal creates its own rich gravy as it slowly cooks.

Veau dans le chaudron, a French-Canadian veal pot roast browned in bacon fat with garlic, then braised with whole potatoes and onions. No added liquid needed.

This soup is a complete meal when served with a green salad and French bread.

Fat-free grapefruit vinaigrette with garlic, basil, thyme, parsley, and vinegar. A completely oil-free, low-fat salad dressing using unsweetened grapefruit juice as the base.

Pasta with smoked mozzarella: bow-tie pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, fresh asparagus, thyme, and melty smoked mozzarella. A light pasta dinner that works hot or as a next-day salad.

Oxtail is one of the most economical and most flavorful cuts of meat, and one that takes well to marinating for days in a hearty mixture of red wine, herbs, and vegetables. The longer you marinate the mixture, the more flavorful it will be, but be sure it marinates at least 3 days. Oxtail is also a fatty cut -- give yourself plenty of time to allow the stew to cook and then cool, so all the fat can be skimmed off. Serve this with thick noodles in warmed soup bowls, accompanied by a tossed salad, and of course, a robust red wine.

Browned SPAM cubes with carrots, green beans, tomatoes, and celery in a thyme-seasoned sauce, topped with sliced potatoes broiled golden. This hearty one-skillet casserole is a complete meal in about an hour.

Eggplant and tomato casserole baked under a parmesan crust, loaded with mushrooms, peppers, garlic, and a briny hit of capers. A rustic Mediterranean vegetable bake that works as a main or a hearty side.