Best Ice Water Salad Recipes

THE CRUNCHIEST VEGETABLE SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare the vegetables:
• Place cucumber, radishes, and scallions in a colander set inside a bowl of ice water. Press down on vegetables to submerge. Let soak, stirring occasionally, until very firm and crunchy, at least 15 minutes and up to 1 hour. Drain and pat dry.
• Meanwhile, cook beans in a large pot of boiling generously salted water just until their color intensifies and they are barely softened, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, immediately transfer to a large bowl of salted ice water (use about 1 Tbsp. salt for every 2 quarts water).
• Return water in pot to a boil and repeat cooking process with sugar snap peas; add to bowl of ice water with beans. Let vegetables cool; drain and pat dry. Trim beans and remove strings from sugar snap peas. Slice into large pieces on a steep diagonal.
• Make the dressing and assemble:
• Whisk lime juice, oil, soy sauce, sesame seeds, and sugar in a large bowl; season dressing with salt and pepper. Add beans and peas and toss to coat. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Add cucumber, radishes, and scallions and toss to combine. Transfer to a platter.
• Do Ahead
• Beans and peas can be blanched 2 days ahead. Cover and chill. Dressing can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.

PERFECT CAESAR SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Submerge romaine leaves in a large bowl of ice water for 10 minutes. Then thoroughly dry in a salad spinner or colander, and place in a single layer on a paper towel-lined dish cloth. Roll up cloth; refrigerate until lettuce is crisp and completely dry (any water clinging to leaves may cause the dressing to break), at least 2 hours and up to 2 days.
• Place garlic in a large wooden bowl, add 1/4 teaspoon salt, and mash to a paste with a fork. Transfer half of paste to a rimmed baking sheet; set bowl aside. With the fork, stir butter and 2 tablespoons oil into garlic paste on sheet. Toss with bread cubes to evenly coat. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese, season with salt and pepper, and toss again to evenly coat. Spread into a single layer. Bake, stirring halfway through, until crisp and golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool to room temperature on sheet.
• Add anchovies to bowl with garlic paste and mash to a paste with a fork. Whisk in lemon juice, Worcestershire, Dijon, and egg yolk. Season with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Slowly add remaining 1/3 cup oil in a thin stream, whisking constantly. Add lettuce and toss to evenly coat, then toss with remaining 3/4 cup cheese and croutons. Serve immediately.

RADICCHIO SALAD WITH CHOPPED-LEMON DRESSING

Steps:

• Tear radicchio into bite-size pieces; soak in ice water 20 to 30 minutes. Drain well and spin dry.
• Meanwhile, using a sharp knife, remove peel and pith from lemon. Quarter lemon lengthwise and discard center membrane and seeds; finely chop. Place in a large bowl, and stir in mustard,sugar, and oil to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Toss radicchio and mint with dressing, season with salt and pepper, and serve.

ICE WATER

Steps:

• Step 1: Take a bottle of water and place on counter.
• Step 2: Get a glass, cup, bowl, Yahtzee Shaker, or any other liquid retaining container and place on counter next to the bottle of water.
• Step 3: Fill up ice cube tray with water and place in freezer (wait 3 hours) (Note: if you have an ice cube dispenser, skip step 3).
• Step 4: Pour water into container.
• WARNING: Stand back in case ice explodes.
• Step 5: Wait 1 minute.
• Step 6: Swirl with spoon.
• Step 7: Find a comfortable couch.
• All done.