What to Have for Dinner When You Don’t Want to Cook

We have all been there. It is almost dinner time and you don’t have any plans for dinner. It has been a long day, and you really don’t want to spend any time around the stove or even turn on the oven. Nevertheless, you still need to put something on the table for the family.

So, how about a no-recipe recipe for today? The concept for this easy dinner salad couldn’t be more straightforward: utilize what you have in the ‘fridge, use as many fresh salad ingredients as possible, assemble everything nicely on a platter, and, bind everything together with a delicious dressing.

Start building your dinner salad with a bed of mixed salad greens or just use arugula. Quarter a couple of hard boiled eggs (that hopefully you just happen to have in the refrigerator) and place them on top of the greens. Add any kind of left-over cooked protein (chicken or salmon work very well here). If you don’t have any, open a can of salmon packed in olive oil, or some smoked trout. Add any salad vegetables you like: tomatoes, cucumbers, cooked corn. Drizzle with a sharp, lemony dressing and dinner is served!

What to Have for Dinner When You Don't Want to Cook

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Total time

10 mins

 

A simple and very satisfying dinner salad that requires only assembling of what you already have.

Author: Marilena Leavitt

Recipe type: Dinner Salad

Serves: 2

Ingredients

• The salad
• 3 oz. mixed greens or arugula
• 1-2 cups cooked protein (see notes)
• 1 cup cooked corn
• 2 hard-boiled eggs, cut in quarters
• 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• 2 Persian cucumbers, sliced
• 2 TBSP. fresh parsley, minced (optional)
• The Lemon Dressing:
• 1 small lemon, juiced
• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 1-2 tsp. shallot, minced
• ½ tsp. sea salt
• ¼ tsp. freshly ground pepper
• ¼ extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, mix together all the ingredients for the lemon dressing. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
2. Arrange the salad greens or the arugula on a large serving platter. Arrange the remaining salad ingredients in rows over the arugula. Sprinkle with the parsley, or your favorite fresh herb.
3. Just before serving, drizzle evenly the lemon dressing over the salad. Enjoy!

Notes

For protein you can use any leftover cooked salmon, chicken and even sliced steak. If you don't have any of this, just use some good quality canned salmon (in olive oil) or a package of smoked trout.

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