Recipes

Summer Salad Playbook

We’re keeping the spirit of summer alive with a rainbow of satisfying salads. From full-on entrées to sides that make any meal a feast, these well-spiced salads are sure to steal the show. Whether you crave something fresh and light or bold and hearty, there’s a salad here for every appetite. For especially quick and crowd-pleasing dressings, skip the pre-made bottles and whip up our own using our Nigella Caesar or Ranch Seasoning blends. It’s tart, savory, vegan, and whips up in no time. To make a quick dressing, mix 1/4 cup Nigella Caesar spice with 1/3 cup water and 1 cup vegetable oil. Whisk it all together and you’ve got a creamy, flavor-packed vegan dressing in minutes. For a tangy, creamy, herb-packed dressing perfect for salads, veggies, or dipping just about anything, combine one cup of sour cream or plain Greek yogurt with a tablespoon of Ranch Seasoning, a big squeeze of lemon, a dash of olive oil, and a pinch of salt.    Fajita Steak Salad For a large summer gathering, you want a dish that pleases the crowd with minimal fuss. This fajita steak salad delivers satisfying grill fare without excess effort or mess — and it’s delicious to boot. Hearty but not too heavy, it’s perfect alongside grilled corn or a cold margarita for even more summer goodness. Get the recipe. Mexican Street Corn Salad  This street corn salad captures all the smoky, tangy flavors of classic elote — without the cob. Cuban Spice brings warmth and balance, and the mayo-free recipe is ideal for summer gatherings. Get the recipe. Nigella Watermelon Salad  Sweet, tart, and just a little spicy, this watermelon salad balances juicy fruit with sharp arugula and nutty Nigella Seeds. Quick to toss together and easy to scale, it’s a standout at any summer picnic. Get the recipe. Tadka Carrot and Cauliflower Salad The warm tadka of Brown and Yellow Mustard Seeds, Cumin, Turmeric, Chile, and Asafoetida brings deep flavor and gentle heat to this versatile salad. A squeeze of lime brightens the dish and brings everything together. Get the recipe.

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Caesar Spiced Farfalle

5 min

Indulge in a delectable one-pot meal with Caesar Spiced Farfalle. In just 20 minutes, you'll have a vegetarian delight inspired by Cacio e pepe. The creamy sauce with tangy Worcestershire coats the Farfalle perfectly and the Nigella Seeds give it a lovely texture. Don't forget to add fresh spinach and grated Parmesan for added flavor and texture. Customize it with your favorite veggies like peas, asparagus, arugula or add chicken if you'd like a meatier dish. Satisfaction guaranteed!

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Caesar-Spiced Fried Potato Balls

5 min

Potatoes may be one of my favorite foods in the world, and I'm always heartbroken after Thanksgiving dinner when I've realized that I've made too much and we have more leftovers than we can eat. This particular heartbreak led me to discover flavorful ways to use up those potatoes and this recipe won't disappoint. The star of this show is Nigella Caesar, an unexpected delight in any potato dish. It's bursting with umami notes and tangy flavor, which is simply perfection rolled into your old garlic mashed potatoes and finished with a nice parmesan crust. This dish is a perfect side, a perfect snack, and can easily be made vegan by skipping the cheese. It makes for a creamy, savory little bite, no dipping sauce required.

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Garden-Veggie Focaccia

30 min

Garden-Veggie Focaccia is fun to make and a tabletop stunner. Both rewarding and forgiving, this recipe bakes up spongy on the inside with a crispy cheese crust. The secret to getting the top layer golden brown is our Nigella Caesar blend. It has all of the savory flavors of Caesar salad that go perfectly with the generous amount of olive oil and parmesan cheese in the focaccia. You can bake this in a deeper pan for sandwiches or a more shallow pan to cut out the perfect bread sticks. Have fun and use your imagination to decorate! Just cut off a square and enjoy it along with your favorite soup, salad, or marinara sauce. If you want a little more garlic flavor, melt some butter and stir in some Garlic Salt and brush the top of the freshly baked focaccia.

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Chicken Nigella Caesar Pasta Salad

Our Nigella Caesar makes chicken breast juicy and brown nicely. It's also a delicious sprinkle and makes such an easy homemade dressing, only needing water and oil. This dressing is awesome to have on hand, not just for a twist on a traditional Caesar salad, but also as a marinade and sauce. In this recipe, it gets used both ways — to marinate our chicken and to coat the pasta salad. We used some summer staples like fresh tomatoes, cucumber and arugula to bring it all together. We also dabbled with some lentil gluten-free pasta for some extra protein, but feel free to use your own favorite pasta. Enjoy this salad warm or as cold leftovers, if you have any!

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Nigella Caesar Artichoke Toast

Now that I sling spices instead of hash, it is nostalgic to look at old recipes from my professional chef days. This recipe and I go waaay back and it remains a brunch favorite. Over time, it has evolved into a slightly healthier version. Our vegan Nigella Caesar blend brings all the flavor of a classic Caesar dressing, without the extra egg. Nutty nigella seeds add crunch and bring the umami along with Worcestershire powder and garlic. These bold flavors pair perfectly with the leeks and artichoke hearts in the spread. This makes a delightful topping for toast or flat bread. For added brunch magic, we garnished the toast with a kale Caesar salad and a poached egg. Finish it off with a sprinkle of Pacific Flake Sea Salt for crunch and enjoy!

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