I think of this as my friend Anna Jones’ California Salad. I discovered it when cooking through her cookbook, A Modern Way to Eat. The book is a 352-page stunner, and an example of a first book going very right. You have Anna, who has substantial professional experience as a London-based writer and stylist (you’ve likely encountered her work on the pages of Jamie magazine). She paired up with one of my favorite photographers Brian W. Ferry. The book was published last year by 4th Estate under the guidance of Louise Haines (Nigel Slater’s editor) and Georgia Mason in the U.K., and is set for U.S. release by Ten Speed Press in the United States. It’s really good. And this salad is a good indicator.
The Salad
I thought I’d share Anna’s California-inspired salad made with miso, avocado, & lima beans. It’s the kind of substantial salad I love, particularly in the winter. Seasonal greens are tossed with an assertive, creamy miso dressing. There are beans, crunchy seeds, broccoli, and avocado – it all comes together into a brilliant, beautiful, feel-good salad. It’s inspired by her time spent in the golden state.
Anna’s California Salad: Ingredients
A few thought on the salad ingredients here.
- Beans: Use whatever white beans you like here – butter beans, corona beans, limas. I couldn’t resist pan-frying mine and then chopping them, Anna uses them whole.
- Ponzu Sauce: Related to ponzu sauce, Anna says, “Ponzu is a sweet-sour-salty mixture of soy sauce and a Japanese citrus called yuzu lime–the zippiest citrus flavor I know. It’s available in most Japanese shops. If you don’t have ponzu, a little soy mixed with lime juice will work.”
- Miso: The dressing really takes on the character of whatever miso you choose. Just keep in mind some miso pastes are stronger and more salty than others. You can always adjust to your tastes.
I’ve taken a few snapshots of some spreads from Anna’s book down below. To give you a sense of what the vibe and aesthetic is.
Love all the charts like the one above.
More About Anna Jones
You can read more about lovely Anna here, and here. You can follow her on Instagram here. She also comes to the West Coast now and then for book signings & events, so keep an eye out. xo Anna, and congrats!
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