We have a post Christmas and Easter specialty at our house. It's called Ello Salad. And if you're wondering what an Ello is, I'll share the secret.
L.O's is short for Left Overs. But you ought to see peoples faces when you say we're having Ello Salad. All sounds very exotic and they sit in happy anticipation, blissfully unaware that I'm serving them stuff we couldn't fit into our overwrought tums the day before. Hilarious, really, and a bit wicked on my part :)
Who would imagine anyway, that when we place that glossy baked ham on the table on the 25th, the family will be moaning 'not leg ham AGAIN' by the 30th. Drives me nuts.
Without further ado, here's my super duper guest worthy Ello Salad. Observe appropriate food safety rules when storing leftovers for future meals.
http://www.csiro.au/en/Outcomes/Food-and-Agriculture/Food-Safety.aspx
Ello Salad
Serves 4-6
Make the dressing first.
Dressing:
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon mustard
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/2 onion, finely diced
1 tablespoon Maple Syrup or honey
Bring all ingredients to a simmer in a small saucepan. Switch off and allow to cool and infuse with the flavours.
Prepare the meat and vegetables:
Leftover meat eg. ham, turkey, chicken, diced or shredded
Leftover roast potato and/or pumpkin, diced
1 Chorizo or salami or other flavoursome sausage such as bratwurst, diced finely
Fresh herbs, chopped
2 tablespoons of oil for pan frying
To a hot pan, add the oil, heating it well, then add the vegetables. Stir fry the veges until warmed through, then reduce the heat, and allow them to fry, undisturbed for about 3 minutes so they form a lovely golden crust. Without disturbing the veg, add the chorizo or salami and your meat. Seal the pan with a firm fitting lid, allow to heat through for about two minutes, then switch off, and leave undisturbed for two minutes more. This will ensure that your leftovers reach appropriate temperatures for food safety requirements.
Assemble the salad:
To each individual bowl, add 2 cups of salad leaves, a portion of the meat and veges and a drizzle of the pre-prepared dressing.
This is surprisingly delicious and guest worthy, and the addition of the chorizo and dressing elevates it to memorable.
It's one of our favourite Boxing Day and post Easter meals and I hope it will become one of yours too.
