Chef and cookbook author Camilla Marcus has introduced a salad that is designed to stay crisp even in warm weather. The dish, called The Whole Stalk or Bulb Salad, was a highlight at a recent backyard lunch hosted by Marcus. Guests kept returning to it, drawn by its combination of crunchy vegetables, tangy dressing, and creamy cheese.
Why This Salad Works
The salad uses a technique where the base vegetables are first soaked in acid and salt, similar to a quick pickle, then coated with oil at the end to seal in flavor. Marcus explains: “The idea is to get that base to absorb the acid and salt, almost like a quick pickle, and then coat the whole salad with oil at the end, trapping the flavor.” This method allows the salad to be dressed ahead of time without wilting, making it suitable for outdoor gatherings.
The key ingredients include crisp celery or fennel, sweet dates, shaved blue cheese, smoked almonds, preserved lemon, and chili brine. Chardonnay vinegar is used for the marinade, and avocado oil is added at the end. The blue cheese is frozen briefly before shaving to ensure it holds its shape.
An Every-Season Salad For Hosting
Marcus’s recipe is part of her cookbook, which focuses on ingredient-driven dishes that are accessible for home cooks. The salad has been tested multiple times, and each time it draws requests for the recipe. It can be served on spring or summer menus, offering a blend of textures: crunchy, creamy, bright, and slightly unexpected.
To prepare, the vinegar is heated and infused with chopped dates for 10 minutes, then strained. The celery or fennel is sliced thinly and kept in an ice bath to stay crisp. After draining, the vegetables are marinated with the reserved vinegar, preserved lemon, chili brine, and salt for 3 to 5 minutes. The salad is assembled by scattering almonds and dates on a plate, piling the marinated vegetables on top, and finishing with shaved blue cheese, herbs, a drizzle of avocado oil, and cracked pepper.
The recipe yields four servings. Marcus encourages home cooks to try the salad for its ability to hold up in the sunshine, noting that it gets more flavorful the longer it sits. The combination of ingredients—celery or fennel, dates, blue cheese, smoked almonds, and the tangy vinegar-based dressing—provides a balance of flavors that works across seasons. The salad has become a go-to for those who want a make-ahead dish that does not sacrifice texture or taste.
