Ep 18. Southern Italian Salads

Lidia's Kitchen season 6 episode 18, titled "Southern Italian Salads," focuses on traditional salad recipes from the southern region of Italy. Host Lidia Bastianich demonstrates how to prepare a variety of salads using fresh ingredients that capture the flavors and essence of the Mediterranean.

In the first segment, Lidia prepares a Sicilian-style fennel and orange salad, where she slices paper-thin fennel bulbs and segments sweet navel oranges. The salad is dressed with a simple vinaigrette made with orange juice, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt. She also shares a tip for removing the pith from the orange slices to avoid any bitterness.

Next, Lidia makes a caponata salad, which originates from the island of Sicily. This salad is made with cooked eggplant, celery, onions, capers, and tomatoes, all cooked down into a sweet and sour relish. The caponata is then served over a bed of mixed greens, garnished with olives and hard-boiled eggs.

In the third segment, Lidia prepares a fresh and light seafood salad using calamari, shrimp, and scallops. She first boils the seafood in a flavorful broth of lemon, white wine, bay leaves, and garlic. The seafood is then tossed with a dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, and parsley. Lidia recommends letting the seafood salad sit for a few hours to marinate and absorb the flavors.

The final salad Lidia prepares is a classic potato and green bean salad from the Campania region of Italy. This salad is made with boiled potatoes and green beans, then dressed with a garlic vinaigrette. Lidia also adds a touch of anchovy paste to the dressing for an umami-rich flavor.

Throughout the episode, Lidia emphasizes the importance of using fresh and quality ingredients, such as extra-virgin olive oil and fresh herbs. She also shares tips and techniques for preparing various ingredients, such as blanching green beans and segmenting oranges.

Overall, "Southern Italian Salads" showcases a variety of salads that are both easy to prepare and bursting with flavor. Lidia's love and passion for Italian cuisine shines through in every segment, making this episode a must-watch for anyone looking to expand their repertoire of salad recipes.