Ice Water Salad

Name: Ice Water Salad
Total time: 42 min
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: 1½ lb mixed crunchy vegetables; 1 cup walnuts; 5 fillets oil-packed anchovy fillets; 2 cloves large garlic cloves; ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil; 3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice; 2 oz Parmesan; to taste Kosher salt; 1 piece mortar and pestle

A crisp and refreshing salad featuring thinly sliced crunchy vegetables that are chilled in ice water and dressed with a savory anchovy-garlic dressing, topped with toasted walnuts and shaved Parmesan.

6 servings

42 min

Published October 4, 2025

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Ingredients

•1½ lb mixed crunchy vegetables
•1 cup walnuts
•5 fillets oil-packed anchovy fillets
•2 cloves large garlic cloves
•⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
•3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
•2 oz Parmesan
•to taste Kosher salt
•1 piece mortar and pestle

Cooking Instructions

1.
Thinly slice vegetables on a mandoline (they should be about the thickness of a nickel). Fill a large salad spinner (or bowl) with ice water and add vegetables; let sit at least 15 minutes or up to 6 hours. (Cover and chill if letting sit longer than 1 hour.)
15 min
2.
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 325°F. Toast walnuts on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing once, until deep golden brown, about 9 minutes. Let cool, then crush or chop to about the size of a lentil.
9 min
3.
Smash anchovies, garlic, and a big pinch of salt in a mortar and pestle to form a smooth paste. (Alternatively, you can use the side of a chef's knife to crush the garlic, then mash with the anchovies and salt on a cutting board.) Transfer to a small saucepan and add 1/3 cup oil. Cook over medium-low, stirring often, until garlic is just starting to turn golden brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool slightly. Mix in walnuts and lemon juice; taste and season with salt.
10 min
4.
Skim off any ice cubes from water bath and drain vegetables. Cover salad spinner and spin vegetables, periodically pouring off any collected water as needed, until they are very dry. Add to bowl with dressing and toss to coat. Add half of Parmesan and toss again just to evenly distribute.
5 min
5.
Arrange salad on a platter. Top with remaining Parmesan, drizzle with some oil, and season with pepper.
3 min

Cooking Instructions

Thinly slice vegetables on a mandoline (they should be about the thickness of a nickel). Fill a large salad spinner (or bowl) with ice water and add vegetables; let sit at least 15 minutes or up to 6 hours. (Cover and chill if letting sit longer than 1 hour.)

15 min

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 325°F. Toast walnuts on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing once, until deep golden brown, about 9 minutes. Let cool, then crush or chop to about the size of a lentil.

9 min

Smash anchovies, garlic, and a big pinch of salt in a mortar and pestle to form a smooth paste. (Alternatively, you can use the side of a chef's knife to crush the garlic, then mash with the anchovies and salt on a cutting board.) Transfer to a small saucepan and add 1/3 cup oil. Cook over medium-low, stirring often, until garlic is just starting to turn golden brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool slightly. Mix in walnuts and lemon juice; taste and season with salt.

10 min

Skim off any ice cubes from water bath and drain vegetables. Cover salad spinner and spin vegetables, periodically pouring off any collected water as needed, until they are very dry. Add to bowl with dressing and toss to coat. Add half of Parmesan and toss again just to evenly distribute.

5 min

Arrange salad on a platter. Top with remaining Parmesan, drizzle with some oil, and season with pepper.

3 min