Chef Johns Tomato And Dirt Salad Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S TOMATO AND "DIRT" SALAD

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add finely minced mushrooms and a pinch of salt. Cook and stir until mushrooms completely dry out and turn golden brown, 7 or 8 minutes, reducing heat slightly toward the end if needed.
• Break bread into large chunks and place in food processor. Pulse on and off until processed into fine crumbs. Add crumbs to mushroom mixture. Cook over medium heat until breadcrumbs are completely dried out, dark brown and toasted. Drizzle in more oil if needed. Stir in ground almonds. Continue cooking on medium until pieces of almond turn brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and allow "dirt" mixture to cool to room temperature.
• Scoop spoonfuls of burrata into serving bowls. Arrange tomato slices on top. Drizzle with white wine vinegar and a generous drizzle of olive oil. Season with kosher salt, black pepper, and basil. Sprinkle with "dirt" mixture.

CHEF JOHN'S PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Pour bread into a large skillet and drizzle with 1/4 cup olive oil, working in batches if necessary. Cook and stir bread over medium heat, adding more oil as needed, until bread cubes are golden and crispy on the outside, 7 to 12 minutes.
• Sprinkle Parmigiano-Reggiano over the top of the bread cubes; cook and stir until cheese is melted onto bread, and bread is crispy on the outside but still chewy on the inside, 3 to 4 minutes more. Cool completely.
• Combine tomatoes, red wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, sugar, salt, and black pepper together in a bowl until well-mixed. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature until flavors combine, about 20 minutes.
• Toss basil into tomato mixture; add bread cubes and stir. Let salad sit at room temperature 3 to 4 minutes; if the liquid is completely absorbed, add more vinegar and extra virgin olive oil to taste. Season with salt and black pepper.

CHEF JOHN'S WALDORF SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk mayonnaise, creme fraiche, lemon juice, tarragon, sugar, salt, black pepper, and cayenne together in a bowl.
• Place apples, celery root, grapes, and walnut pieces in a large bowl. Toss with about 1/2 cup of dressing. Add more dressing until salad components are well coated but not swimming in dressing. You might not need all the dressing.
• Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.

CHEF JOHN'S FRIED GREEN TOMATOES

Steps:

• Place tomato slices onto a rack over a paper towel. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and let slices stand for 15 minutes for the salt to draw out extra juices.
• Mix cornmeal and bread crumbs together in a bowl; stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste. Beat eggs with milk in a separate bowl. Place flour into a third bowl.
• Pat tomato slices dry with paper towels. Lay slices, one at a time, into flour; flip to coat both sides and let slices rest in the flour for about 30 seconds. Remove each slice and dip in egg mixture, then into cornmeal mixture, coating both sides of each slice thoroughly. Spread crumbs onto all sides and into tomato crevices with a fork. Rest tomatoes on rack for 10 minutes to let coating set.
• Combine sweet pickle relish, mayonnaise, and hot sauce in a small bowl to make the remoulade sauce.
• Place a large nonstick skillet over medium heat; heat vegetable oil with butter until butter melts, bubbles, and makes a sizzling sound. Fry tomatoes in the hot butter-oil mixture until tomato slices are slightly soft and coating is golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Use a spatula and a fork to flip.
• Transfer fried green tomatoes to a serving platter and serve with remoulade sauce.

CHARD-TOMATO SAUTE

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet. Add garlic, tomato, and capers; cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Add chard and sliced basil; heat through. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with more oil; top with basil leaves and grated Parmesan.