Provencal Salad Recipes

TRICOLORE SALAD WITH ORANGES

Steps:

• Place the shallots in a small shallow bowl and pour the vinegar over them. Set aside for 10 minutes to macerate.
• In a large shallow serving bowl, combine the radicchio, endive, arugula, oranges, and olives. Lift the shallots from the vinegar with a slotted spoon, sprinkle them on the salad, and toss lightly (discard the vinegar).
• In a 1-cup glass measuring cup, whisk together the lemon juice, mustard, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. While whisking, slowly add the olive oil. Pour enough of the vinaigrette over the salad to moisten well. Sprinkle with one more teaspoon salt, toss well, and taste for seasonings. Serve at room temperature.

CRISPY-SKIN SALMON PROVENCAL WITH CHARRED RED CABBAGE SALAD

Steps:

• Brush 1 tablespoon Dijon all over the flesh side of each piece of salmon, then sprinkle each with salt, pepper and 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence.
• Heat a large nonstick pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Place the salmon in the pan skin-side down and let it sizzle until the skin is golden brown and crispy, 6 to 7 minutes. Gently flip with a fish spatula. Add 1 tablespoon butter to the pan and let the salmon cook until the flesh is golden brown and the internal temperature is 130 degrees F, 2 to 3 minutes more. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and the lemon juice, then remove from the heat. Serve the salmon on top of the Charred Cabbage Salad. Spoon the lemon pan sauce over the salmon and garnish with the crispy onions.
• Preheat the grill or a grill pan for cooking at high heat.
• Drizzle the cabbage and onion liberally with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill the cabbage and onion until the cabbage is slightly wilted and super charred and the onion is soft and charred, about 5 minutes per side. Remove from the grill and set aside to cool until cool enough to handle. Remove the stems of the cabbage and roughly chop the cabbage; transfer to a medium bowl. Roughly chop the onion and add to the bowl along with the olives, red pepper, orange segments and juice, lemon juice, olive oil and salt and pepper. Toss to combine and adjust seasoning if necessary.

PROVENCAL PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, shallot, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl.
• Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool; add to the bowl with the dressing.
• Add the artichokes, basil, red peppers, olives and tomatoes to the bowl and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. The pasta salad is best if served right away.

FRENCH POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Drop the white and red potatoes into a large pot of boiling salted water and cook for 20 to 30 minutes, until they are just cooked through. Drain in a colander and place a towel over the potatoes to allow them to steam for 10 more minutes. As soon as you can handle them, cut in 1/2 (quarters if the potatoes are larger) and place in a medium bowl. Toss gently with the wine and chicken stock. Allow the liquids to soak into the warm potatoes before proceeding.
• Combine the vinegar, mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and slowly whisk in the olive oil to make an emulsion. Add the vinaigrette to the potatoes. Add the scallions, dill, parsley, basil, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and toss. Serve warm or at room temperature.

PROVENCAL ROAST BEEF SALAD SANDWICH

Steps:

• Split rolls in half and score them with a sharp knife to make craters for dressing to seep into.
• Make dressing with olive paste, Dijon mustard, lemon juice and olive oil. Season with olive oil.
• Spoon dressing into rolls, top with roast beef, sliced tomato and sprigs of parsley. Drizzle on more dressing and top with pimiento.

PROVENCAL BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring 4 cups water to a boil. Add green and wax beans; cover and cook for 3 minutes. Drain and immediately place beans in ice water. Drain and pat dry., Place the beans, tomatoes, kidney beans and olives in a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk the remaining ingredients; pour over salad and toss to coat.

COD PROVENçAL

Steps:

• Neatly trim the cod fillets. Score the skin of each fillet 3-4 times at regular intervals. Lay the fish in a shallow dish and sprinkle both sides of the fillets with the salt and some freshly ground black pepper. Set aside or chill overnight, see box, far right.
• Deseed and finely slice the peppers, then finely grate the garlic and lemon zest over the peppers. Carefully slice the fennel on a mandolin, or as finely as possible with a sharp knife, then tip half the fennel into a bowl of iced water and set aside.
• Brush the salt off the fish or, if it has dissolved, wipe the brine off with kitchen paper. Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a large non-stick pan, cook the fish, skin side down, for 4 mins until the skin is crisp and browned, then remove from the pan.
• Put 1 tbsp more oil into the pan. Fry the fennel and the marinated peppers together for 4-5 mins until soft and starting to brown. Throw in the tomatoes and the balsamic vinegar, then continue to cook for 2-3 mins until they soften and release their juices. Scatter over the olives, capers and herbs, then toss everything together.
• Nestle the fish fillets, skin side up, among the vegetables, then lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 5-6 mins until the fish is just cooked through. Lift the fish from the pan and give the sauce a final simmer and stir, then turn off the heat. This dish is better served warm rather than hot, so don't worry about the vegetables or fish resting before you serve.
• Drain the reserved fennel and pat dry with kitchen paper. Toss with the juice from half the grated lemon, 2 tbsp olive oil and the anchovies. To serve, spoon the vegetables into the middle of two large dinner plates. Sit the cod, skin side up, on top of the vegetables and top with a neat bundle of fennel salad. Drizzle everything with a touch more oil, then scatter with the small basil leaves.