Salad Of Spring Mesclun Blossoms And Wild Greens With Lovage Allium Dressing Recipes

MESCLUN WITH PROSCIUTTO GRISSINI

Steps:

• Wrap each grissini in a piece of prosciutto, on a slight diagonal to cover as much of the breadstick as possible. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, mix the shallot, mustard, vinegar, salt, and pepper together. Gradually whisk in the oil in a slow stream. Place the mesclun greens and fennel in a large bowl and toss evenly with the dressing. Distribute among 4 serving plates and sprinkle with pine nuts.
• Take 2 prepared grissini and place them on top of each salad forming an "x". Serve immediately.
• Cook's Note: Grissini are pencil-thin breadsticks that can found at specialty and Italian food markets.

WILD DANDELION GREENS WITH SHAVED FENNEL AND LEMON-HONEY VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Whisk together the lemon zest and juice, vinegar and some salt and pepper in a small bowl until the salt dissolves. Whisk in the honey, then slowly whisk in the oil until emulsified.
• Combine the dandelion greens, fennel and onion in a large bowl. Drizzle some of the dressing around the sides of the bowl and then gently push and toss the greens to coat. Season with some salt and pepper and toss again gently. Serve immediately.

BANANA BLOSSOM SALAD

Steps:

• Peel off and discard the tough, old outer layers (called bracts) of the banana blossom. Use a Japanese mandolin with the thinnest setting and cut into fine julienne strips; immediately plunge into large bowl of cold water and the white vinegar. When ready to prepare the salad, remove the julienne strips and shake off the tiny white buds (chopped up baby buds). Rinse and drain. Squeeze dry of the excess water. Place 4 cups well-packed strips into a bowl. Add the White Vinaigrette and toss for a few seconds. Pour off the excess liquid.
• In a separate bowl, toss the shredded chicken with salt, pepper, and lime juice. Add the grapefruit, rau rum, and chili fish sauce and mix together thoroughly.
• To serve, mound the salad equally onto 4 separate plates. Top each salad with 1 tablespoon crispy shallot flakes and 1 tablespoon chopped peanuts. Serve immediately.
• Mix all ingredients together in a medium bowl until the sugar and salt are dissolved. Set aside.

MESCLUN GREENS WITH TOASTED PECANS, SHAVED BRAISED ARTICHOKES, TOSSED IN A ROASTED SHALLOT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Toss the greens with the shallot vinaigrette ina large bowl and season with salt and pepper. Divide the greensequally onto 4 chilled salad plates. Sprinkle the pecans evenlyover each salad and thinly shave 1/2 of each artichoke over eachsalad using a Japanese mandoline.
• In a small skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Thinly slice the shallot and saute it in the pan until it begins to brown slightly. Remove the pan from the heat and place the cooked shallot in a blender. Add the white wine vinegar and puree the mixture. Slowly drizzle in the remaining olive oil in a steady stream while the blender is running. When all of the oil is incorporated, season with salt and pepper. Yield: 1 cup
• Start by preparing the braising liquid. Combine the flour, lemon juice, oil and salt in a medium saucepan. Add the water and whisk vigorously to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-low heat and cover. To prepare the artichokes: take each artichoke and starting from the bottom, tear off the leaves until you come halfway up the artichoke, rubbing the exposed areas with the cut lemon as you go to prevent it from oxidizing. At this point turn the artichoke on its side and cut off the remaining top inch of leaves with a serrated knife. Cut the artichoke in half lengthwise and scrape out all of the fuzz that sits on top of the heart. Keep rubbing the artichoke with lemon as you work. Finally trim off any more tough leaves and green spots anywhere else on the artichoke. Drop them into the simmering braising liquid. Simmer covered for about 20 minutes or until a paring knife easily slides into the artichoke heart. Cool the heart in the cooking liquid and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

SALAD OF SPRING MESCLUN, BLOSSOMS, AND WILD GREENS, WITH LOVAGE-ALLIUM DRESSING

Steps:

• Toss greens, herbs, and blossoms together with plenty of snipped chives and lovage leaves. (Tear larger leaves to bite size pieces. A kitchen scissors works well to snip lovage and herbs down to size). Combine dry and liquid dressing ingredients, to taste, in a glass cruet and shake thoroughly before sprinkling over salad greens.

MESCLUN SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk together lemon juice, mustard, sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl until salt and sugar are dissolved, then add oil in a slow stream, whisking until emulsified.
• Add greens to dressing and toss to coat. Serve immediately.