Lemon-Honey Vinaigrette
This lovely vinaigrette is bright with lemon juice, sweet honey and fresh parsley.
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons freshly-squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon fresh parsley
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 garlic clove, pressed
¾ cup olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Whisk together lemon juice, zest, honey, parsley, mustard and garlic in a small bowl.
2. Add oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly until smooth. Use immediately, or chill for a later use. If chilled, allow vinaigrette to come to room temperature again, then whisk again to combine.
Poached Duck Egg Salad with Frizzled Leeks
The lovely runny egg yolk becomes the vinaigrette for this beautiful salad.
Ingredients:
3-4 cups baby lettuce greens
2 duck eggs
2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
2-4 tablespoons olive oil
Freshly-squeezed lemon juice
Frizzled leeks (see recipe)
Method:
1. To poach the eggs, half-fill a medium saucepan with water and bring to the boil. Add a hefty pinch of salt. Meanwhile, crack each egg into it’s own small bowl and add a teaspoon of vinegar to each. Stir the boiling water vigorously with a balloon whisk until you have a whirlpool then immediately (and softly!) slip the egg into the pot. Turn the heat down low, and cook for 3 minutes. Gently lift eggs out of the pot and drain on paper towels.
2. Divide the spinach greens onto two plates, then add a poached egg to each. Season the salads with salt and pepper, then drizzle lightly with olive oil and lemon juice. Top with a generous helping of frizzled leeks. Serves 2, but can easily be doubled or tripled for more portions.
Arugula Pesto
Stash this bright, zippy pesto in your freezer to add to the likes of pastas, soups or even grilled vegetables.
Ingredients:
4 cups arugula
1-2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
1 cup olive oil
½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a food processor, combine the pine nuts, garlic, arugula, Parmesan, and about 1 teaspoon salt and pulse to blend. With the machine running, pour in the olive oil through the food tube in a slow, steady stream and process until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as needed.
Grilled Radicchio with Olive Oil & Sea Salt
These radicchio wedges are wonderful served alongside a grilled entrée.
Ingredients:
1 head Chioggia radicchio
2-4 tablespoons olive oil
4 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
Coarse sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Quarter the radicchio heads lengthwise, leaving the cores intact. Brush the cut sides generously with some of the olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
2. Preheat grill to medium-high and oil the grill rack.
3. Place the radicchio, cut sides down, on the grill and cook, turning frequently, until browned and tender when pierced at the core with a knife, 8 to 12 minutes total. (Close the lid if using a gas grill.)
4. Transfer the radicchio to a platter and drizzle each piece with about ½ teaspoon olive oil and ½ teaspoon vinegar. Season with additional salt and pepper, if desired.
