This make enough for two to four people at lunch. Depends how greedy you are ( We are very greedy!) It is not original, but this is my version. Easy to expand for more people. As carnivores, we often also serve a plate of sliced French cured sausage, or a pot of rillettes ( Sort of spread made from cooked salted pork).
Ingredients:
1. Walnuts - preferably fresh from shells - but otherwise from a packet of broken pieces - don't pay more for whole pieces. About a small handful. If shelling, need to break them into small pieces.
2. Approx 100gm (4 ounces) Roquefort cheese. Roquefort is a creamy French blue cheese made from ewes milk. ('Brebis' is the French for an ewe - aka " the wife of the sheep" as explained to me by a patient lady cheese seller in our local market some 20 years ago!)
3. A decent quantity of the best salad leaves. We use two thirds green - usually curly - to one third red oak leaf ('chene'). We buy them from local growers in the open air market and wash and prepare them ourseleves. But any flatish leaves would do. Or just buy a packet of French style leaves from the supermarket.
4. Dressing: one tablespoon of Balsamic vinegar; one teaspoonful of Dijon mustard ( preferably with mustard seeds), mix together. Then add four or five tablespoons ( taste to decide) of olive oil and mix. Yum.
5. Knob of butter
Method:
1.Put dressing in bottom of large salad bowl - you may not need all of it if only using small quantity of leaves.
2.Add washed leaves - do not toss yet.
3. Chop cheese into small pieces and add to top of leaves.
4. Take frying pan and put on low heat - add butter - allow to froth ( not burn) then throw in walnut pieces. Shake pan until coated in butter and saute gently until walnuts are toasted - lovely almost caramelly smell - but don't burn!
5. Throw toasted walnuts onto top of salad. Take to table and toss so dressing, cheese and walnuts are nicely mixed.
Serve with fresh French bread and unsalted butter. And a glass of chilled French rose wine.
Yum.
japaneseboats
4 Comments
im fookin drooling here *S* thanks so much
i love balsamic vinegar by the way!
*S*
the best thing in the summertime is a fresh salad :)
Hey you know AdGuy always gets the last word! ;)