Blood Oranges, Dates, Parmesan, and Almonds
- 1/2 cup raw almonds
- 15 Deglet Noor dates
- 4 large blood oranges
- 1/4-pound hunk Parmigiano-Reggiano
- 2 ounces arugula
- 3 tablespoons pure almond oil
- Fleur de sel and freshly ground black pepper
- Preheat the oven to 375F.
- Spread the almonds on a baking sheet, and toast 8 to 10 minutes, until theyre slightly darkened and smell nutty.
- Cut the dates in half lengthwise and remove the pits.
- Slice the stem and blossom ends from the blood oranges.
- Stand the blood oranges on one end and, following the contour of the fruit with your knife, remove the peel and white cottony pith.
- Work from top to bottom, rotating the fruit as you go.
- Slice each orange thinly, into 8 to 10 pinwheels.
- Place the Parmigiano-Reggiano, flat side down, on a cutting board.
- Using a chefs knife, shave eighteen large thin slices of cheese from the hunk.
- Scatter one-third of the arugula on a large platter.
- Arrange one-third of the oranges, dates, cheese, and nuts.
- Scatter another layer of arugula, and continue layering in the same manner, letting the ingredients intertwine together but not pile up on one another.
- Drizzle the almond oil over the salad, and season lightly with fleur de sel, pepper, and a squeeze of blood orange juice.
- Use an artisanal unfiltered almond oil, such as Huilerie Leblanc (see sources).
- The best nut oils are stone-ground and pressed into a pale brown full-flavored oil.
- If its clear and looks like vegetable oil, it wont have the intense, toasted nut flavor were looking for.
- If you cant find a good pressed nut oil, drizzle with your favorite extra-virgin olive oil instead.
- If blood oranges are out of season, you can use another delicious orange.
- The dish wont be as visually stunning, but it will still taste good.
almonds, deglet, oranges, hunk, arugula, almond oil, fleur
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/blood-oranges-dates-parmesan-and-almonds-391047 (may not work)