Cook The Book: Roasted Beet Salad With Walnut Dressing And Cheese Crisps
- 3 to 4 small red and/or golden beets, tops removed, washed
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning
- 1/4 cup sherry vinegar or Banyuls vinegar (see note)
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh tarragon leaves
- 1 bunch baby dandelion greens, stems removed, leaves rinsed and cut into bite-size
- (about 6 cups or 6 ounces of greens)
- 1 bunch rainbow chard, stems removed, leaves rinsed and cut into bite-size pieces
- Cheese Crisps (recipe follows)
- Preheat the oven to 350u0b0F.
- Cut a piece of aluminum foil about 12 inches square. On one half of the square, place the beets, 2 tablespoons olive oil, water, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/8 teaspoon of the pepper. Fold the opposite side of the foil over to cover the beets, and seal all the edges tightly to form a packet. Place the packet on a baking sheet, transfer it to the oven, and cook until the beets are tender, about 45 minutes. (The beets are done when a paring knife is easily inserted into the middle.) Remove the packet from the oven and set it aside, unopened, for about 10 minutes.
- Remove the beets from the foil packet. When the beets are cool enough to handle, gently rub off the skin, using a paper towel. Slice the beets into 1/4-inch thick rounds (use a mandoline if you have one), and set aside.
- Combine the vinegar, shallot, honey, mustard, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/8 teaspoon pepper in a blender, and mix well. While the blender is still running, add the oil in a slow, steady stream, blending until the vinaigrette is emulsified. Transfer the dressing to a mixing bowl, and stir in the walnuts and tarragon.
- Place the dandelion greens and the chard in a large bowl. Pour 2 tablespoons (or more to taste) of the dressing over the greens, and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Toss to coat. In a separate mixing bowl, toss the sliced beets in 1 tablespoon of the dressing, and season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Divide the greens among four to six serving plates, and garnish with the sliced beets and the Cheese Crisps. If desired, spoon more dressing over each salad.
- Banyuls vinegar is made from Banyuls wine, which is a fortified wine from southern France and is considered to be the French version of port. Banyuls vinegar has a sweet and nutty flavor, which is generally thought to be milder than red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar. It tastes something like a cross between balsamic vinegar and sherry vinegar and either can be used as a good substitute. Banyuls vinegar can be found in specialty markets.
- Preheat the oven to 350u0b0F. Line a baking sheet with a Silpat, or parchment paper.
- Spacing them 1 to 2 inches apart, place 1-tablespoon mounds of the cheese on the Silpat. Place the baking sheet in the oven and cook until the cheese melts and turns golden brown, about 7 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and set aside to cool on the baking sheet. Use the crisps as a garnish for soups and salads.
red andor, olive oil, water, salt, freshly ground black pepper, sherry vinegar, shallot, honey, dijon mustard, walnuts, tarragon, dandelion, chard
Taken from www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/07/roasted-beet-salad-with-walnut-dressing-and-cheese-crisps-recipe.html (may not work)