Frisee Salad with Lardons
- 3/4 pound lean slab bacon, cut into 1/2-inch dice
- 2 cups diced baguette (1/2 inch)
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 8 large eggs
- Peanut or vegetable oil
- 3 large shallots, thinly sliced
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 2 large garlic cloves, chopped
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- Two 1-pound heads frisee, leaves torn into bite-size pieces
- In a large skillet, cook half the bacon over moderate heat until just crisp, 4 to 5 minutes.
- Transfer the bacon to a bowl and repeat with the remaining bacon.
- Pour all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat into a small glass measuring cup.
- Reheat the bacon fat in the skillet.
- Add the diced baguette and cook over moderately high heat, stirring a few times, until crisp, about 4 minutes.
- Transfer the croutons to a plate to cool.
- Toss in the bowl with the bacon.
- Bring a large skillet of water to a boil.
- Add the white wine vinegar.
- Break 1 of the eggs into a small cup and slide the egg into the water.
- Repeat with 3 more eggs.
- Simmer over moderate heat until the whites are firm and the yolks are soft, about 3 minutes.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer the poached eggs to a large platter lined with paper towels.
- Repeat with the remaining eggs.
- Keep the poaching water at a low simmer.
- Measure the reserved bacon fat into a large skillet.
- Add enough peanut oil to equal 1/3 cup.
- Add the shallots, season generously with salt and pepper and cook over low heat until softened, about 3 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Whisk in the red wine vinegar and remove the dressing from the heat.
- Return the poached eggs to the simmering water to reheat for 30 to 40 seconds.
- Bring the dressing back to a simmer over low heat.
- Add the frisee to the bacon and croutons in the bowl, add the hot dressing and toss well.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Mound the salad in serving bowls or on plates and top each with a poached egg.
- Serve at once.
lean, baguette, white wine vinegar, eggs, peanut, shallots, salt, garlic, red wine vinegar
Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/frisee-salad-with-lardons (may not work)