Dressed Baby Gem Salad Recipes

LITTLE GEM SALAD WITH LEMON CREAM AND HAZELNUTS

Steps:

• Boost the Cream:
• Combine garlic and cream in a small bowl. Season with salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cover and chill 1 hour.
• Go Nuts:
• Toast the hazelnuts on a rimmed baking sheet in a 350° oven, tossing occasionally, until golden, 8-10 minutes. Let cool; coarsely chop.
• Veg Out:
• Thinly slice the carrots lengthwise on a mandoline and separate leaves from lettuce.
• Get Dressed:
• Strain the infused cream into a medium bowl and add the oil. Whip to very soft peaks, then whisk in 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Taste and season with more salt and pepper if needed.
• Bring It Home:
• Toss the carrots, lettuce, mint leaves, and half of hazelnuts with remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice in a large bowl; season with salt and pepper. Add a few dollops of lemon cream and gently toss to coat. Spoon remaining lemon cream onto a platter and mound salad over. Top with cheese, remaining hazelnuts, and some cracked pepper and flaky sea salt.

LITTLE GEM SALAD WITH GARLICKY ALMOND DRESSING

Steps:

• Remove wilted exterior leaves from each head of lettuce. Cut stems from the lettuce heads, separate leaves and swish in a large basin of cold water, letting any sand or dirt sink to the bottom. Lift the leaves from the water and transfer to a colander. Shake away excess water. Wrap in kitchen towels to dry or use a salad spinner.
• Make the dressing: Put almonds, vinegar and garlic in a small bowl. Whisk in the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
• Put leaves in a wide salad bowl. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Dress lightly just before serving, using 2 or 3 tablespoons of dressing and coating leaves well. Taste and add more dressing as necessary. Store any remaining dressing in refrigerator for up to 3 days.

DRESSED LITTLE GEMS

Steps:

• Mix the oil and vinegar with a generous pinch of salt (preferably flakes) to make the dressing.
• Pack the lettuce into a plastic food container with ice to keep it fresh. Take the dressing and cheese into smaller containers. Arrange the lettuce on a platter, drizzle with the dressing and scatter with the cheese.

BABY GREENS WITH A WARM GORGONZOLA DRESSING

Steps:

• Place the bacon in a large, deep skillet, and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon slices on a paper towel-lined plate; crumble and set aside.
• Combine the olive oil, red wine vinegar, white sugar, salt, garlic, and Gorgonzola cheese in a blender; blend until smooth. Pour the dressing into a small saucepan over medium-low heat and warm gently.
• Toss the baby greens, almonds, and crumbled bacon together in a salad bowl; drizzle dressing over salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

CHICKEN PAILLARD WITH GEM SALAD AND TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• For the paillard: On a rubber board, butterfly the breasts by cutting into and across them horizontally but not all the way through and opening them like a book. Evenly pound the chicken to 1/4 inch thickness and season with salt and fine ground black pepper.
• For the salad: Melt butter in a small (6-inch) skillet over moderate heat and add nuts. Toast, stirring occasionally, to golden and fragrant, then remove from heat, cool and chop.
• Grate or finely paste or paste shallot and garlic and place in a small mixing bowl, then add tarragon, vinegar, Dijon mustard, lemon and salt and pepper. Drizzle in EVOO as you whisk to emulsify the dressing.
• Very thinly slice fennel with a knife, mandoline or wide tooth of a box grater, then use a vegetable peeler, to shave carrot into curls. Combine the fennel and carrot with lettuce in a salad bowl.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high to high heat with neutral oil, 2 turns of the pan. Add the chicken breast or breasts, cooking together or one at a time depending on pan size, turning once, about 5 minutes or until golden and just cooked through.
• Dress salad.
• Place chicken on dinner plates and top with salad, exposing half the paillard, then top with chopped butter-toasted nuts.

DRESSED BABY GEM SALAD

Steps:

• Put the lettuce leaves in a bowl.
• For the dressing: mix together the vinegar, oil, mustard powder, salt and pepper.
• Drizzle the dressing over the gem salad and serve.