Tri Colore Salad With Frico Crackers And Caesar Vinaigrette Recipes

THREE COLOR SALAD: INSALATA TRI COLORE

Steps:

• Coarsely chop hearts of romaine; shred radicchio; thinly slice endive lengthwise. Combine greens in a salad bowl.
• Pour olive oil into a microwave safe dish. Add shallots to oil and place oil in microwave. Heat oil and shallots for 30 seconds on high. Remove from microwave and let stand 5 minutes. (Oil and shallots may be heated over low heat on the stovetop in a small pan for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand until cool.) Pour oil and shallots in a bowl and whisk in 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar. Drizzle vinaigrette over salad and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper, to your taste.

CAESAR VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Stir the white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, lemon zest, sugar, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper together in a bowl. Gradually whisk in the olive oil to make an emulsion, or thickened vinaigrette mixture. Stir in the garlic. Add the Parmesan cheese just before serving.

TRI-COLORE SALAD WITH FRICO CRACKERS AND CAESAR VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• To make the dressing: Chop and smear the garlic with the anchovies and salt until you create a smooth paste. Add the paste to a small bowl. Add the vinegar, mustard, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and lots of pepper. Mix well. Whisk in the olive oil gradually. Add the cheese and whisk again. Set the dressing aside for 1 hour or longer (if overnight, refrigerate the dressing and bring it to room temperature about 1 hour before serving). Makes about 1 cup. (You can put all of the ingredients into a jar, cover tightly with a lid and shake to blend. This is a great way to store the dressing.) To make the crackers: Heat an 8-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle 6 tablespoons of the cheese into the pan so it forms a lace-thin layer that fills the bottom of the skillet. The cheese will bubble in the pan. When the top side of the cheese has reached a pale gold color, after 3 to 4 minutes, remove the pan from the heat and allow the cheese to firm up for 1 minute. Carefully turn the cheese over with a spatula, return to heat, and cook until cheese is golden on both sides, about 1 more minute. Remove the cracker and drain it on paper towels to absorb any excess fat. Wipe the skillet clean with paper towels and repeat the process 5 more times with the remaining cheese. In a large bowl combine the endive, radicchio, and arugula. Drizzle enough dressing over the top to lightly coat the leaves (you may not need all the dressing). Toss to coat the leaves evenly. Arrange the leaves on serving plates. Sprinkle a bit of Parmesan over each salad. Split each cracker into 2 or 3 pieces and garnish the salads with them. Serve immediately.