I had not planned on posting this salad
this week...or ever, actually. After
all, salads with beets and goat cheese...or pears and blue cheese...are
ubiquitous. But as is almost always the
case when a recipe persists in popularity over the long haul, there is usually
a reason: the original was—and still can
be—truly delicious. Preparing such a
recipe—one that stands up to the original—is always about choosing the best
ingredients...and of course, combining them with care.
I was reminded of this as I prepared a
salad of roasted beets, pears, cheese, nuts and bacon—a combination of these
two aforementioned salads—over the weekend for some dinner clients. The beets were sweet...the pears were
perfectly ripe and juicy....and both were set off to perfection by the
spicy-sweet pecans, crispy bacon and pungent blue cheese. It looked so good to me that I prepared it
for dinner at my house the next night. I
didn't happen to have any blue cheese on hand...but I did have some nice goat
cheese, which made a more than adequate stand in.
This particular salad is from Frank Stitt's Southern Table, and his fondness for the ingredients of his native
south is on full display. Where some add
olives for a salty counterpoint to the sweetness of the beets, he adds
bacon...which also happens to go beautifully with the pears (and blue cheese). And in lieu of the more commonly chosen walnuts, he uses pecans...all dressed up with sugar and spice. I find his
variations to be inspired. And judging
from my clients' enthusiastic enjoyment, so did they. I think you will too. Right now...while beets and pears are in season...is the perfect time to give it a try.
Autumn Salad of Roasted Beets, Pears,
Blue Cheese & Pecans
1 lb. Beets (trimmed weight),
scrubbed & stemmed
Balsamic vinegar, to taste
6 oz. bacon, cut into 1-inch
squares
2 large Bartlett pears or 3 small Seckel pears,
6 handfuls of arugula (about 4 to 6 oz.)
Sherry Vinaigrette (see below)
3/4 c. Toasted pecans or Spiced Pecans
4 to 6 oz. Fourme d'Ambert, Roquefort, Gorgonzola or
Stilton...crumbled, cubed or sliced; Or, you may use crumbled goat cheese
Preheat the oven to 375°. Place the beets in a roasting pan and add
1/4-inch of water. Cover the pan with
foil and roast the beets until they are tender all the way through—about an
hour, depending on the size and age of the beets. When the beets are cool enough to handle
(although they should still be a bit warm), trim the roots and stems off and
gently rub the skins off using a paper towel.
Cut the beets into thin wedges—or halve them and slice them cross-wise—and
toss in balsamic vinegar to taste.
Season with salt & pepper and set aside. (The beets can be made
ahead. Chill until ready to serve.)
Render the bacon until crisp...set aside.
When
ready to serve the salad, quarter and core the pears. Cut each quarter into thin wedges (about the
same thickness as the beet wedges) and toss with a small amount of the
vinaigrette.
In
a similar manner, dress the beets with a small amount of the vinaigrette.
Place
the arugula in a large bowl, season with salt and pepper and drizzle with just
enough of the vinaigrette to lightly coat.
Toss well. Arrange half to
two-thirds of the beets, pears, bacon, pecans and cheese on the plates. Divide the arugula among the plates. Arrange the remaining beets, pears, bacon,
pecans and cheese attractively over the greens (some on top and some nestled in
among the lettuces). Serves 6.
Sherry Vinaigrette:
2 T. Sherry vinegar
1 small shallot, finely diced
Salt & Pepper
6 T. olive oil
In a small bowl, combine the vinegar and shallot. Season to taste with salt & pepper and
set aside for a few moments to allow the shallot to soften. Gradually whisk in the oil, adding it in a
thin stream. Taste and correct the
seasoning and the vinegar balance.
(Recipe adapted from Frank Stitt's Southern Table)
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