I haven’t posted anything in several weeks. My excuse has been the never-ending kitchen remodel. I’m able to use the kitchen, but still waiting for a window to be built and the painting to be finished. Then, I’ll be able to finish moving back in and clear out what’s stacked around the house. Whinging aside, I found a new recipe for a White Salad that is so good I couldn’t wait to share it.
If you use a mandoline, the salad prep comes together quickly. While roasting the parsnips, you have plenty of time to make the dressing and to prep other dishes for your meal. I served this salad along side roasted green beans and mushroom caps with their roasting liquor intact and a simple grilled steak. The salad was the star of this meal, so it got the photo! The salad is bitter, tart, tad salty all balanced with sweetness from the parsnips and dressing. It is a delightful medley of taste sensations.
White Salad from Camille Becerra
The natural bitterness of the endive and tart raw turnips are balanced by sweet roasted parsnips and a tad of sugar in the dressing.
4 Servings
Ingredints
4 parsnips (about 1 pound total), scrubbed and sliced 1/8 inch thick crosswise on a mandoline
1 teaspoon agave syrup
1/2 cup vegetable oil, divided
Kosher salt
1/2 tsp chili powder, divided (I used a few shakes)
3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp sugar
4 small Belgian endives, leaves separated (I sliced the heads at 1/2 inch intervals)
4 small white turnips, trimmed and thinly sliced on a mandoline
4 oz blue cheese, shaved with a peeler (I used crumbles)
1/4 chopped roasted pistachios
Flaky sea salt for finishing
Method
Preheat oven to 400. Toss parsnips with agave and 1/4 cup oil on a rimmed baking sheet; season with Kosher salt and half of chili powder. Roast, turning once, until parsnips are tender when pierced with a paring knife, but haven’t taken on any color, about 10 minutes, depending on thickness of slices.
Meanwhile, whisk lemon juice, sugar, remaining chili powder and remaining 1/4 cup oil in a small bowl until sugar dissolves’ season dressing with Kosher salt.
Toss parsnips, endive leaves, turnips and among plates. Drizzle with dressing (save any extra for another salad) top with blue cheese and pistachios and season with finishing salt.