Spring Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette
Servings
4
Active Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
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Spring Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette
Say goodbye to the white, gray tones of winter and welcome in the vibrant green vegetables of spring with this seasonal Spring Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette. It works perfectly as a side dish to accompany a meal for four or works great as a entree for two. No matter how you choose to serve it, this is a great way to toast the beginning of spring and the end of winter!
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 1 small bunch of asparagus
- About a half cup of snow peas
- 1 14oz can of artichoke hearts, drained
- A head of butter lettuce
- One bunch of watercress
- 2 radishes
- Parmesan shavings, optional
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon champagne vinegar
- The juice of a lemon
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon brown mustard
- Salt & Pepper to taste
For the Vinaigrette
Directions
1. Start by bringing a gallon or so of water to a boil. Add a tablespoon of salt to the water. While the water is heating up, make the vinaigrette and cut the vegetables.
2. Smash a garlic clove on a cutting board using the broad side of your knife and then run your knife through the garlic several times to mince it. Combine the garlic, champagne vinegar, lemon juice and mustard into a small mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Using a whisk, stir rapidly while slowly pouring in the olive oil until it is emulsified. Add a pinch of garlic and some black pepper. Set aside.
3. Trim off the fibrous ends of the asparagus and then cut them in half. Inspect the snow peas, tear off any remaining stems and then combine with asparagus. Fill a medium mixing bowl with ice water and set aside.
4. Once the water is bowling, blanch the asparagus and snow peas by tossing into the boiling water. Wait two to three minutes and use a slotted spoon or spider to transfer the vegetables from the boiling water to the bowl of ice water. Stir until the vegetables are thoroughly chilled and then drain.
5. Thinly slice the radishes or use a mandolin. Drain the can of artichoke hearts and lightly rinse the hearts as sometimes the water it is stored in can taste metallic. Carefully cut the hearts into quarters. Set aside.
6. Trim off any thick stems from the watercress. Tear off large pieces of the butter lettuce from the head. Combine the lettuce and watercress into a strainer and rinse thoroughly with cold water. Pat dry with paper towels or use a salad spinner (preferred) to dry the leaves.
7. In a large salad bowl, combine all ingredients along with the vinaigrette and a pinch of salt and black pepper. Lightly toss to combine and coat everything in the vinaigrette and then top with parmesan shavings. Serve immediately.
