Recipes
- Butter Lettuce Salad with Honey Walnuts, Blue Cheese and Ver Jus Honey Vinaigrette
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- Servings:
- Prep Time: min
- Cook Time: min
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- Chef Collection
- Ingredients
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For the Honey Walnuts
2 1/2 cups California walnut halves or large pieces
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup honey
Canola oil for deep frying
For the Ver Jus Vinaigrette
1/2 cup ver jus
1/2 tablespoon chopped shallot
1/2 teaspoon salt
Pinch of black pepper
1/4 cup honey
1 cup olive oil
For the Salad Assemble:
2 heads (about 10 ounces) butter lettuce, trimmed, cleaned, and torn into large pieces
Half of a large Granny Smith apple cut in fine julienne (matchstick-like strips)
1/2 cup ver jus vinaigrette
4 slices (1 oz. each) blue cheese
4 tablespoons coarsely chopped honey walnuts
12-16 California walnut halves, for garnish
- Directions
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- To make the honey walnuts, put the walnuts in a saucepan, cover with water, and bring to a boil, and drain. Cover again with water, bring to a boil, and drain. Add the sugar and honey to the saucepan with the drained walnuts, stir to combine, then add just enough water to cover the walnuts (about 1 cup). Bring to a boil again, and reduce heat to simmer until the liquid has reduced to a syrup-like consistency; it will also become darker, but don’t let it burn. This can take approximately 30 minutes. Drain the walnuts well, then spread on a plate. As they begin to cool, separate the walnuts so they do not stick together.
- In a heavy pan or deep fryer, heat about 2 inches of canola oil to 375ºF. Carefully immerse the walnuts into the oil, and fry for 1 1/2 minutes or until the nuts turn a light toasted color. Do this in three or four batches, if necessary, so the nuts are not crowded in the oil. As the nuts are done, spread them on a plate to cool (not on cloth or paper towels, as they might stick).
- To make the ver jus vinaigrette, combine the ver jus, shallot, salt, pepper and honey in a food processor fitted with the metal blade, and blend. With the machine still running slowly pour in the olive oil; the dressing will form a smooth emulsion. Transfer to a clean jar for storage.
- To assemble the salad, in a large bowl, toss the butter lettuce and apple together with the vinaigrette. Divide the dressed greens among 4 serving plates. Top each salad with a slice of blue cheese and 1 tablespoon honey walnuts, then garnish with a few walnut halves.
Nutrition
- Calories:
- Total Fat: g
- Saturated Fat: g
- Monounsaturated Fat: g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: g
- Trans Fat g
- Cholesterol: mg
- Sodium: mg
- Total Carbohydrate: g
- Dietary Fiber: g
- Protein: g
