This Recipe is part of the Hot and Spicy Mediterranean Menu
The combination of orange, chiles, lemon, honey, and mustard make a wonderfully versatile dressing. You can use any combination of fresh and/or steamed vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, and endive, butter lettuce, radishes, or tender spinach leaves in the salad.
Ingredients
Tender and crisp leaves from the heart of a head of romaine lettuce, coarsely chopped
1 small fennel bulb, outer leaves and tops discarded, thinly sliced lengthwise
1 bunch of arugula, coarsely chopped
1 small orange, peeled and sliced
6 to 8 small unsprayed nasturtium leaves and a few flowers (optional)
2 or 3 kumquats, thinly sliced and seeded (optional)
1 large or 2 small beets (about 1/2 pound), boiled or baked, peeled, and sliced
2 to 3 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
Dressing
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground yellow mustard seeds, or 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon honey
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon fruity extra virgin olive oil
2 to 3 tablespoons chopped fresh or pickled chile, to taste
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons grated orange or lemon zest
Directions
1. To make the dressing: mix the orange and lemon juices with the mustard, jelly, and olive oil; beat to combine. Add the chile, salt, pepper, and zest. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
2. In a large bowl, toss together the lettuce, fennel, arugula, and orange slices, adding the nasturtium leaves and kumquats if you’re using them. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the dressing and pour the rest over the greens and toss well. Add the beet slices carefully, because they stain all surrounding ingredients, and drizzle them with the reserved dressing. Sprinkle with the pine nuts, decorate with the nasturtium flowers if you’re using them, and serve immediately.
Serves 6
Recipe excerpted from Mediterranean Hot and Spicy by Aglaia Kremezi. Published by Broadway Books. Copyright 2009 by Aglaia Kremezi. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. Buy the book now!
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