Beet, Blood Orange, Walnut, and Rocket Salad

[Guest guest]

Beet, Blood Orange, Walnut, and Rocket Salad

Alice Waters

Ingredients for 6 Servings:

 

For the Beets:

2 1/2 pounds fresh beets

1 cup water

Salt and freshly ground pepper

 

 

For the Vinaigrette Dressing:

3 blood oranges (or regular oranges)

1 large shallot

Salt

1/4 cup sherry wine vinegar

1/2 cup excellent extra virgin olive oil

 

For Serving:

2 bunches rocket (arugula), washed and dried

1/2 cup walnut halves (toasted at 325 F for 8 to 10

minutes)

 

Special Equipment Suggested:

An 8- by 10-inch baking dish

A small-holed grater

A juicer

A serving platter

 

Preparing the Beets - 1 hour:

Preheat the oven to 375 F. Wash the beets and cut away

the tops and tails. Place in the baking dish, pour in

water, and cover tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for

45 minutes to 1 hour (or longer), until the beets are

tender enough to be pierced easily with a toothpick or

small knife. Remove foil, let the beets cool, and then

peel them over the sink (their skins will rub off

easily). Slice the beets thin; season with salt and

pepper.

 

Preparing the Oranges:

Grate the zest (orange part of peel) of 1 orange into

a small bowl, being careful not to include any white

pith. Cut the orange in half and squeeze the juice

from one half into the grated zest (set the second

half aside in case you need it later). From both ends

of the 2 remaining oranges, cut slices deep enough to

expose the flesh. Stand each orange on end and neatly

slice off strips of skin and pith, from top to bottom,

all around, to expose the naked flesh. Cut oranges

into thin slices and set aside for the salad.

 

The Vinaigrette:

Peel the shallot, cut into fine dice, and stir at once

into the orange juice and zest. Add salt. Whisk the

vinegar and then the oil into the bowl. Taste

carefully and determine if more oil or vinegar is

needed, or juice from the reserved orange half. The

sauce should be on the acidic side, to balance the

sweetness of the oranges and beets.

 

Serving:

Arrange the rocket on the platter. Spoon a few

tablespoons of vinaigrette over the beets, toss to

coat evenly, and then place artfully on the rocket.

Lay orange slices around the platter and scatter

walnuts over the top. Spoon on enough vinaigrette to

coat the salad. Serve immediately.

 

 

 

=====

Language is an expression of thought. Everytime you speak, your mind is on

ParadeMark 12: 30,31

 

 

 

Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax

http://taxes./