Bibb Salad With Pickled Onion Fennel And Plums Food

BIBB COBB SALAD

Steps:

• Put the eggs in a small saucepan and cover with cold water by 1-inch. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil for 30 seconds, then take off the heat. Cover and let stand for 8 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water until cool. Crack all over and then peel.
• Put the bacon in a cold skillet and cook, flipping once, over medium heat until crisp, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Transfer the bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Increase the heat to medium-high. Sprinkle the chicken lightly with salt and pepper and add to the bacon drippings in the skillet. Cook, flipping once, until golden brown and cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
• Combine the hard-boiled eggs, 1/3 cup water, the oil, vinegar, mustard, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and any accumulated juice from the cooked chicken in a blender and puree until smooth and creamy. Add more water a little at a time to thin if necessary.
• Crumble or chop the bacon. Cut the chicken into strips. Toss the lettuce with half of the dressing in a large bowl. Top with the chicken, bacon, avocado, tomatoes, and blue cheese. Drizzle with the remaining dressing.

FRIED SCALLOPS WITH BIBB AND FENNEL SALAD

Steps:

• Heat 2 inches vegetable oil (about 3 1/2 cups) in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet until a deep-fry thermometer registers 375 degrees F. Soak the sliced fennel in a bowl of ice water; set aside.
• Toss the scallops with 1/2 cup buttermilk and a pinch of salt and pepper in a bowl; set aside. Make the dressing: Puree the remaining 1/4 cup buttermilk and 2 tablespoons vegetable oil with the parsley, vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a blender until smooth; set aside. Mix the cornmeal, flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a shallow baking dish.
• Drain the scallops from the buttermilk, dredge in the cornmeal mixture to coat and transfer to a plate. Fry the scallops in two batches until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to a rack set on a baking sheet; season with salt. Return the oil to 375 degrees F between batches.
• Drain the fennel and pat dry with paper towels. Combine the fennel, lettuce, radishes and chives in a large bowl. Add the dressing and toss; season with salt and pepper. Divide the salad among bowls and top with the scallops and fennel fronds.

CREAMY BIBB SALAD

Steps:

• Rinse 2 or 3 anchovy fillets, then puree in a blender with a handful each of chopped chives and parsley and the juice of 1 lemon. Add 1/2 cup mayonnaise and 1/2 cup sour cream and blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, then drizzle over Bibb lettuce.

BIBB LETTUCE SALAD

Steps:

• Carefully cut out the core from each head of lettuce and separate the leaves, but keep each head of lettuce together; discard any tough outer leaves. Because each head of lettuce will be reassembled, the easiest way to work is with one head at a time. First, place the leaves in a bowl of cold water to refresh them and remove any dirt, then lift out and spin-dry in a salad spinner.
• Place the leaves from a single head of lettuce in a bowl. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt, a few grinds of pepper, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the shallots and chives, and 1 tablespoon each of the parsley, tarragon, and chervil. Then toss gently with 2 tablespoons of the vinaigrette and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Repeat with the remaining heads.
• For each serving, arrange the outer lettuce leaves as a base on the plate and rebuild each head of lettuce, ending with the smallest, most tender leaves.

ONION-BIBB SALAD

Steps:

• Place chilled, dried greens, onion, and cucumber in a salad bowl. Zigzag a stream of salad oil over, then a mixture of the vinegar and Worcestershire. Sprinkle with salt and sugar. Grind pepper over generously.
• Toss gently and serve.

QUICK-PICKLED VEGETABLE SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare the pickled onions: Set the sliced onion in a small heatproof bowl. Combine the vinegar, sugar, coriander seeds (if using), salt and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high, then pour over onions. Stir to combine, let cool, then transfer onions and brine to a lidded container. Refrigerate until chilled. (Makes about 2/3 cup drained onions. Onions will keep up to 3 weeks.)
• Prepare the salad: In a medium bowl, combine the celery, carrots, olive oil, lemon zest and juice. Season generously with salt and pepper and toss to coat.
• When ready to serve, add the lettuce, radishes (if using) and herbs to a large bowl, season lightly with salt and pepper and gently toss to coat. Using a slotted spoon or tongs, transfer the celery and carrots to the vegetables in the large bowl, leaving the vinaigrette behind in the medium bowl.
• To the vinaigrette, add the mustard, 1/4 cup drained pickled red onions and 4 teaspoons of the pickled red onion brine and stir to combine; season to taste. Add vinaigrette to salad, toss to coat and season. Serve immediately.

SHAVED FENNEL & RADISH SALAD WITH PICKLED PEACHES

Steps:

• First, make the pickled peaches. Put the peach slices in a bowl and set aside. Tip the remaining ingredients into a saucepan with 50ml water and bring to the boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and leave to cool for 10 mins. Pour the mixture over the peaches and leave to pickle for at least 30 mins, or up to a few hours.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the almonds and fennel seeds on a baking tray, drizzle with the rapeseed oil, and sprinkle over the smoked paprika and a little salt. Toss to coat. Bake for 8 mins, or until toasted and slightly crisp.
• Pull away any tough outer leaves from the fennel bulbs (you can keep these to use for stock). Trim the bases, and remove the stems and fronds (again, reserving these for stock, if you like). Slice the bulbs in half along their cores, then lay them, cut-side down, on a chopping board. Very finely slice each half into half-moons, then tip into a bowl and drizzle with the lemon juice. Meanwhile, drain the pickled peach slices.
• Drain the radishes and combine with the fennel and a large pinch of salt. Leave to sit for a few minutes, then stir in the peaches, most of the cheese and half the herbs. Drizzle with the olive oil and scatter over the toasted almonds and fennel seeds. Garnish with the rest of the herbs, and a bit more cheese.