Deconstructed Chicken Caesar Salad Food

PROPER CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD

Steps:

• With my own versions of the classics, like Caesar salad, it's not about changing things entirely; it's about respecting the original while bigging up the flavors and textures where I can. My twists for this salad are to use chicken legs (not dry old breasts!), smoky pancetta and lovely rustic croutons to suck up all the juices. It's a lovely little salad with just a hint of attitude - and it's versatile, as you can serve it hot or cold.
• P.S. Use your imagination - if you have any other unusual salad leaves, flowers or herb shoots lying around, chuck some in to make it look a little less predictable.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place the chicken legs in a snug-fitting roasting pan with the pieces of torn-up bread. Sprinkle with the chopped rosemary, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Mix with your hands to make sure everything is well coated, then lift the chicken legs up to the top, so they sit above the bread. This way, the bread will soak up all the lovely juices from the chicken, giving you the best croutons! Pop the pan into the preheated oven.
• After 45 minutes the chicken should be nicely cooked. Take the pan out of the oven, drape the pancetta or bacon over the chicken and croutons, and put back for another 15 to 20 minutes for everything to crisp up. The chicken legs are ready when you can pinch the meat off the bone easily. When they're cooked, remove the pan from the oven and set it aside for the chicken to cool down slightly.
• Pound the garlic and anchovy fillets in a pestle and mortar or a Flavor Shaker until you have a pulp. Scrape into a bowl and whisk in the Parmesan, creme fraiche, lemon juice and 3 times as much extra-virgin olive oil as lemon juice. Season dressing, to taste, with salt and pepper.
• Pull the chicken meat off the leg bones - you can use 2 forks to do this, or your hands if you're tough like me - and tear it up roughly with the croutons and the bacon. Wash, spin dry and separate the lettuce leaves, tear them up and toss with the chicken, croutons, bacon and creamy, cheesy dressing. Scatter with some Parmesan shavings.
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WARM DECONSTRUCTED CAESAR SALAD

Steps:

• Place water 3 inches deep in a 2- to 3-quart saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add 2 tablespoons vinegar. Break an egg into a teacup and gently slip egg into water. Repeat with remaining eggs. Cook at a very gentle simmer 3 minutes, until white is firmly set. Use a slotted spoon to lift eggs from pan onto a plate lined with paper towel. If desired, use scissors to trim excess strands of white clinging to eggs. Invert a bowl over plate to keep eggs warm.
• Shred lettuce into a salad bowl. Have 4 salad plates ready. Heat a small skillet to medium, add nuts and toast them, stirring. Remove and set aside.
• Add oil to skillet, reduce heat to low, add anchovies and cook, stirring, until they soften and start to fall apart. Whisk in remaining vinegar and the mustard. Pour dressing over lettuce, season with pepper and toss well. Divide salad among plates. Top each portion with a poached egg, scatter nuts and cheese over them, and serve.

DECONSTRUCTED PAN GRILLED CAESAR

Steps:

• Heat grill pan over high heat.
• For the salad, in a small bowl combine olive oil, garlic, a few pinches of salt and about 15 grinds pepper. Cut lettuce heads in half lengthwise and brush with olive oil mixture.
• Grill lettuce until nicely blackened and wilted. Grill in stages if your grill pan isn't large enough to grill in one stage. Transfer lettuce to a serving platter.
• Squeeze lemon over the lettuce. Sprinkle shaved Parmesan over the top, drizzle with the anchovy oil and finish with parsley.