Sardine And Watercress Salad With Shredded Potato Cake Food

MOM'S POTATO WATERCRESS SALAD

Steps:

• Quarter potatoes and place in a medium saucepan, cover with water, and place over high heat to bring water to a boil. Boil potatoes until just tender, 10 minutes. Drain and return to warm sauce pan. Drizzle potatoes with a touch of oil and let stand 5 minutes in warm pot to dry them out.
• Transfer cooked potatoes to a bowl. Combine yogurt, oil, and horseradish and pour over potatoes. Coarsely chop the leafy tops of watercress and add to the mixing bowl with potatoes. Sprinkle a little coarse salt over the bowl and toss salad to coat evenly. Adjust salt to your taste and serve at room temperature.

SARDINE AND WATERCRESS SALAD WITH SHREDDED POTATO CAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl whisk together the vinegar, the mustard, and salt and pepper to taste, add the oil in a stream, whisking, and whisk in the water. Peel the potato, grate it coarse, and squeeze it between several thicknesses of paper towels to remove any excess moisture.
• In a non-stick skillet measuring 6 inches across the bottom heat 1/2 tablespoon of the butter over moderately high heat until the foam subsides, add half the potato, tamping it down with a spatula, and cook the potato cake, shaking the skillet frequently to keep the potato from sticking, for 6 minutes, or until the underside is golden and crisp. Turn the potato cake, cook it for 6 minutes more, or until the underside is golden and crisp, and transfer it to a plate. Make a second potato cake in the same manner with the remaining butter and potato and transfer it to another plate. In a bowl toss the watercress with 3 tablespoons of the dressing and spoon the remaining dressing around the potato cakes. Arrange the onion, drained well, the watercress, and the sardines decoratively on the potato cakes.

GOAT CHEESE AND POTATO CAKES WITH WATERCRESS-AND-ENDIVE SALAD

Steps:

• To make the cakes, place the soft goat cheese in a food processor and process until smooth. Transfer the cheese to a large bowl and add the potatoes and bread crumbs; mix until smooth. Add 1/4 cup of the grated cheese, scallions, parsley and nutmeg and toss with a fork until combined. Season to taste with salt and a few grinds of pink peppercorns.
• Using your hands, form the mixture into balls about the size of golf balls. (You should have about 12.) Flatten the balls into disks about 1/2-inch thick. Place the ground pecans on a plate and coat each disk with pecans. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the oil. Add the potato cakes and cook until nicely browned (lower the heat if the nuts begin to burn), about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and keep warm.
• To make the salad, whisk together the vinegar, olive oil, shallots, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Place the watercress and endive in the bowl and toss to coat. Add the remaining grated cheese and toss again.
• Divide the salad between 4 plates and top each with a few warm potato cakes and serve immediately.

POTATO AND WATERCRESS SALAD

Steps:

• Remove and discard eyes and any damaged parts of potatoes, but do not peel them. Rinse well under cold water, place in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil over high heat; then, reduce heat to medium. Boil gently until potatoes are tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Drain any water from the potatoes, and spread them out in a gratin dish to cool. When cool enough to handle, cut the unpeeled potatoes into 1/2-inch slices. Spread the slices out in a single layer, so they are less likely to break, in the gratin dish.
• Trim the watercress stems, removing about 2 inches, and set the trimmings aside for a soup, perhaps. Wash the trimmed watercress and dry thoroughly. There should be about 4 cups.
• Mix the remaining ingredients together in a bowl large enough to hold the finished salad. Do not worry if these dressing ingredients separate. The mixture should not be emulsified.
• At serving time, add the potatoes and watercress to the dressing in the bowl, and toss lightly but thoroughly. Serve immediately, as the watercress tends to wilt quickly once it is combined with the dressing.