Toasted Almond Vinaigrette Food

ALMOND VINAIGRETTE DRESSING

Steps:

• Pour the vinegar into a large bowl with the salt and pepper. Beat with a small whisk until the salt has dissolved.
• Gradually beat in the olive oil until the dressing is well blended. Taste for sharpness. If the dressing is too sharp, beat in the water a little at a time until it suits your taste. Set aside.
• Dry roast the sliced almonds in a heavy frying pan until they have just started to take on a golden color and you can smell their delicious aroma. Take care not to over-toast them.
• While the almonds are still warm, tip half of them into the dressing. This will give the mixture a toasty taste. Reserve the rest to sprinkle on the salad greens. That's it! Try with Simple Steamed Asparagus or Steamed Green Beans.

LITTLE GEM SALAD WITH GARLICKY ALMOND DRESSING

Steps:

• Remove wilted exterior leaves from each head of lettuce. Cut stems from the lettuce heads, separate leaves and swish in a large basin of cold water, letting any sand or dirt sink to the bottom. Lift the leaves from the water and transfer to a colander. Shake away excess water. Wrap in kitchen towels to dry or use a salad spinner.
• Make the dressing: Put almonds, vinegar and garlic in a small bowl. Whisk in the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
• Put leaves in a wide salad bowl. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Dress lightly just before serving, using 2 or 3 tablespoons of dressing and coating leaves well. Taste and add more dressing as necessary. Store any remaining dressing in refrigerator for up to 3 days.

CHICKEN, SHRIMP AND SAUSAGE STEW AND ENDIVE SALAD WITH TOASTED ALMOND VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Saute sausage in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until brown. Transfer to a large bowl. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Add to pot and cook until browned, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to bowl with sausage. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon pan drippings. Add onions and bell pepper to pot and saute until tender and light golden brown. Add garlic, oregano, thyme and paprika and saute 2 minutes. Return sausage, chicken and any accumulated juices to pot. Add tomatoes with their juices, chicken broth and wine. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until chicken is cooked through. Uncover pot, add olives and simmer until chicken is very tender and liquid is reduced to thin sauce, about 30 minutes. Add shrimp and cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with French bread.
• Whisk shallots and vinegar in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper. Gradually whisk in olive oil. Whisk in almonds. Re-season with salt and pepper. Toss endive in a large bowl with enough dressing to coat.

ENDIVE SALAD WITH TOASTED ALMOND VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Whisk shallots and vinegar in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper. Gradually whisk in olive oil. Whisk in almonds. Re-season with salt and pepper. Toss endive in a large bowl with enough dressing to coat.

TOASTED ALMOND VINAIGRETTE RECIPE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in small container or squeeze bottle. Seal container and shake vigorously until emulsified. Shake again before each use. This Recipe Appears In The Food Lab: What's the Point of a Vinaigrette?

BABY GREENS WITH ALMOND VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Blanch the asparagus in a large saucepan of boiling salted water until bright green, about 1 to 2 minutes. Immediately transfer to a bowl of iced water. Drain and cut on the diagonal into 2-inch long pieces. Set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat until smoking. Saute the mushrooms just to soften, about 1 minute. Add the garlic and saute briefly until the aroma is released. Remove from the heat. Stir in the parsley, lemon juice, salt and pepper and set aside to cool.
• In a large mixing bowl, lightly toss the baby greens with about half of the Almond Vinaigrette. Divide into 6 portions and place on serving plates. Divide the mushrooms and sprinkle across the top.
• In the same bowl, toss the blanched asparagus with the remaining vinaigrette. Divide among the salads, fanning the spears across the top.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the almonds on a baking sheet and bake until slightly golden, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• When the almonds are cool, transfer to a blender along with the remaining ingredients. Puree until smooth. Store in a container in the refrigerator up to 5 days.