Tunisian Style Roasted Beet Salad With Harissa Food

TUNISIAN-STYLE ROASTED BEET SALAD WITH HARISSA

Steps:

• NOTE*: If using yams or potatoes, scrub well, remove skin and cut in half or thirds depending on size.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• In small non-reactive bowl combine the salad dressing ingredients and whisk well. Set aside.
• In a large shallow pan, toss the cut up beets lightly with the olive oil to coat. Transfer the beets to a large baking sheet and cover the baking sheet tightly with aluminum foil.
• Bake the beets for about 30 minutes or until the beets are very tender when pierced with a fork.
• Remove from oven, set aside to cool for 5 minutes.
• Then cut beets into 1/2" cubes.
• Place the prepared beets into a large salad bowl and toss lightly but thoroughly with the salad dressing to combine.

ROASTED BEET SALAD WITH RASPBERRY BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• To Roast the Beets: Adjust the oven rack to the center position and preheat the oven to 400°F Rub the beets with the olive oil and wrap them together in a large piece of aluminum foil. Put the beets in a small roasting pan or baking dish and roast them for 50 minutes to an hour, until they are tender when a knife is inserted in the center.
• Remove the foil packet from the pan and let the beets cool on the foil before unwrapping. Using your fingers, peel the beets over the foil. The skins should slip off easily; if not, use a paring knife. Cut the beets into 1/4-inch matchstick slices and reserve.
• To make the Vinaigrette: Put the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, onion, jam, mustard, and sugar in the container of a blender or food processor. Process until well blended and emulsified. (You should have 1 cup.) Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• To Assemble the salad: In a large salad bowl, toss the greens, beets, and walnuts with half of the dressing. Season to taste with pepper. Top each serving with some of the cheese. Pass the remaining dressing at the table.

ROASTED VEGETABLE COUSCOUS SALAD WITH HARISSA-STYLE DRESSING

Steps:

• First prepare the roasted vegetables: prepare the eggplant and zucchini ahead of time by cutting them into 1 inch (2.5 cm) dice, leaving the skins on. Then toss the dice in a level teaspoon of salt and pack them into a colander with a plate on top and a heavy weight on top of the plate. Leave them on one side for an hour so that some of the bitter juices drain out. After that, squeeze out any juices left, and dry the dice thoroughly in a clean cloth. Preheat the oven to gas mark 9, 475°F (240°C).
• Now arrange the eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, pepper, fennel and onion in the roasting pan or sheet pan, sprinkle with the crushed garlic, basil and olive oil, toss everything around in the oil to get a good coating and season with salt and pepper. Place the pan on the highest shelf of the oven for 30-40 minutes or until the vegetables are toasted brown at the edges.
• When the vegetables are done, remove them from the oven and stir in the chopped olives and the capers then remove them to a plate to cool.
• When you're ready to assemble the salad, first place the couscous in a large, heatproof bowl, then pour the boiling stock over it, add some salt and pepper, stir it with a fork, then leave on one side for 5 minutes, by which time it will have absorbed all the stock and softened.
• Meanwhile cut the cheese into sugar cube-sized pieces. Make up the dressing by whisking all the ingredients together in a bowl, then pour into a serving container. To serve the salad, place the couscous in a large, wide salad bowl and gently fork in the cubes of cheese along with the roasted vegetables. Next arrange the salad leaves on top and, just before serving, drizzle a little of the dressing over the top followed by a sprinkling of onion seeds and pass the rest of the dressing around separately.

ROASTED BEET SALAD WITH HORSERADISH CREAM DRESSING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375.
• Wash and trim beets, but do not peel.
• Place on a large piece of foil and sprinkle with salt and pepper, then fold up in a loose package sealing seams tightly.
• Place foil package on a baking sheet and roast for 1 hour or until beets are tender.
• Let cool, then peel and thinly slice the beets.
• Refrigerate until serving.
• Whip cream until thick but not stiff, fold in sour cream and horseradish and season with salt and pepper.
• Refrigerate until serving.
• To serve, slice onion into thin rings, divide lettuce among serving plates.
• Top with beet slices and onion rings and drizzle with dressing.
• Sprinkle dill on top.

ROASTED BEET SALAD WITH TARRAGON VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Leave root and 1-inch stem on beets; scrub with a brush.
• Place beets, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon garlic, 1 teaspoon thyme, and 1 teaspoon tarragon in a large bowl; toss gently.
• Place beet mixture on a jelly-roll pan. Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until beets are tender. Drain and cool slightly.
• Trim off beet roots; rub off skins.
• Cut in half. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• Combine vinegar, sugar, shallots, 2 tablespoons oil, 1 tablespoon garlic, 1/2 teaspoon thyme, 1/2 teaspoon tarragon, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and oregano in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk.
• Add vinegar mixture and onion to beet mixture; toss gently.

TUNISIAN HARISSA

Steps:

• Remove the stems and seeds from the chile peppers. Soak in cold water for 20 minutes, then drain. Place the peppers, garlic, caraway, coriander, and salt in a mortar; pound with a pestle until smooth. Place harissa in a jar, and cover the top with a little oil to maintain freshness. Store in the refrigerator.

PEAR, APPLE & BEET SALAD WITH DUCK AND PEAR VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Roast the Beets -- this can easily be done a day or two ahead. Just cut off the stem (green part) and wash well. Place them on a sheet of aluminum foil, drizzle with olive oil 1-2 teaspoons and salt and pepper. Wrap up in the foil and bake at 375 for 50 minutes for medium sized beets. 45 for small 60 for large. Just let cool before peeling the skin. Just use a small plain knife and pull off the skin. If you don't want red fingers use gloves. Or after peeling them (and you will have red fingers -- just use a light mix of bleach and water and the red will come off your hands). Just store in a baggie or ziplock/plastic container. Don't slice until you need them.
• Salad -- Now prepare the salad. In a medium size bowl add the arugula, red onion and pecans reserving some for a garnish. Now I don't add the apples or pears until right at the end. Just drizzle with lemon so they will not brown and set on a plate covered in saran wrap to the side.
• Duck -- First score the skin. With a knife cut cross marks on the skin side in order to release all the duck fat as it cooks. Just salt and pepper well. Then in a heavy pan such as cast iron, cold not heated -- add 1 teaspoon olive oil and add the duck skin side down which is important. Turn the heat to to medium high heat, saute the duck. Starting from cold lets the duck render all the duck fat and give it a crispy crust. After about 10 minutes, flip and cover with a lid. Cook until 135 for medium rare. About 5-7 more minutes. Half way through you can drain some of the duck fat off if you want. Once done to medium rare, remove from the heat and cover with foil and let rest before slicing.
• Vinaigrette -- Remove most of the duck fat and just keep a little of the bits on the bottom of the pan for flavor, add the olive oil, mashed pear, garlic and shallot to the pan and cook until well combined 2-3 minutes. Add the white wine to deglaze the pan and cook another minute. Add the mustard, rice wine vinegar, apple juice, fresh thyme, salt and pepper and cook just a minute.
• Put it all together -- Add a couple of tablespoons of the vinaigrette to the lettuce and toss lightly. Make sure to add in the pears and apples at this point. Now slice your beets and duck. On each plate add your salad mix, then fan out the sliced beets (1 beet per person), and top with the duck thin sliced (1 breast per person). Top each with the warm vinaigrette and garnish with extra pecans and gorgonzola crumbles.
• JUST ENJOY!