This refreshing salad was among the dishes served. Light and dark greens, the mildly acid fruit, and the creamy avocado provide a lively dynamic in this simple salad. Aromatic Szechuan peppercorns, roasted, then ground with salt have a flowery fragrance, but if you use them, omit the fruit vinegar and substitute sherry vinegar.
the ingredients.
1 head butter, limestone or Bibb lettuce (Jasmine used a beautiful mix from the farmers market)
1 small bunch young spinach leaves
2 ruby grapefruit
2 avocados
4 tsp sherry vinegar
2 tsp raspberry or other fruit vinegar
1 shallot, finely diced
¼ tsp salt
6 to 7 Tbls virgin olive oil (I substituted canola oil)
1 tsp mint, finely chopped
2 tsp chives, finely sliced
Black pepper or Szechuan peppercorns
Separate the leaves of the lettuce and remove the spinach stems. Discard any leaves that are bruised or yellow, wash the greens--the spinach in two changes of water—and dry them in a spinner. If the spinach leaves are small, leave them whole. If they are large, layer several leaves together, roll them up, and slice them into wide or narrow ribbons. Place them loosely in a kitchen towel and refrigerate until needed.
Use a very sharp knife to peel the grapefruit. Slice a piece off the top and the bottom of each, then work down the sides, removing the white pith as well as the peel. Holding the grapefruit over a bowl to catch the juice, cut each section loose from its membrane and turn it into the bowl. (Later you can drink the juice.)
Peel the avocados, slice them in half and remove the seeds. Lay the halves cut side down and slice them crosswise at an angle.
1 head butter, limestone or Bibb lettuce (Jasmine used a beautiful mix from the farmers market)
1 small bunch young spinach leaves
2 ruby grapefruit
2 avocados
4 tsp sherry vinegar
2 tsp raspberry or other fruit vinegar
1 shallot, finely diced
¼ tsp salt
6 to 7 Tbls virgin olive oil (I substituted canola oil)
1 tsp mint, finely chopped
2 tsp chives, finely sliced
Black pepper or Szechuan peppercorns
Separate the leaves of the lettuce and remove the spinach stems. Discard any leaves that are bruised or yellow, wash the greens--the spinach in two changes of water—and dry them in a spinner. If the spinach leaves are small, leave them whole. If they are large, layer several leaves together, roll them up, and slice them into wide or narrow ribbons. Place them loosely in a kitchen towel and refrigerate until needed.
Use a very sharp knife to peel the grapefruit. Slice a piece off the top and the bottom of each, then work down the sides, removing the white pith as well as the peel. Holding the grapefruit over a bowl to catch the juice, cut each section loose from its membrane and turn it into the bowl. (Later you can drink the juice.)
Pour the juice off the grapefruit sections, combine them with the avocado slices, and dress them carefully with some of the vinaigrette. Toss the greens with the rest of the vinaigrette and lay them on salad plates. Set the grapefruit and avocado slices in and among the leaves. Add a grinding of black pepper (or roasted Szechuan pepper) and serve. ( Jasmine actually mixed all ingredients in one large bowl.)
Serves 4-6 or can be increased.
( adapted from a recipe in Deborah Madison's The Greens Cookbook )
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