Apple and Fennel Salad

Apple and Fennel Salad with Fontina Cheese, Haricot Vert, Toasted Almonds and Cranberry Vinaigrette

INGREDIENTS:

(Serves 6)


9 oz mixed greens            
1 lemon
¼ bulb fennel (shaved and reserved in lemon water)
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 Granny Smith apple
1 Red Delicious apple
6 oz fontina cheese (rind removed)
18 pcs haricot vert
¼ cup sliced almonds toasted
¼ cup dry cranberries
150 ml red wine vinegar
125 ml extra virgin olive oil plus extra for seasoning
1 tsp garlic (finely chopped)
½ tbl Dijon
½ tbl honey
pop shoots or organic sprouts for garnish
salt/white pepper for seasoning as desired


PREP:

Vinaigrette:

Place dry cranberries and red wine vinegar in a small heavy bottom sauce pt, bring to a boil on medium heat, remove from heat and allow to cool

Place the cooled cranberry and red wine vinegar mixture in blender with olive oil, garlic, Dijon, honey and salt/pepper as desired

Blend on high until smooth, transfer to small container, cover and reserve in refrigerator


Salad:

Soak mixed greens in cold water, drain and spin dry in a salad spinner. Reserve covered with a damp cloth in refrigerator

Remove any remaining core from fennel and shave thinly with mandoline or knife. Place water in small container and squeeze juice from 1 lemon wedge into water, add fennel, cover and reserve in refrigerator

In a small mixing bowl add 2 cups cold water, sugar and stir until dissolved. Cut Red Delicious apple into quarters, remove core, cut into 1/2 “ cubes and place in sugar water

Slice apple into 6 – ¼” rings, remove core with small round cutter and add to water with Red Delicious apples. Cover and reserve in refrigerator

Blanch haricot vert in salted boiling water for 1 ½ minutes, strain and place immediately into ice water to stop cooking process. Drain, place in small container and reserve in refrigerato


Plating:

Drain apple rings and place in a small bowl with haricot very, season lightly with olive oil and salt/pepper if desired

Shave thin slices of fontina cheese with cheese slicer and lay equal amounts slightly off center on each plate

Place mixed greens, fennel and Red Delicious apples in large mixing bowl, season with salt/pepper if desired and gently toss with enough cranberry vinaigrette to coat lightly

Place small bundle of salad mixture in the center of each plate

Sprinkle each salad with toasted almonds

Top each salad with an apple ring, place three pieces of haricot vert and pop shoots through hole in apple ring and serve