ESCAROLE SALAD WITH ROASTED MEYER LEMON VINAIGRETTE

Escarole Salad with Roasted Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette image

Provided by Valerie Bertinelli

Time 40m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 teaspoons plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon honey
2 Meyer lemons, halved crosswise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 ounces cherry tomatoes
1 head escarole, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 head Treviso radicchio, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
1/2 cup roughly chopped Marcona almonds
1/4 cup torn fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup torn fresh mint leaves
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Parmesan, for garnish

Steps:

For the vinaigrette: Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 teaspoons of the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the honey. When the honey has melted, stir it together with the oil. Place the lemons, cut-side down, into the honey mixture; cook until the lemons look charred and the honey has caramelized, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the lemons to a baking sheet and let cool. Set the skillet aside.
Juice the roasted lemons and add 1/4 cup of the juice to a bowl; whisk in the remaining 1 teaspoon honey and the mustard. Once combined, whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil until the dressing becomes emulsified. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
For the salad: Return the skillet to high heat. When hot, add the cherry tomatoes and season with salt. Cook until the caramelized honey coats the tomatoes and the tomatoes just begin to char, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat.
Combine the escarole, Treviso, almonds, basil and mint in a large bowl; season with salt and pepper. Toss the salad with the dressing, and then gently fold in the charred tomatoes. Transfer the salad to the serving platter and, using a peeler, shave Parmesan over the top.