SPRING SALAD WITH BAGNA CAUDA DRESSING

Spring Salad With Bagna Cauda Dressing image

Bagna cauda is a traditional Italian sauce that prominently features anchovy and garlic, often used as a dip for raw vegetables. Here it dresses a fresh spring salad. Use the quantities given and suggested vegetables as a guide, choosing whatever crisp offerings are available. Serve with a crusty baguette or hearth-baked loaf.

Provided by David Tanis

Categories dinner, lunch, salads and dressings, vegetables, appetizer, main course

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

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Ingredients

8 anchovy fillets
4 garlic cloves
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup crème fraîche
Zest of 1 lemon
3 tablespoons lemon juice, more to taste
2 cups baby arugula
2 cups baby spinach
2 Belgian endives, leaves separated
4 radishes, very thinly sliced
1 small fennel bulb, very thinly sliced
1 medium yellow beet, very thinly sliced
2 pale inner celery stalks, with leaves, very thinly sliced
12 small asparagus spears, blanched 1 minute and cooled, or raw if preferred
4 large eggs, boiled 8 minutes and cooled, halved or quartered
Salt and pepper

Steps:

Make the dressing: Chop the anchovies and garlic to a rough paste, or pound together in a mortar. Place in a small saucepan, add olive oil and simmer over medium heat, without browning, for 2 minutes, until anchovies have dissolved. Transfer to a small bowl and whisk in crème fraîche, lemon zest and lemon juice. Set aside to cool.
Arrange all the vegetables artfully on a large platter and garnish with eggs. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
Drizzle 4 tablespoons of the dressing over the salad and serve. Pass the remaining dressing at the table.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 436, UnsaturatedFat 28 grams, Carbohydrate 14 grams, Fat 38 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 12 grams, SaturatedFat 9 grams, Sodium 719 milligrams, Sugar 6 grams, TransFat 0 grams