SPRING VEGETABLE BAGNA CAUDA

Spring Vegetable Bagna Cauda image

Provided by Food Network

Time 35m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

2 small heads fennel
6 tiny artichokes
4 small carrots
1 small cauliflower
1 Belgian endive
2 small heads radicchio (or radicchio di Treviso)
8 small asparagus spears
1 bunch baby turnips
1 bunch multicolored radishes
1 bunch spring onions
Handful peeled fava beans
Sea salt
10 to 12 salt-packed anchovies
6 cloves
Salt and pepper
2 cups extra-virgin olive oil
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
A few drops red wine vinegar
Lemon zest, optional

Steps:

Wash the vegetables in a large bowl of cold water and blot dry. Trim the fennel of any stringy layers, and slice thinly crosswise. Peel the outer leaves of the artichokes to reveal the pale green hearts, and slice into thin wedges. Peel the carrots and slice lengthwise. Cut the cauliflower into thin slices, or break it up into small florets. Separate the leaves of the Belgian endive and radicchio or Treviso. Snap off and discard the tough bottom ends of the asparagus and slice the spears into quarters lengthwise. Cut the turnips and radishes into quarters, leaving the tops attached, or leave whole if they are small. Clean the spring onions and slice in half lengthwise. Sprinkle everything lightly with sea salt and arrange the vegetables on a platter, tossing them together to create a colorful display. Scatter the fava beans over the top.
Rinse and fillet the anchovies. In a mortar, pound the garlic to a paste with a little salt and pepper. Add the anchovies and pound until roughly mashed. Warm the olive oil and butter over medium-low heat. Add half the anchovy mixture, the red wine vinegar, and lemon zest, and gently simmer for 2 minutes. Stir in the remaining anchovy mixture, taste for salt and pepper, and transfer the sauce to a warmed bowl or individual ramekins.