Serves: 4
INGREDIENTS:
4 oz. wt. of Fancy Lettuce Mix, washed
1 cup of Citrus Vinaigrette (see recipe below)
2 *Vine Ripened Beefsteak Tomatoes
4 *Vine Ripened Roma Tomatoes
12 *Red Grape Tomatoes, cut in half
12 *Yellow Pear Tomatoes, cut in half
Salt to taste
4 Tbsp. Basil, cut 1/8" julienne
8 Large Basil Leaves
12 Garlic Crouton Rounds (see recipe below)
½ cup Seasoned Goat Cheese (see recipe below)
*Any great tasting Vine Ripened tomatoes can be used to prepare this salad. Serve the tomatoes that have the best flavor from your garden or produce grocer.
PREPARATION:
- Place the lettuce mix in a salad bowl and add ¼ cup of the citrus vinaigrette. Mix until evenly coated with dressing then place the lettuce in the center of 4 chilled dinner plates.
- Using a sharp knife, cut the vine ripened beefsteak tomatoes into ¼" slices and the vine ripened roma tomatoes into 1/8" thick slices. Place all of the tomatoes on a large platter and coat with the remaining citrus vinaigrette.
- Shingle 4 slices of the marinated beefsteak tomatoes to the left side of each salad and 8 slices of the marinated roma tomatoes to the right side of each salad. Place 6 half's of the marinated grape and yellow pear tomatoes on top of the salad. Season the tomatoes lightly with salt and garnish with basil julienne and basil leaves.
- Spread 1 rounded Tbsp. of seasoned goat cheese mix on each garlic crouton and place 3 of them randomly on the rim of each plate.
Citrus Vinaigrette
Serves: 4
INGREDIENTS:
½ cup White Wine Vinegar
¼ cup Orange Juice, fresh squeezed
1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice, fresh squeezed
¼ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Tbsp. Mustard
1 Tbsp. Fresh garlic, minced
1 tsp. Fresh Parsley, chopped
1 Tbsp. Brown Sugar
¼ tsp. Salt & Black Pepper, fresh ground
PREPARATION:
Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and process until thoroughly blended.
Vinaigrette can be made a day in advance and kept refrigerated.
Seasoned Goat Cheese
INGREDIENTS:
1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
¼ cup Sweet Onion, ¼" diced
4 oz. wt. Fresh Chevre Goat Cheese
1 each Vine-ripened Roma Tomato, seeded and diced ¼"
1 Tbsp. Fresh Cilantro, chopped
¼ tsp. Hot Pepper Sauce
Salt and Fresh Ground Black Pepper to Taste
12 each Garlic Croutons Rounds (see recipe below)
PREPARATION:
- Heat olive oil in a medium sauté pan over medium heat, then add the garlic and onions and sauté just until the onions become translucent. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
- Transfer the onion-garlic mixture to a mixing bowl and add the remaining ingredients. Mix with a rubber spatula to thoroughly blend. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
- Goat cheese can be made a day in advance and kept refrigerated.
Garlic Crouton Rounds
INGREDIENTS:
½ loaf Cuban Bread or French Baguette Bread, cut crosswise into ¼" Slices
4 Tbsp. Butter, softened to room temperature
1 clove Fresh Garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. Fresh Parsley, chopped
PREPARATION:
- Cut the bread crosswise into 12 - ¼" thick slices, set aside.
- In a small mixing bowl blend the garlic, chopped parsley and softened butter until thoroughly mix.
- Spread the top and bottom of each slice of bread with about ½ tsp of garlic butter on each side.
- Place the buttered croutons on a cookie sheet.
- Bake for 5 minutes in a 350°F, preheated, oven.
The croutons can be baked up to 1 hour before serving.