Salad: United States – Watercress, Fennel, and Pear Salad with Warm Cranberry-Sherry Vinaigrette
Serving Size: 4
Approximate Time
Prep
15 min
Cook
10 min
Total
30 min
Ingredients
4 cups (about 120 g) watercress, loosely packed
1 small head radicchio, thinly sliced (about 2 cups / 60 g)
1 medium fennel bulb, trimmed and very thinly shaved
2 firm ripe pears (Bosc or Anjou), cored and thinly sliced
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 / 3 cup (35 g) hazelnuts, toasted and roughly chopped
1 / 4 cup (20 g) Parmesan or Manchego, shaved (optional)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 / 4 cup (40 g) dried cranberries
2 tbsp sherry vinegar
2 tbsp fresh orange juice
1 / 2 tsp orange zest
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 to 2 tsp honey, to taste
1 / 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves, chopped
1 tbsp minced shallot
1 / 4 cup (60 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
1 tbsp warm poultry pan drippings (optional)
Instructions
Toast the hazelnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring often, until fragrant and lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool, then roughly chop.
Make the warm vinaigrette: In a small saucepan, combine the dried cranberries, sherry vinegar, and orange juice. Bring just to a simmer over low heat and cook 1 minute to plump the cranberries. Remove from heat and whisk in the orange zest, Dijon, honey, thyme, and shallot. Slowly whisk in the olive oil (and pan drippings, if using) until emulsified. Season with a pinch of salt and black pepper.
Prep the produce: Rinse and dry the watercress and radicchio. Shave the fennel very thinly (a mandoline works well). Slice the pears and toss them with the lemon juice to prevent browning.
Assemble: In a large bowl, combine watercress, radicchio, and fennel. Drizzle with about two-thirds of the warm vinaigrette and toss gently to coat. Arrange the pear slices over the top, scatter with the toasted hazelnuts, and add shaved cheese if using.
Finish and serve: Drizzle with the remaining vinaigrette, season with a little more salt and freshly ground black pepper, and serve immediately while the dressing is still warm.
