Tradesmens Tri Seafood Salad With Basil Parmesan Vinaigrette Recipes

TRADESMEN'S TRI-SEAFOOD SALAD WITH BASIL PARMESAN VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Prepare the vinaigrette, just before use. Place the lemons in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave until the essential oils in the skin are released. Since these will be hot coming from the microwave, you will need to set them aside briefly, until they cool just enough to handle. Pour vinegar into a blender, turn it on, and then squeeze in 1emon juice from the micro-waved lemons. Leaving the blender running, add 1 at a time through the feed opening: garlic, mustard, chives, basil, Parmesan, and pepper and blend until smooth. While keeping the blender running, add oil through the feed opening in a slow stream. Set aside until needed.
• In a large mixing bowl combine kidney beans, chick peas, green beans, artichoke hearts, and black olives. Dress with enough vinaigrette to coat well, then gently fold in pasta, scallops, shrimp, tuna, peas, and grape tomatoes. Taste and adjust dressing as needed. Do not feel compelled to use all of the dressing. You want enough to complement the ingredients of the salad without overcoming their flavors. (You can always serve dressing on the side, or add more to the salad if you wish. The pasta will absorb some of the vinaigrette.)
• Transfer to serving bowls or serve family style. Garnish with basil sprigs and shaved Parmesan.

RACHAEL'S TUNA PAN BAGNAT

Steps:

• Crisp baguette in hot oven, then cool to handle. Cut baguette in half lengthwise, on an angle, then split each half lengthwise.
• Put about 1 inch of water, the bay leaf, peppercorns, and juice of 1/2 the lemon into a small skillet and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add the tuna steak, cover, and simmer until cooked through, about 4 minutes. Remove tuna from the water and allow to cool. Place tuna in a bowl and separate with a fork. Add capers, red onion, artichokes.
• For olives, if they're pitted, coarsely chop them. If the olives have pits, place an olive or 2 on your cutting board. Turn your knife sideways and place the flat of the blade on top of the olives -- just like peeling garlic -- whack the heal of your hand on knife and the pits of the olives will be exposed. Remove pits and chop.
• Add olives and parsley to tuna mixture. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon into the bowl. Squeeze lemon halves holding cut side upright, allowing juice to spill over sides. The seeds will stay with the lemon half, rather than falling into your salad. Add black pepper to the bowl and drizzle salad liberally with evoo, extra virgin olive oil. Toss tuna salad and adjust pepper and evoo to your taste. Pack the tuna salad on to baguette halves and set tops in place. Press down to set the bread and salad together. The bread will absorb the evoo and salad juices -- YUMMY! Cut each half baguette in half again, making 4 sandwiches, total.

WARM BASIL GNOCCHI SALAD WITH CARPACCIO OF TOMATOES

Steps:

• In a medium or large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Taste for balance and adjust with olive oil or lemon as necessary. Using a mandoline or sharp chef's knife, slice the tomatoes as thinly as possible and arrange on a large platter. Season with salt and pepper and spoon a little of the vinaigrette over the tomatoes. Toss the lettuce with a little more of the dressing and arrange on top of the tomatoes.
• When the gnocchi has drained, place in the bowl with the remaining vinaigrette. Toss gently, then scatter the gnocchi on the salad. Using a vegetable peeler, shave the cheese over the salad and serve immediately.
• 2 pounds russet potatoes
• Coarse salt
• 4 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Pinch freshly ground black pepper
• Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 to 1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting or use store bought gnocchi (1 pound fresh or frozen)
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Bake potatoes until very soft on a bed of coarse salt in a baking dish, about 45 minutes. (The salt keeps the potatoes from touching the dish and developing a hard spot.) Cool potatoes until warm, then halve lengthwise and scoop out the flesh. Pass the flesh through a food mill or ricer, or push it through a coarse sieve. You should have about 4 cups.
• In a bowl, combine potato, egg yolks, Parmesan, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Work the mixture with a wooden spoon until smooth. Add 1 cup of the flour and knead very gently, patting and pressing the dough with your hands until all the flour is incorporated. Add some or all of the additional 1/4 cup flour if the dough feels too moist, it should be soft but shouldn't stick to your hands. Transfer dough to a work surface and roll into a log about 3 inches in diameter. Cut the log into 8 equal pieces.
• Give each piece a quarter-turn so that you are rolling the dough in a different direction, then roll into ropes, a generous 1/2-inch in diameter, as if making breadsticks. Flour the ropes generously, and then cut crosswise at 1/2-inch intervals. You can shape the gnocchi on a ridged butter paddle or on the back of a fork, or you can cook them as is. Let them dry at room temperature for at least 20 minutes before cooking
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt. Add the gnocchi and cook for about 90 seconds from the time they rise to the surface. Remove with a skimmer, drain well.
• Cook's Note: Although you need only a half batch of gnocchi for this recipe, take the time to make a whole batch, freeze half, and reap the rewards of your effort later.
• A carpaccio is paper thin slices of a food such as tomatoes that can turn a simple supper into an elegant meal.

PARMESAN BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Mince garlic and mash to a paste with 1/4 teaspoon salt, then whisk together with vinegar, lemon juice, basil, parmesan, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper.
• Add oil in a slow stream, whisking until well blended.
• Makes about 2/3 cup.

CRUNCHY CABBAGE AND KALE SALAD WITH GARLIC-PARMESAN VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Place the panko, peeled and smashed garlic cloves and thyme sprigs in a medium skillet and set over medium-low heat. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the panko and cook, stirring often, until the panko is golden, about 5 minutes. Season with a 1/2 teaspoon of salt and several grinds of black pepper. Discard the garlic and thyme, then spread the panko on a large plate to cool.
• While the breadcrumbs are cooling, place the cabbage on a cutting board with the root end facing up; cut in half. Place each half cut-side down and then cut each half into 2 equal wedges. Using a sharp knife or mandoline, slice the cabbage wedges into thin ribbons, making sure to avoid slicing the core. (Keeping the core intact helps to hold cabbage in place and makes slicing easier.) Place the sliced cabbage and kale in a large serving bowl.
• Peel and halve the beets. Shave the beet halves with a sharp knife or mandoline into thin half-moon slices and place in the bowl with the sliced cabbage and kale.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the grated garlic clove, vinegar and honey. Whisking continuously, drizzle in the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil until emulsified. Stir in the grated Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Gently toss the salad with the vinaigrette until evenly dressed. Sprinkle with the almonds, toasted breadcrumbs and shaved Parmesan just before serving.