If I had a nickel for every email in my inbox saying I’m making Andy’s Pork Ragu this weekend for guests. What should I serve with it?…I would’ve shut down this site by now and built my dream house in Block Island overlooking Mohegan Bluffs. But since I seem to have mastered the art of working my tail off for no money*, I will just give you the quick answer: This salad. Herby, easy, wintery-not-pretending-to-be-summery. You can shave an apple in here, too, but the sweetness in the vinaigrette will suffice as a counterpoint to the pork.
Herby Greens with Fennel and Cider Vinaigrette
In a large bowl, add the following:
Fresh greens (or as fresh as you can find in the winter)
1/2 bulb fennel, shaved into slices with a mandoline
handful of chopped mixed herbs such as cilantro, chives, parsley
Make this vinaigrette:
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
squeeze of fresh lemon juice
salt and pepper
1/2 cup good quality olive oil
Toss vinaigrette into salad.
*shameless, thinly-veiled attempt to guilt you into pre-ordering my book.
Do you actually use a mandoline? It’s a page turner for me. Somewhere in the depths of my cabinets there is a Japanese V-slicer, but even that seems unduly hazardous. But then again, paper thin slices of fennel…so tasty.
Love fennel. Where would winter salads be without it? We make a fennel salad with blood oranges and/or ruby red grapefruit and pomegranate seeds, too. Yum. I can totally identify with the “working your tail off for no money” thing. Already pre-ordered the book. Can’t wait!
as long as we’re talking fennel, this looks damn good too
http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2012/01/blood-orange-beet-and-fennel-salad
Almost each time I go to the store I pass on the fennel because a) I think it’s pricey and b)I don’t know what to use it for.
So this past trip we decided to get fennel – actually had it on my list. Wouldn’t you know it they were sold out! The only time I actually wanted to buy some!
Your recipe gives me another use for it when I can buy it finally!
Already pre-ordered the book!
Similar to Tara, I also use fennel in a salad with grapefruit; I add shaved carrots and walnuts.
Is this supposed to say 1/4 cup cider vinegar? We actually own a mandoline that I hardly ever use but my husband swears by it for precise veggie slicing. Guess I know who will be shaving the fennel!
Love, love love the site and the encouraging, friendly tone. Everyone talks about the pork, but I love the creative veggie ideas, too! Fennel…yum. The mandolin is fab to those on the fence. P.S. Jenny I live on BI and am a real estate agent. When you’re ready for that house on the bluffs, let me know:)