Farmer’s Market Salad with Homemade Ranch Dressing

FARMER’S MARKET SALAD WITH HOMEMADE RANCH DRESSING

Serves 4

Ask anyone and they will tell you that I love me a good salad! This particular salad was inspired by what I came across at the Hudson farmer’s market that looked the nicest. It’s both sweet and bitter at the same time with delicious crunch and tang from the goat’s cheese. I don’t normally use recipes for salads but instead gather inspiration based on what is available in the current season. So make this salad as written or use it as inspiration. I have to say though, the flavors of this one are pretty darn good. Oh right, and the “ranch” dressing. I’m not the biggest fan of ranch dressing but that’s because I haven’t had a homemade version of it. This one ticks all of the boxes for me.

Salad

• A mix of a few heads of radicchio & butter lettuce (or whatever is in season or looks good)

• 1/2 small red onion sliced thinly

• Few handfuls of walnuts broken up

• 100g / 3.5 oz crumbled goat’s cheese

• 1/2 baguette torn up into small pieces

• 2-3 tablespoons olive oil

• salt and pepper to taste

Ranch Dressing

• 1/2 cup or more chopped mixed fresh herbs (basil, mint, thyme, oregano)

• 1 garlic clove

• 1 cup mayo

• 1 cup sour cream

• zest of 1/2 lemon

• 4 tablespoons olive oil

• few tablespoons buttermilk or milk to thin to desired consistency

• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Make the croutons first - combine the salt and pepper, torn bread and olive oil in a bowl. Mix well. Taste to get seasoning right. Bake at 425 F for 10 mins or until just slightly crunchy. Bake too long and it will destroy your mouth when you bite into them once they’ve cooled and not crunchy enough and it just tastes like warmed bread.

2. For the dressing combine all of the ingredients and mix well. Thin with buttermilk or milk to desired consistency.

3. Once the croutons have cooled you can assemble the salad in a large bowl or platter layered or greens on the bottom with toppings on top. You can dress and mix or just put dollops of dressing on the salad. Whatever you like! No rules.