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Meat Lite: Red Grape, Bacon, and Pistachio Salad with Shallot Sherry Vinaigrette

Posted by Tara Mataraza Desmond, June 23, 2009 at 11:30 AM

Editor's note: Philadelphia food writers Joy Manning and Tara Mataraza Desmond drop by each week with Meat Lite, which celebrates meat in moderation. Meat Lite was inspired by their book, Almost Meatless.

Sweet grapes, bitter arugula, sour vinegar, and salty, umami bacon and pistachios--the basic tastes are all in. Use turkey bacon if you like, or none at all and rely on the nuts for savory richness. The microgreens add big flavor with their tiny leaves, but if you have trouble finding them, add fresh herbs or extra arugula instead.

This vinaigrette is best after it sits for at least 30 minutes, so the sautéed shallots melt into the rest of the ingredients. Feel free to make it a day or two in advance and keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

About the author: Tara Mataraza Desmond writes about, cooks, and eats food for a living. She blogs about food and life through words and pictures at Crumbs On My Keyboard.

Red Grape, Bacon, and Pistachio Salad with Shallot Sherry Vinaigrette

- serves 4 to 6 -

Ingredients

4 ounces thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 large shallots, minced
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons honey
1/4 cup sherry vinegar
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
Freshly ground black pepper (about 5 or 6 grinds)
1/2 cup grapeseed oil
6 ounces baby arugula or mixed greens
2 cups red grapes
1/2 cup shelled, roasted salted pistachios
2 ounces microgreens

Procedure

1. Render the bacon until crisp, 5 to 7 minutes, in a medium sauté pan over medium heat. Lift the bacon from the grease with a slotted spoon and set on a paper towel-lined plate.

2. Add the shallots to the bacon grease in the pan and sauté 2 to 3 minutes to soften. Transfer the warm shallots to a small mixing bowl. Discard remaining grease.

3. Whisk the shallots with the mustard, honey, vinegar, salt and pepper. Add the oil in a slow drizzle, whisking vigorously.

4. Toss the crisp bacon pieces with the baby arugula, grapes and pistachios. Top with microgreens and then drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad.

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Tags: bacon, grapes, pistachios, salads, vinaigrettes