The Anonymous Widower

Bacon and Egg Salad

This is another recipe by Sybil Kapoor in The Times.

Again, I haven’t tried it, but it looks like a good alternative to Salad Nicoise.  I have changed the bread to a couple of slices of gluten-free bread.  I use my own bread, which I make in a breadmaker using Dr. Schar’s Mix-B breadmix.

This is the quantities for four.

• 1 clove of garlic
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 7 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 thick slices of ordinary white or sourdough bread – Change for gluten-free
• 450g green beans, trimmed
• 1 crisp green lettuce, such as batavia
• 1 tbsp white- or red-wine vinegar
• 4 free-range eggs, medium
• 200g back bacon, trimmed and diced

And this is how you make it.

1. Heat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4. In a bowl, grind the garlic with a little salt and mix in 1 tbsp olive oil. Cut the crusts off the sliced bread, then cut the bread into walnut-sized chunks and toss in the garlic oil, so they are well coated. Place on a baking sheet and put in the oven for 10 minutes, or until lightly toasted. If the oven is dodgy, lightly fry in a little extra oil until crisp.
2. Top and tail the beans and drop into a pan of boiling water. Boil vigorously for 7 minutes, or until tender. Drain and cool by spreading out onto a plate lined with kitchen paper.
3. Remove and discard the outer leaves of the lettuce. Separate and wash the inner leaves, then dry in a tea towel, and rip the larger leaves into smaller pieces. Set aside.
4. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the vinegar and 3 tbsp oil. Season to taste and mix in the beans.
5. Bring a pan of water to the boil and gently lower in the eggs. Keep the water simmering rather than vigorously boiling and cook for 6 minutes for a well-set white but moist yolk. Allow a minute longer if fresh-laid, chilled, or if you want them slightly more cooked. Drain, crack and cool slightly under the cold tap.
6. Set a frying pan over a medium heat. Add 3 tbsp olive oil and, once hot, add the bacon and fry briskly for 5 minutes, or until crispy. Mix the bacon into the beans with the lettuce and croutons.
7. Quickly peel and halve the eggs. Mix into the salad and serve immediately.

It sounds good to me.

July 18, 2009 - Posted by AnonW | Food | Recipe, Salad