Spring Salade Lyonnaise

springsalad.jpgSalade Lyonnaise is one of the most popular salads in small French restaurants and bistros. In Lyon, from where the salad originates, it is typically found on the menus of tiny eateries called Bouchons, which specialize in comfort foods such as soups, stews, sausages, cheeses, etc. You can most certainly also find this salad served at Thomas Keller's Bouchon and at many of the restaurants of Lyon native Daniel Boulud. Comfort food knows no boundaries of class. It is simply just that popular that both high and low places offer it. And why wouldn't this salad be comforting? It is made of lettuce, croutons, bacon, and a poached egg perched on top.

Inspired by all the gorgeous lettuces I saw at the Greenmarket on a sunny and warm last Friday, I knew this salad would be the one to make. Not only can it be put together in minutes, but it also features ingredients that most people have in their refrigerator or pantry at all times. Of course not including the fresh frisée, which is traditionally used in this recipe for it's unique texture, crunch, and slight bitterness. This salad makes such an impressive presentation: With the lettuce piled up just right, and the egg set in the center, it looks like a bird's nest. It's a lunch that presses all the comfort buttons, and it also can be a pleasing appetizer at a dinner party.

Salad Lyonnaise

olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1/2 baguette, cut into cubes
fine sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
4 strips bacon
1 tablespoon white-wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon white vinegar
8 ounces frisée, torn into pieces.

To make croutons, warm 1 tablespoon olive oil and butter in a sauté pan set over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add cubed bread and toast, tossing often, until brown and crisp, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Wipe out pan and return to medium-high heat. Add bacon and cook until all fat has rendered and bacon is crisp. Remove bacon to plate. Reserve remaining fat in the pan.

Crack each egg into an individual ramekin. Prepare a bowl of ice water.

Bring a shallow saucepan with 3 inches of water and white vinegar to a boil. Reduce to a simmer. Once large bubbles have subsided and only small bubbles remain, carefully slide each egg into pan with ramekin placed close to the surface of the water. Poach 2 eggs at a time for 3 to 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove eggs to ice water.

In large bowl make the vinaigrette by whisking together 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon reserved bacon fat, white-wine vinegar, and mustard. Season with salt and pepper. Add frisée and toss to coat.

Divide the greens among four plates. Top each salad with croutons. Crumble 1 strip bacon per plate. Carefully remove eggs from water bath and blot with a paper towel. Remove any lacy edges. Place 1 egg on top of each salad and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Serve immediately. Yield: 4 appetizer servings.

 

Joseph Erdos is a New York–based writer and editor, but above all a gastronomer and oenophile. He shares his passion for food on his blog, Gastronomer's Guide , which features unique recipes and restaurant reviews among many other musings on the all-encompassing topic of food.