Lettuce and Strawberry Salad Ponchatoula
PREP TIME: 30 Minutes
SERVES: 6

COMMENT:
Ponchatoula is the strawberry capital of the world. It is surprising to the residents of this sleepy South Louisiana town that the rest of the world considers strawberries a dessert ingredient only. Here, they may be found in soups, sauces, as a flavor ingredient over pork roast or lamb or as the perfect finish to a crisp crunchy spring salad.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 10 ounces fresh lettuce, cleaned and dried
  • 1 pint ripe Louisiana strawberries, sliced
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
  • 4 tbsps Boone's strawberry wine
  • 6 ounces vegetable oil
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh tarragon, chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

METHOD:
Remember to rinse lettuce 2 - 3 times under cold running water to ensure that all sand and grit are removed from leaves. Dry well and set aside. When selecting strawberries for this salad, Ponchatoula berries are always best and should be slightly over-ripe but not mushy. I prefer to buy a 5-ounce block of Parmesan cheese and hand grate it using the large holes of a grater. Create the sauce by combining egg yolk, Balsamic vinegar and strawberry wine in a stainless steel bowl. Using a wire whisk, combine ingredients until well incorporated. Slowly drizzle the vegetable oil into the egg yolk mixture in a steady stream, whisking constantly. A smooth emulsified dressing will emerge. Add thyme and tarragon and season to taste using salt and pepper. Continue whisking until ingredients are well-blended. The dressing may be stored in a glass jar in the refrigerator until ready to use. When ready to serve, toss lettuce with extra virgin olive oil and drizzle with the desired amount of strawberry vinaigrette. Once the leaves are shining from the sauce, but not wilted, add strawberries and cheese and toss once or twice to incorporate. Serve in a large, crystal salad bowl to showcase the vivid colors of this salad.

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