1753. CRISPY HERRING and BACON SALAD

serves four


2 medium herrings, filleted, with as many of the small bones removed as possible, then cut into 2-cm pieces
plain flour for dusting
100-150 ml milk
250 grams herring roes
4 thick rashers of bacon, cut into rough 1/2cm cubes
vegetable oil for frying
butter
60-80 grams curly endive and dandelion (or just curly endive)

For the dressing
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon grain mustard
1 shallot, peeled and very finely chopped
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
2 tablespoons vegetable or corn oil
2 tablespoons extra virgin rapeseed or olive oil

Pre-heat the oven to 140C/gas mark 1. Have two shallow dishes ready, one with the flour, seasoned with salt and pepper, and the other with the milk. Put the herring roes and fillets through the flour, dusting off any excess, then through the milk, draining any excess, and through the flour again. Meanwhile, heat a couple of tablespoons of vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed frying pan and cook the herring and roes (you may need to do this in a couple of batches) for 2-3 minutes on each side until crisp; then remove from the pan and keep warm in the oven. While the herring and roes are cooking, heat a little more oil in another pan and cook the pieces of bacon for 2-3 minutes until crisp, then remove from the pan and keep warm with the herring.

Whisk all of the ingredients together for the dressing and season. Toss the salad leaves in the dressing and arrange on plates with equal quantities of the roes, herring and bacon scattered over.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Mark Hix, The Independent, December 9, 2006