3271. RED CABBAGE, TANGERINE and BACON SALAD with BACON VINAIGRETTE

serves six


1 small head red cabbage (about 1 1/2 pounds)
2 tangerines
6 slices lean bacon
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
3 tablespoons peanut oil 
2 scallions (part of green tops included), thinly sliced

Quarter the cabbage, remove the core, shred the leaves, and place in a large salad bowl. Peel, section, and seed the tangerines, removing as much white pith as possible. Add the sections to the cabbage, toss, and set aside.

In a large skillet, fry the bacon over moderate heat till crisp. Drain on paper towels and crumble coarsely. Pour off all but about 2 tablespoons of fat from the skillet, add the vinegar, and boil down till reduced by half. Add the mustard and stir till well incorporated. Remove from the heat, add the salt and pepper, and then gradually add the oil, stirring briskly to form a smooth dressing.

Pour the vinaigrette over the salad in the bowl, add the crumbled bacon and the scallions, and toss till the ingredients are well coated with the dressing. Chill briefly or serve at room temperature.


bacon recipe source: Pig: King of the Southern Table by James Villas (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010); Serious Eats weekly recipe newsletter, May 19, 2010