3543. CHICORY SALAD with CRISPY BACON and HAZELNUTS

serves four


Dressing
1 heaped teaspoon dijon mustard
½ teaspoon caster sugar
sea salt and black pepper
2 tablespoons walnut or hazelnut oil
2 oz low-fat fromage frais

Salad
5 oz smoked or unsmoked bacon lardons
3 heads of chicory (red or green or a mixture)
2 oz roasted and chopped hazelnuts
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley

To make the dressing, whisk the mustard with the sugar and some seasoning in a small bowl, then whisk in the oil a tablespoon at a time until you have a thick emulsion. Stir in the fromage frais and thin to the consistency of double cream with a little water (about 2 teaspoons). Give the dressing another stir before serving.

Meanwhile, heat a large nonstick frying pan over a medium heat and fry the lardons for 6-8 minutes until golden, stirring frequently (no need to add oil; the rendered bacon fat will be enough). Drain on a double thickness of kitchen paper and leave to cool.

Trim the heads of chicory, discarding the outer leaves. Halve and thinly slice each one lengthways, then halve across. To serve, arrange all the salad ingredients on 4 plates or in bowls, drizzling over the dressing as you go.


bacon recipe source: Annie Bell, MailOnline (@MailOnline)/DailyMail, November 9, 2013