2266. MIXED SEAFOOD (TUNA, SHRIMP, SCALLOPS, ANCHOVIES) NICOISE SALAD with BACON and POTATOES

Dressing
6 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 1/4 cups olive oil
1 medium white onion, sliced paper thin
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups flat leaf parsley, loosely packed and chopped
1 cup mixed herbs, chopped(chives, basil, tarragon)
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup soy sauce
freshly ground sea salt, to taste
black pepper
water, enough to make to a good consistency

Salad
fresh parmesan cheese, chunked
1 lb fresh tuna, cut into 6 inch pieces
12 large shrimp, cut lengthwise
12 large sea scallops
1 lb green beans, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 large squash, cut into 1/4 inch slices
3 roma tomatoes, quartered
2 yellow tomatoes, quartered
5 eggs, hard-boiled,peeled,and halved
1 head red leaf lettuce, torn into bite size pieces
10 anchovy fillets, packed in oil
1/2 lb bacon, fried crisp
1 cup drained nicoise olives
1 red bell pepper, sliced into rings
2 lbs tiny new potatoes, scrubbed

Dressing: Combine all ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid and shake until combined. Must be done at least 6 hours in advance. Let stand at room temperature.

Salad: Brush seafood with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Marinate red pepper and squash in a little salad dressing. Quarter new potatoes and boil 15 minutes; toss in enough dressing to coat. Steam or boil green beans 5 minutes and toss in a little dressing. Grill seafood and red pepper and squash.

Assembly: On a very large platter, place the potatoes in the center, surrounded by the green beans. Surround this with the shredded lettuce. Place the grilled seafood and vegetables atop the lettuce. Arrange eggs, bacon, olives, cheese, and tomatoes on platter. Place one anchovy fillet atop each half of egg. Salt and pepper the entire dish and drizzle with the remaining dressing.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Qwerty Kitchen

1675. GNOCCHI NICOISE with BACON

yields four servings


1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
4 ounces bacon, diced
4 cloves garlic, smashed
1/2 pound coarsely ground beef
2 tablespoons brandy or red wine
3 shallots, chopped
1 cup diced carrots
1 stalk celery, sliced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 15-ounce can plum tomatoes
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 bay leaf
2 1-inch strips orange peel
2/3 cup nicoise olives, pitted and chopped
1 package (about 1 pound) vacuum-packed gnocchi

Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and garlic; cook until the bacon starts to brown, about 4 minutes. Add the ground beef; cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Add the brandy, shallots, carrots, celery and tomato paste; cook until the vegetables soften, about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Crush the tomatoes into the pan with your hands and add any juices from the can. Stir in the broth, bay leaf, orange peel and olives. Bring to a simmer and lower the heat; cover and cook 20 minutes. Uncover, increase the heat and bring to a boil to thicken the sauce.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil the gnocchi until one floats to the top, about 1 minute. Drain immediately to prevent the gnocchi from becoming mushy. Remove the orange peel and bay leaf from the sauce and season with salt and pepper. Toss the gnocchi with the sauce.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Food Network Magazine