Spring
Gatsby's Harlequin Salad
- Serves 6-8
Author Notes
I was asked what I would serve at a "Great Gatsby" party. I envisioned bright green asparagus spears placed in a diamond pattern with a variation of creamtea's buttermilk dilled corn salad in the center diamonds and a caprese salad in the outer triangles. —lorigoldsby
What You'll Need
Ingredients
- Buttermilk Corn Salad
-
6
ears of sweet corn, husks and silks removed
-
1/2
small, overly ripe red pepper, small dice
-
1 cup
greek yogurt
-
1 cup
buttermilk
-
coarse salt and fresh pepper, to taste
-
1 tablespoon
fresh dill, finely minced
-
8-10
asparagus spears
- Caprese salad
-
8 ounces
grape tomatoes
-
4 ounces
mini mozzarella pearls
-
2 tablespoons
basil, snipped
-
2 tablespoons
olive oil
-
1 tablespoon
balsamic vinegar
-
coarse salt and fresh pepper, to taste
Directions
- In a large, wide pan, simmer your asparagus for 2-3 minutes. I had nice thick stalks...remove and plunge into a large, wide bowl filled with ice and water to "shock". When cool to the touch, place on paper towels to drain. Chill until ready to assemble
- Cut corn off the cob and "milk" the cob by running the back egde of the knife over the cob to release the corn milk.
- Add diced red pepper, dill, yogurt and buttermilk. Stir and season with salt and pepper to taste. Chill until ready to assemble.
- Prepare caprese salad by chopping tomatoes and cheese, tossing in oil, vinegar and basil. Season with salt and pepper. Chill.
- To assemble, on a long rectangular serving dish, arrange spears in a criss cross pattern to create a harlequin design...with diamond shapes in the middle and triangles framing the sides.
- fill in diamonds with corn mixture and triangles with caprese mix.
- If you have any leftovers...or just not in the mood for the fussiness of the 'harlequin'...drain excess liquid from the corn and tomato salads, cut the asparagus spears into bite sized pieces and mix together the salads and spears.
I learned to cook with my Gran. I can still see her reading a recipe and figuring out how she would make it better. She was fearless about substituting ingredients--but also knowledgeable. She approached food in the same way she built her antique business--appreciate quality ingredients and workmanship, but don't be a snob. I think I carry those same beliefs in my approach to cooking. I love family style dinners, I love a fancy ladies' luncheon with my wedding china, or a backyard seafood boil to celebrate my husband's birthday...I love to share food with others.
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