Alsatian Ham-and-Gruyère Salad

Contributed by Quick From Scratch Soups & Salads

SERVINGS: 4

•BASIC-EASY
•FAST

In Strasbourg, the main city of the Alsace region in France, salads of meat or cheese tossed with onion and vinaigrette are popular snack fare. We use both meat and cheese to turn this snack into a meal. Just add some hearty bread.

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1 onion, cut into paper-thin slices
2 1/2 teaspoons grainy Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons red- or white-wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
1/2 cup olive oil
1 pound sliced smoked ham, such as Black Forest, cut into matchstick strips
1/2 pound sliced Gruyère cheese, cut into matchstick strips
3/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Put the onion in a small bowl of cold water and let stand for 10 minutes. Drain the onion, rinse, and then pat dry with paper towels.
Meanwhile, in a large glass or stainless-steel bowl, whisk together the mustard, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Add the oil slowly, whisking. Add the ham, cheese, onion, and parsley to the vinaigrette and toss.

Notes Variations This is a fine place to use cold cuts or leftover meat. Thin strips of pork, lamb, beef, salami, or mortadella could all be used in place of the ham. Or, for you meat lovers, try one of them in place of the cheese.

Suggested Pairing

Alsace is known for its delicious white wines, but an excellent red, Pinot d'Alsace, is made from Pinot Noir as well. It's worth looking for to create an intriguing regional pairing. If you can't find one, a fruity Beaujolais will do just fine.

Alsatian Ham-and-Gruyère Salad

Suggested Pairing

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