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Escarole Salad with Clams and Grilled Corn
© Con Poulos

Escarole Salad with Clams and Grilled Corn

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  • ACTIVE:
  • TOTAL TIME: 1 HR
  • SERVINGS: 6
  • •HEALTHY
  • •STAFF-FAVORITE

Clams add a delightful briny flavor to this escarole and grilled corn salad, which smacks of summer.

Slideshow: Great Summer Salads to Try

  1. 2 ears of corn, shucked
  2. 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  3. Salt
  4. Freshly ground pepper
  5. 1/2 cup dry white wine
  6. 2 small shallots—1 thinly sliced, 1 minced
  7. 7 garlic cloves—4 smashed, 3 minced
  8. 1 bay leaf
  9. 2 dozen manila clams, scrubbed
  10. 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  11. Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
  12. 2 plum tomatoes—peeled, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch dice
  13. 1/2 pound tender escarole leaves, torn into bite-size pieces (8 cups)
  14. 4 ounces frisée, torn into bite-size pieces (4 cups)
  15. 2 celery ribs, peeled and shaved lengthwise with a vegetable peeler
  1. Light a grill or preheat a grill pan. Drizzle the corn with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill over moderately high heat, turning, until lightly charred all over, 15 minutes. Let cool, then cut the kernels off the cobs.
  2. In a saucepan, bring the wine, sliced shallot, smashed garlic and bay leaf to a boil. Add the clams, cover and cook over moderately high heat until they open, 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a bowl; remove the clams from the shells and coarsely chop.
  3. Strain the clam broth into a small saucepan and boil over moderately high heat until reduced to 3 tablespoons, 10 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and let cool. Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, tomatoes and the minced shallot and garlic. Stir in the 1/4 cup of oil and season with salt and pepper.
  4. In a large bowl, combine the escarole, frisée, celery, corn and clams. Drizzle with the dressing, toss well and serve.

Suggested Pairing

Briny, medium-bodied Vermentino always works well with shellfish, and its slight herbal note makes it perfect with this salad.