Romaine Salad with Flash-Pickled Figs

ACTIVE: 30 MIN
TOTAL TIME: 1 HR 30 MIN
SERVINGS: 8

HEALTHY
VEGETARIAN

These "flash-pickled" figs need only an hour of soaking in a mixture of vinegar, salt and water. As a clever time-saver, the soaking liquid for the figs also forms the base for the salad dressing.

video Linton Hopkins: Quick Pickles

slideshow More Great Salads

1/4 cup white wine vinegar
Kosher salt
8 fresh figs, quartered lengthwise
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons light olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper
3 large heads of romaine (from one 22-ounce package), cut into thin ribbons

In a medium bowl, combine 3 tablespoons of the white wine vinegar with 3 tablespoons of water and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Add the figs and let stand at room temperature for 1 hour (or refrigerate for up to 4 hours). Drain the figs, reserving the pickling liquid.
In a large bowl, whisk the reserved pickling liquid with the remaining 1 tablespoon of vinegar and the Dijon mustard. Whisk in the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Add the romaine and figs and toss to coat. Serve right away.

Make Ahead The drained figs and dressing can be refrigerated separately overnight.