Baby Lettuce and Herb Salad with Shallot Vinaigrette

 More Terrific Salads

Yield:
12

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds baby red beets or medium red beets

  • 1/2 cup aged red wine vinegar

  • 2 medium shallots, finely chopped

  • Salt and freshly ground pepper

  • 1/2 cup canola or grapeseed oil

  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1 pound mixed baby salad greens

  • 4 cups flat-leaf parsley leaves

  • 2 cups basil leaves

  • 1 cup tarragon leaves

  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

  • 2 bunches radishes, thinly sliced

Directions

  1. In a medium saucepan, cover the beets with cold water and bring to a boil. Simmer over moderate heat until tender when pierced, about 20 minutes for baby beets and 40 minutes for medium beets. Drain, then rinse in cold water and slip off the skins. Cut the baby beets in half lengthwise; thinly slice the medium beets crosswise. Let the beets cool.

  2. In a large bowl, combine the vinegar with the shallots and season with salt and pepper. Gradually whisk in the oils until the dressing emulsifies. Add the greens, parsley, basil, tarragon, tomatoes and radishes to the bowl. Season the salad with salt and pepper, toss gently and transfer to a platter. Sprinkle the beets on top and serve.

Make Ahead

The whole cooked beets can be refrigerated overnight.

Suggested Pairing

A rich, round, powerful Champagne has enough body and fruity-toasty flavors to stand up to the aromatic herbs in the salad.

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