Ingredients
Equipment
Method
1. Prepare the Lettuce:
- Rinse the Romaine and Red Leaf lettuce gently under cold water. Pat dry with a clean towel. Place the Romaine upright on a serving plate. Arrange the Red Leaf ribbons around the Romaine core for color and texture.
2. Prep Vegetables:
- Slice the cucumber and shave the radishes thinly using a vegetable peeler or mandolin. Tuck the cucumber slices and radish ribbons around and into the lettuce layers.
3. Add Crunch:
- Sprinkle the crispy shallots and toasted seeds over the top and around the base of the lettuce.
4. Dress the Salad:
- Drizzle or pipe the Miso Aioli generously over the lettuce wedge, making sure it falls between the layers. Finish with a light drizzle of Toasted Sesame Vinaigrette if desired.
5. Garnish and Serve:
- Scatter the chopped chives over the salad. Season with a pinch of sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Serve immediately, allowing guests to pull apart the leaves and enjoy the medley of textures and flavors.
Notes
Chives offer a mild, onion-like aroma that brightens every bite. Their delicate green stems can be finely chopped and sprinkled raw over the salad, releasing fresh flavor and a gentle pungency without overpowering the dish. To maximize aroma, add chives just before serving.
Chives are rich in vitamins A and C, as well as antioxidants that help support immune function and fight inflammation (Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 2016). They also provide small amounts of folate and choline, nutrients that benefit brain and heart health. Their subtle sharpness brings balance to creamy or tangy dressings.