NECESSITY SALAD

Although many of the ingredients resemble those of the legendary Waldorf Salad created at the Astoria Hotel in New York, the real inspiration for this salad was desperation. “Necessity is the Mother of Invention” was my mantra.

People were coming for dinner and all I had in the fridge was some celery and an apple.

INGREDIENTS

1 apple

3 stalks of celery

I head of lettuce (or a bag of mesculun) that was luckily lying around

1/3 cup toasted walnuts or pecans or slivered almonds

1/3 cup grated gorgonzola or parmesan or sharp cheddar cheese.

NB I always keep nuts and cheeses on hand. Doesn’t everyone?

Dressing: 1/3 cup olive oil

1/3 as much white wine vinegar (about 2 tbsps)

2 cloves of garlic put through a press

salt and pepper

a pinch of red pepper flakes

2 tsps French mustard.

PROCEDURE

Whisk all the dressing ingredients in a large bowl.
Finely slice the celery using the slicing disk in a food processor.
Core and quarter the apple and slice similarly
Toss celery and apple with the dressing and place in the fridge
To serve arrange lettuce on individual salad plates
Top with celery/apple mixture
Sprinkle with nuts and cheese and add some grated black peppercorns.