Butter Lettuce Salad With Parsley and Bitter Grapefruit Vinaigrette

Adapted from Bitterman’s Field Guide to Bitters and Amari by Mark Bitterman

This is a posh version of a green salad.  It’s simple but sophisticated. The secret ingredient is the grapefruit bitters. According to Mark Bitterman, bitters are concentrated flavor extracts for seasoning while amari are concentrated flavor extracts for drinking. Although they are commonly used to make cocktails, they can be added to foods to punch up the flavor.

For the Vinaigrette whisk together these ingredients in a small bowl :

3 Tbsp rice vinegar

2 Tbsp walnut or hazelnut oil

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

¼ tsp finely ground black pepper

1/8 tsp celery seed

3 Tbsp grapefruit bitters

Dash of ginger or cardamom bitters (optional)

For the Salad Mix together the following ingredients in a salad bowl:

1 bag butter lettuce or 1 large head butter lettuce torn into bite-size pieces

4 oz (approx 1/2 cup) microgreens or radicchio torn into bite size pieces

1 cup flat leaf parsley leaves (stems removed)

1/2 cup finely diced fennel

1 Persian cucumber, finely diced

2 Tbsp minced red onion

Just before serving, toss the vinaigrette and toss with the salad. Garnish with Maldon sea salt flakes if desired and serve.

Makes 4 servings

Butter Lettuce Salad With Parsley and Bitter Grapefruit Vinaigrette

Adapted from Bitterman’s Field Guide to Bitters and Amari by Mark Bitterman

This is a posh version of a green salad. The secret ingredient is the grapefruit bitters. According to Mark Bitterman, bitters are concentrated flavor extracts for seasoning. Amari are concentrated flavor extracts for drinking

For the Vinaigrette whisk together these ingredients in a small bowl :

3 Tbsp rice vinegar

2 Tbsp walnut or hazelnut oil

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

¼ tsp finely ground black pepper

1/8 tsp celery seed

3 Tbsp grapefruit bitters

Dash of ginger or cardamom bitters (optional)

For the Salad Mix together the following ingredients in a salad bowl:

1 bag butter lettuce or 1 large head butter lettuce torn into bite-size pieces

4 oz (approx 1/2 cup) microgreens or radicchio torn into bite size pieces

1 cup flat leaf parsley leaves (stems removed)

1/2 cup finely diced fennel

1 Persian cucumber, finely diced

2 Tbsp minced red onion

Just before serving, toss the vinaigrette and toss with the salad. Garnish with Maldon sea salt flakes if desired and serve.

Makes 4 servings