Name: Grape Harvesters Salad with Pesto Vinaigrette
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 tablespoons parsley pesto (or the pesto of your choice); 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar (or champagne vinegar); 1/4 teaspoon coarse sea salt; 1 1/2 pounds mixed Baby Gem greens (Castelfranco chicory or Belfiore chicory); 5 slices prosciutto (or thin smoked country ham, cut into thin strips); 1 tablespoon tarragon (finely chopped); 1 tablespoon chives (finely chopped); 4 ounces goat cheese (sliced); 4 ounces grapes (de-stemmed and halved if the grapes are large)

A bowl of Grape Harvesters Salad with Pesto Vinaigrette. — Photo: Pascale Beale

This salad is adapted from a recipe in my Autumn cookbook and came about because of some stunning grapes I picked up from Cosecha Farm, whose stand is always one of the most visually tempting at our local farmers market. Deanna King, the owner, produces exquisite food. Getting to know the farmers at the market has been a privilege, and I’m filled with admiration for their incredible hard work and tenacity. If you have ever spent a day picking fruit, you know how backbreaking it can be.

This recipe is a thank you, Deanna, to you and your family for all your tender produce.

Ingredients

For the Pesto Vinaigrette

1 ½ tablespoons parsley pesto, or the pesto of your choice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar, or champagne vinegar
¼ teaspoon coarse sea salt

For the Salad

1 ½ pounds mixed Baby Gem greens, Castelfranco chicory or Belfiore chicory
5 slices prosciutto, or thin smoked country ham, cut into thin strips
1 tablespoon tarragon, finely chopped
1 tablespoon chives, finely chopped
4 ounces goat cheese, sliced
4 ounces grapes, de-stemmed and halved if the grapes are large

Instructions

Place all the vinaigrette ingredients in a small blender orfood processor and run until you have an emulsion. Pour thevinaigrette into a large salad bowl and place salad servers overthe vinaigrette.
Place all the remaining ingredients in the bowl on top of thesalad servers. When ready to serve, toss well to combine.

Nutrition

Grape Harvesters Salad with Pesto Vinaigrette