Author Notes: I like a salad that’s a little bruising. I want some crunch, some bitterness, and plenty of clear acidity. Bonus points for pungent flavor. Italian puntarelle with anchovy dressing is my all-time favorite. Do you wish to join me in my feisty salad camp? If so, I have a radish number that will please you deeply and keep vampires away. Or at least a few friends. For this salad you want peppery (but not fiery) radishes. Cut them into thin wedges. Make a sauce with anchovy, garlic, lemon, and capers. And dress the radishes shortly before serving, otherwise the radishes begin to weep and the anchovy sauce loses its mojo. – Amanda —Amanda Hesser
Serves: 4
Ingredients
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1 large
bunches radishes
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1
anchovy fillet
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1
small garlic clove, peeled
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Salt
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1/2
tablespoon lemon juice
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1
tablespoon olive oil
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1
teaspoon coarsely chopped capers
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1/2
tablespoon chopped flatleaf parsley
Directions
- Trim tops and tails from the radishes. Scrub them well. Slice each radish into 4 wedges (if small) or 6 wedges (if large).
- With a mortar and pestle (or in a mini food processor), mash the anchovy, garlic, and a pinch of salt to a paste. Mix in the lemon juice, then slowly blend in the oil, adding it in a thread-thin stream as you mix. Fold in the capers.
- Add the sauce and parsley to the radishes and fold until well blended. Adjust lemon juice and salt to taste. Serve within 30 minutes.
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A nice fat bunch of radishes from the Greenmarket, and a few flavorful friends.
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First trimming the little buggers: slice off each end then cut into 4 to 6 wedges.
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Chop some parsley.
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Pull some anchovies from their tin bed.
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Mash the anchovy and a garlic clove with a dash of salt.
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I like to play it fast and loose with my lemon, and just squeeze it right into the measuring spoon.
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After adding the lemon to the anchovy and garlic, I pestle in some oil.
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Give your capers a coarse chop.
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Add them to the sauce. At this point, it looks a little rough around the edges. Bad color. Bad texture. But cut it some slack…
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Because once it's mixed up with the feisty radishes, peace and pleasure reign.
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Mix and swirl!
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Spent ingredients….
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… all in honor of the finished dish.
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