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[nverland]

Mediterranean Grilled Chopped Vegetable Salad With Feta
Serves 4

1 medium eggplant
1 medium zucchini
1 medium yellow squash
1 medium fennel bulb
1 small red onion
8 asparagus spears
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Water
30 green beans, trimmed
10 baby carrots, trimmed
1/2 cup pitted and halved Kalamata olives
1 cup mixed baby lettuces
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese, plus 1/4 lb block
3 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1/2 cup Sun-Dried Tomato Vinaigrette (recipe follows)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves

Cut the eggplant, zucchini and squash diagonally into slices 1/2 inch thick. Trim the fennel and cut crosswise into slices 1/2 inch thick. Peel the onion and cut crosswise into slices 1/2 inch thick. Trim the asparagus.

With 1/2 cup of the olive oil, coat all the vegetables. Season with salt and pepper. Set the vegetables aside.

Build a fire in a charcoal grill, or preheat a gas grill, for indirect-heat cooking.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and fill a mixing bowl with ice and water. Add the green beans to the boiling water and, as soon as it returns to the boil and the beans are bright green, use a wire skimmer or slotted spoon to transfer them to the ice water. Add the baby carrots and boil until tender-crisp, 2 to 3 minutes; transfer to the ice water. Drain the vegetables and set aside.

When the fire is hot, place the vegetables on the cooking grid not directly above the heat. Cook, turning as necessary to prevent scorching, until are nicely browned and tender-crisp, 5 to 7 minutes total cooking time. As they are done, transfer the vegetables to a platter and leave to cool.

Cut the grilled vegetables into 1/2-inch pieces. Cut the carrots and green beans on the bias into 1/4-inch pieces.

Put all the vegetables, olives, lettuces and crumbled feta in a large salad bowl. Add the remaining olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss well.
Divide the 1/2 cup of vinaigrette among 4 large salad plates, spooning it around the edge. Mound the salad mixture evenly in the middle. Using a cheese plane or swivel-bladed vegetable peeler, shave the block of feta over each salad. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.


SUN-DRIED TOMATO VINAIGRETTE
Makes 5 cups
2 cups extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 cup sherry vinegar
1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
1/2 cup pitted and chopped Kalamata olives
1/4 cup pitted and chopped Nicoise olives
1/4 cup honey
3 tablespoons drained chopped capers
2 tablespoons minced shallot
2 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves
1-1/2 tablespoons chopped mint leaves
1 tablespoon chopped basil leaves
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Put all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl, adding a little salt and pepper. With a wire whisk, whisk them together briefly, then taste and, if necessary, adjust the seasonings with more salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Comments

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

Terrific recipe but speaking of asparagus,
something weird today at the store.
Asparagus was $1.98 per pound at FM
Today at FM it was $5.98 per pound.
Talk about sticker shock