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Simple Arugula and Apple Salad

This is far and away the most popular salad at the Shop, where we serve a handful to accompany every sandwich. We prefer Fuji apples because they are crisp and acidic and balance the peppery arugula and sweet apple cider dressing. In most of the restaurants we’ve worked in, chives are used as a garnish and rarely as an ingredient, but their mild, oniony flavor is absolutely key in this salad. In a pinch, scallions can be used in place of the chives.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 6

Ingredients

One 5-ounce bag prewashed baby arugula
1 Fuji apple, cored, quartered, seeded, and thinly sliced
1/4 cup thinly sliced chives
1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinaigrette (recipe follows)

Apple Cider Vinaigrette

3/4 cup apple cider
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup olive oil
(makes 1 1/2 cups)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Combine the arugula, apple, and chives in a large mixing bowl. Dress with the vinaigrette, making sure to lightly toss the greens but thoroughly incorporate the dressing.

  2. Apple Cider Vinaigrette

    Step 2

    Bring the apple cider to a boil in a small pot over mediumhigh heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the liquid reduces by half, about 12 minutes.

    Step 3

    Pour the cider into a small mixing bowl. Add the vinegar, mustard, and salt and whisk vigorously. While continuing to whisk, slowly drizzle the olive oil into the bowl until completely incorporated.

  3. QUICK TIP

    Step 4

    The Dijon mustard does more than add a vibrant note to the vinaigrette. It provides a stable base that helps the oil and vinegar emulsify, creating that smooth, creamy texture that you want in a vinaigrette. A well-emulsified vinaigrette also evenly coats the lettuce leaves for a balanced salad. Try adding a teaspoon to your basic vinegar-and-olive-oil dressing for a smoother result.

Reprinted with permission from The Meatball Shop Cookbook by Daniel Holzman and Michael Chernow with Lauren Deen. Copyright © 2011 by Daniel Holzman and Michael Chernow; photographs copyright © 2011 by John Kernick. Published by Ballantine Books, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. Daniel Holzman is executive chef at The Meatball Shop. He is an alum of Le Bernadin, San Francisco's Fifth Floor, and Aqua, among other highly acclaimed restaurants. He attended the Culinary Institute of America, where he received a full scholarship from the James Beard Foundation. Michael Chernow runs the front-of-house operations and the beverage program at The Meatball Shop. He has worked extensively in restaurants in New York and Los Angeles. He is a graduate of the French Culinary Institute, where he earned degrees in culinary arts and restaurant management. He and Holzman met as teenagers when they worked together as delivery boys at the New York vegan restaurant Candle Café. Needless to say, the vegan thing didn't really stick. Lauren Deen is the author of the New York Times bestselling Cook Yourself Thin series and Kitchen Playdates. She is an Emmy award—and James Beard award— winning television producer and director. She is currently executive producer of food(ography) on the Cooking Channel.
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