Recipes

Caramelized Fennel and Avocado Salad

Photo by Jonathan Boncek

recipe heading-plus-icon

yields

4-6 servings

    Ingredients
  • 2 bulbs fennel, cut into wedges, fronds reserved
  • Canola oil
  • Salt and black pepper
  • 2 ripe firm avocados
  • 1 pint baby heirloom tomatoes
  • ½ cup pine nuts, toasted
  • 2 cups anchovy aioli (recipe follows)
  • Olive oil
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • Anchovy Aioli
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 2 ½ lemons, juiced
  • 2 teaspoons chipotle powder
  • 1 medium shallot
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • ½ cup water
  • 5 anchovy filets
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 cups canola oil
steps
  1. To caramelize fennel, heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add enough canola oil to cover the bottom of the pan by ¼ inch. Sear fennel in batches on both sides until golden brown. Remove to a paper-lined sheet pan and season with salt and pepper. Repeat with remaining wedges.
  2. To make aioli, add all aioli ingredients except oil to blender. Blend on high to thoroughly incorporate. With blender running, add oil until consistency is slightly thicker than heavy cream but less thick than mayonnaise.
  3. To assemble salad, cut avocados into wedges, cut tomatoes in half, and season both with salt and pepper. Place about 3 tablespoons of aioli in the bottom of each salad bowl. Add warm fennel then avocado, tomatoes, pine nuts, and garnish with fennel fronds.  Drizzle olive oil and a squeeze of fresh lemon to finish.
  • from Chef Patrick Owens from Langdon’s Restaurant and Wine Bar and Opal in Mt. Pleasant, SC

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