Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Blackberry Vinaigrette

Picture it, Mexico, 2011.  We are at this mayan joint where everything starts and ends in a X and I am just trying to make sure I don't accidentally eat pork.   The menu is approximately 45 pages long, and I am starting to sweat.

I usually don't have a hard time ordering somewhere, but sweet martha, whats a girl with IBS to do?!?

And then. Right off the English menu a phrase jumps out at me like a jalapeno in frying oil.

Blackberry. Vinaigrette.

WHAAAA?

Trust me, I was just as confused as you are about it.

But I Don't care whose idea it was, it was a good one, son!

The Mayans got something right.

BLACKBERRY VINAIGRETTE

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon minced shallots
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 pint fresh blackberries, plus extra for garnish
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/2 cup light olive oil

In a large skillet, heat the oil over a medium-high heat.  Add the shallots and garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. 


Add the blackberries and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.



Deglaze the pan with the vinegars and cook until reduced by half, about 30 seconds.

Remove from the heat and transfer to a blender. 

Add the sugar, mint and tarragon, and process to a smooth paste. Add the salt and pepper. 



With the machine running, add the light olive oil through the feed tube and process until smooth.


Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a clean bowl and refrigerate until completely cool, about 1 hour. 



Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall, This vinaigrette will wake up any salad.

Love,

Whit

2 comments:

  1. wow, blackberry vinagerette. that sounds so awesome. but that's a crazy list of ingredients for a salad dressing. does it last pretty long?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks! It lasts probably about a week, you're putting in fresh ingredients, so you don't want to keep it any longer than you'd keep the blackberry itself! If you have a big crowd over for dinner, it's not hard to use up!

    ReplyDelete