Fennel & Apple Salad with Candied Almonds, Aged White Cheddar

Serve with some warm crusty bread —grilled cornbread is my choice in the
restaurant.

For 4 servings, you will need:

1 large head romaine lettuce; washed, dried and torn
1 small fennel bulb, 2 apples of your taste; shave fennel and apple with
mandolin or slice thin
1/2 cup – 1 cup shaved or crumbled aged white cheddar
1 cup candied almonds
1 cup honey-creme fraiche dressing
Candied Almonds

1 cup almonds (use whole almonds)
3 tbsp butter
1tbsp ground coriander seed
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp fresh grated nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
Toast the almonds on a baking pan for about 8 min. In a saucepan, melt
butter until foamy, add the brown sugar, turn heat down to medium and add a tsp. of cold water. Stir constantly for 3 minutes until sugar is completely dissolved; turn heat off and add coriander, nutmeg and salt. Put warm almonds and hot sugar mix in a bowl; toss together quickly and lay back on baking pan to cool and set.

Creme Fraiche Dressing (allow 24hrs for creme to set!)

1 cup whipping cream
1/3 cup buttermilk

Put together in a bowl, cover tightly with saran wrap and let sit for 24hrs
in a warm place in the kitchen. Creme fraiche can be purchased at most grocery stores now; home made is always the best if time allows. After the creme has set Add:

4 tbsp honey
fresh squeezed juice of 1 lemon

Whisk together gently.

Assembly
In a large bowl, toss the romaine, apple and fennel together with 1/2
the creme dressing (add more to taste). Add most of the candy almonds and
aged cheddar (reserve a few for garnishing). Chilled plates are best! Use your hands to pile the salad high on each plate, garnish with your reserved nuts and cheese. Serve with warm bread!

Store your leftover creme fraiche dressing in the fridge and eat with fresh fruit later. This salad is so delicious and versatile. Any roasted nut or sharp cheese would do well; it’s the creme dressing with crisp romaine that make it such a divine palette to start from. The above recipe is how it is prepared on the Rebar menu.