Mixed Heirloom Lettuces with Fennel, Grapes, Blue Cheese and Sweet Shallot Balsamic Vinaigrette

Serves

An assortment of our colorful organic heirloom lettuce leaves makes a beautiful and tasty salad. 

For this recipe we've combined grapes for sweetness, fennel for crunch, yellow tomatoes for color and a hint of acidity, and crumbles of blue cheese for an earthy tang. A sweet shallot and balsamic vinaigrette finishes the salad, although you can use your favorite dressing in its place.

Spiced or candied walnuts, almonds or pecans would be a nice touch with this combination. If grapes aren't in season, try substituting strawberries.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons finely minced shallots
  kosher or sea salt
  Freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon Sugar
1/4 cup fruity extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
7 ounces Earthbound Farm Organic Heirloom Lettuce Leaves (torn into bite-size pieces)
1 fennel bulb (trimmed, cut in half lengthwise, cored and cut crosswise into very thin slices)
1 cup yellow grape tomatoes (halved lengthwise if larger than bite-size)
1 cup Earthbound Farm Organic Seedless Red or Green Grapes (or a combination of colors, halved if large)
3 ounces crumbled blue cheese

Directions

Make the vinaigrette: Heat the 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat and add the shallots. Cook, stirring frequently, until the shallots are soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and stir in the sugar. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue cooking until the shallots color lightly, about 5 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a small glass jar, then add the extra-virgin olive oil and vinegars. Seal tightly and shake vigorously to combine. Set aside at room temperature.

Place the greens in a large salad bowl and toss with some of the vinaigrette. Add the fennel, tomatoes and grapes, and toss again to combine, adding more vinaigrette as needed.

Transfer the salad to a large platter and scatter with the crumbled blue cheese. Serve immediately.