July 13, 2017 — Dinner Party

Smoked Chicken, Smoked Salmon and Parma Ham Salad

  • 40 mins
  • 4 PEOPLE
  • medium

This salad turns out more like an antipasto and perhaps is all the better for it.  The flowers can’t fail to delight—and they are all edible.

This is inspired by a recipe in the book, 'Salad' by Amy Nathan (1985).

We'd love to see a photo when you plate up, please share #WhatDadCooked

Share this yummy recipe with a friend on WhatsApp

Follow us on Instagram — @WhatDadCooked

We'd love to see a photo when you plate up, please share #WhatDadCooked

Share this yummy recipe with a friend on WhatsApp

Follow us on Instagram — @WhatDadCooked

What you need

1 smoked chicken breast

2 heads of chicory

Kewpie mayonnaise

1 cucumber

125g smoked salmon

Fresh dill

1 small melon

4 slices Parma ham

Fresh basil leaves

4 day lily blossoms

4 begonia blossoms

4 nasturtium blossoms

Chives

Mixed olives

ADVERTISEMENT

Dad's Recipe Tales

In 1988, an artist friend, gave us a very ‘artistic’ cookbook. The book was Salad, by Amy Nathan and Kathryn Kleinman, (1985). According to the sleeve notes, it was full of ‘stunning salad dishes to delight the eye as well as the palate.’ At the time the book was published, the modern English restaurant scene – with its regalia of Michelin stars and Instagram galleries of beautifully crafted food images – was still waiting in the wings. It’s therefore remarkable that a cookbook, 32 years old, should include such arresting visuals of food – it was clearly well ahead of its time.

Each plate of food (and photographic ‘plate’), was immaculately composed into symmetrical or asymmetrical patterns. The food was shot on top of a light box using transparent dinner plates, a technique that emphasised not only the colour and shape of the food, but also the creativity of the authors. These days, the photographer’s light box has been replaced by burnished metal or distressed wood, the transparent plates with artisan crockery. Both styles could be accused of fetishising food, however, the intention of Salad is not to stimulate a ‘food porn’ reaction, but rather to show the food in a more elemental and refined light so that each ingredient might be appreciated for its own sake. Salad’s dishes are reminiscent of Nouvelle Cuisine, its characteristic lightness of touch, lightly cooked ingredients and the minimalist approach to arranging food could have been an inspiration for the book.

I’ve been critical of the new trend in scattering grains, seeds and whole foods on a plate. I imagined treating ingredients as an assortment of components brought together in a random manner will only create endless nondescript dishes. What is needed is a greater appreciation of the ingredient: why is it distinctive, what are its characteristics, what does it add to the plate, can it be complimented or contrasted by other ingredients? I sense our Salad authors considered this as much as the visual appeal.

My versions, are adapted to add further ideas, either in the visual impact or in the flavour combination. The tomato salad, is simplicity itself. But, it allows us to pause and acknowledge the different tomato varieties. I have also attempted to add, where possible, new ideas about taste and texture contrasts such as savoury, fresh and crunch. A baked goat’s cheese is turned into a poppy flower incorporating beetroot. A pear dish is less about leaves and flowers and more about a classic pairing of flavours.

Salad should be used by culinary colleges to help students with their presentation and appreciation of flavour combinations. It certainly made me re-think how I put food on a plate and provided new insights into combining food.

 

For art inspired salad recipes check out some of these: Capellini, Tomato Consomme and TunaGoat’s Cheese, Beetroot and Poppy Seed SaladTomato Salad or Plum Soba, Prawns and Shiso Salad.

How Dad Cooked It

  1. Cut the blossoms and brush to remove any bugs. Arrange at the top of four plates. Decorate with chives.
  2. Cut the chicken into thin slices and then in half, stack inside four sets of three chicory leaves and dab with mayonnaise. Arrange on the plates.
  3. Slice the cucumber at an angle in four sets of three slices. Iterlace with smoked salmon, garnish with dill. Arrange on the plates.
  4. Slice the melon into four set of three slices. Take a slice of Parma ham and make concertina folds and lay on top of the melon. Arrange on plates and garnish with basil.
  5. Fill four small bowls with olives and place in the centre of each dish.
Latest Recipes
Cassoulet de Toulouse à la Pappa

A perfect winter warmer – Cassoulet!

The Laughing Cow Lightest Loaded Quesadilla

Try Dad’s loaded low-fat salsa quesadillas with The Laughing Cow Lightest x8 cheese.

Melanzane Parmigiana with Dolmio 7 Vegetables Sun Ripened Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce

An excellent way to turn a popular Italian slow food standard into an easy and quicker family classic.



ADVERTISEMENT
© What Dad Cooked, 2024. Privacy Policy. Terms and Conditions. Twitter Instagram