Chef Barry Saunders,
The Current
The aroma of this fresh dish combines the earthy qualities of beets and fennel with a hint of sweetness from vanilla. The silky carpaccio is a nice contrast in texture with the crisp fennel.
Ingredients
Beet Carpaccio
3 medium golden beets
1 small red beet
2 Tbsp white balsamic vinegar
Fennel Salad
2 bulbs fennel
Vanilla Bean Vinaigrette
1/2 vanilla bean pod
1 orange
1 lemon
6 Tbsp canola oil
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
Method
Beet Carpaccio
- In sauce pot, immerse beets in cold water and add vinegar. Use separate pot for red beet.
- Simmer for 20-30 min until beets are tender. Remove from water and chill.
- Using a mandolin, slice golden beets into chip‑size slices.
Vanilla Vinaigrette
- Split vanilla pod lengthwise. Scrape vanilla beans from pod using knife. Reserve pod for another use such as flavouring cream. Place beans in container with lid.
- Squeeze juice from lemon and orange into container.
- Add rice wine vinegar and oils.
- Shake vigorously.
Fennel Salad
- Remove fronds from fennel bulbs. Reserve fronds for another application such as soup.
- Cut bulbs into quarters. Remove core.
- Using mandolin, slice fennel as thin as possible.
- Immerse fennel in cold ice water for 20 min to help it become crisp.
- Drain from water and place in bowl.
- Add 2 Tbsp of vanilla vinaigrette. Refrigerate dressing for 3-4 weeks.
To serve
- Arrange golden beet slices around plate.
- Place fennel salad in middle of golden beets.
- Garnish with wedges of red beet.
- Drizzle vinaigrette from bowl of fennel salad onto the beets.
Yield 2 servings