Dressing:
1 head garlic
1/4 teaspoon olive oil
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup mayonnaise
3/4 teaspoon Essence, recipe follows
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup parsley leaves
2 tablespoons chopped chives
1/4 teaspoon orange zest
Salad:
12 (1/4-inch) slices French bread
Olive oil, as needed
1 clove peeled garlic, halved
1/4-pound block Canadian bacon, cut into 1/2-inch dice
2 hearts romaine lettuce
8 cherry tomatoes, halved
Freshly ground black pepper
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Put the bread slices on a baking sheet, lightly brush the top with olive oil and rub the cut side of the garlic over them. Cook until golden brown and crisp.
In a medium skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add the Canadian bacon and cook until lightly browned, about 8 minutes. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
Meanwhile, remove the outer leaves from the romaine hearts and rinse. Chop these leaves into bite-size pieces and spin dry. Halve the hearts through to make 4 wedges. Rinse under cold running water and shake to air dry.
Divide the wedges among 4 plates. Mound some of the chopped romaine on top. Spoon about 1/4 cup of the dressing over each salad and top with the bacon, croutons, and tomatoes. Season with freshly ground black pepper.
2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme
Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
Yield: about 2/3 cup
Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.
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