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French Fridays with Dorie: Vanilla Vegetable Salad

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I used Vanilla Bean Paste and added a sprinkle of Parisien Bonnes Herbes in the Vinaigrette

This week’s French Fridays with Dorie challenge is for Vanilla Vegetable Salad – yes, really!  I know it sounds like an unlikely combination:  Salad Greens, Carrots, and Yellow Squash drizzled with a light, lemony vinaigrette scented with vanilla.  But, it is a lovely, summery combination that delights the palate.  The vanilla flavor is very subtle, almost an aftertaste, but it’s definitely there.  I’d love to try this vinaigrette with a pear or beet salad.

Carrots and Yellow Squash ribbons cut with a vegetable peeler

I love how Dorie constantly challenges preconceived notions of what flavors work well together.  We served this salad as a starter course with warm buttered sourdough bread and our family truly enjoyed it.

Bon Appetit!

Enjoying the display cases at Harrods Food Hall
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Comments

  1. Adriana says

    Visiting Harrods is a bucket list item for me. You must have had such a great trip. I enjoyed the salad – it’s always great having another easy dressing idea in the back burner.

  4. Nana says

    Your salad looks really delicious. This was not a favorite for us but I am glad I tried it. Susan, I just want to say that I enjoyed all your photos from London, they are lovely. I am so happy you and John had a great time.

  5. Betsy says

    Welcome back! I’m with you and Cher. I’d think I’d like this dressing better on a salad with fruit. I wasn’t wild about it on the savory salad.

  9. Cocoa and Lavender says

    I love the photo of you at Harrod’s! It looks like you are saying, “I will take one of those, three of the ones behind it, and a dozen of the cookies to the right. Oh, and a bottle of champagne.”

    I am going to trust your palate and try this with a pear and pecan salad. xo

  10. onewetfoot.ca says

    It’s a really interesting dressing, isn’t it? And I agree, I love the way Dorie’s book has educated my palate – vanilla vinaigrette was a new concept to me.

  11. Diane Zwang says

    Harrods, sounds like you were in London? Hope you had a great trip. This salad did not go over well in my house but I did a few make-ups that were winners.

  12. Kathy says

    Susan, I actually enjoyed this dressing too! I gave it a second try on an arugula, fig and goat cheese salad…it was quite lovely! Yours looks very pretty!

  13. Mary Hirsch says

    Your salad looks so delicious, Susan. I really can see this on a fresh fruit salad. Even the beet salad intriques me. The fresh veggie salad, with a vanilla dressing, not so much. Weren’t you amazed by Harrod’s Food Hall. Did you go to Fortnum & Masons. It’s been more than 15 years since I’ve been in London and I wonder how it has changed. So pleased you had a wonderful vacation.Thinking of you both at this time and in the coming week. Sending love, especially to John.