SPRING SALAD

Chances of setting off a fire alarm is low, but not impossible.

*Recipe adapted from Molly Baz

Ingredients

Yield: 4 servings

1 garlic clove

2 lemons

¼ cup buttermilk

8 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided

Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

1 English hothouse cucumber, halved lengthwise, cut crosswise into 1½” pieces

1-2 shallots, thinly sliced

6 oz. sugar snap peas, trimmed, thinly sliced on a diagonal (about 2 cups)

2 1 inch-thick slices round country-style bread

1 bunch asparagus, trimmed, sliced on a diagonal into 2” pieces

1 cup (packed) tender herb leaves with tender stems (dill & basil)

4 oz. feta

Directions

Step One
Finely grate garlic and the zest of 1 lemon into a large bowl.

Slice both lemons in half and squeeze their juice into the bowl.

Add buttermilk and 6 Tbsp. oil and whisk to combine. Season dressing with salt and lots of pepper.

Step Two
Lightly crush cucumber on a cutting board with a rolling pin or wine bottle. Add cucumber, shallots, and peas to dressing and toss well to combine. Let sit while you fry the bread and asparagus.

Step three
Pour remaining 2 Tbsp. oil into a skillet large enough to fit both slices of bread in a single layer. Add bread and set over medium heat. Cook, undisturbed, until golden brown and crisp underneath, about 5 minutes. Turn bread over and cook just to lightly fry on the other side, about 2 minutes. Season both sides of bread with salt.

Transfer to a plate.

Step Four
Arrange asparagus in same skillet, season with salt, and increase heat to medium-high. Cook, tossing occasionally, until bright green and blistered in some spots, but still crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Add to salad.

Step Five
Tear bread into 1½” pieces and add to salad. Toss to evenly coat and help bread soak up some of the dressing. Taste and season with more salt and pepper as needed. Add herbs to salad and toss once more.

Step Six
Divide salad among shallow bowls, reserving any dressing and juices that pool at the bottom of bowl. Break feta into large pieces and nestle into salad in each bowl. Drizzle reserved dressing and juices over.

In the Rotation

A collection of adapted recipes that avoid setting off the smoke alarm in small apartments. From the curated list of the favorite meals that enter into the rotation of Will Scheideler and September McCarthy.

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