Wolfgang Puck creates this salad for special events. One of the most special is the Governor's Ball at the Oscars®.

This salad goes great with Wolfgang's Oscars Surf and Turf

Ingredients

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

2. Place the beets in a small roasting pan and pour in enough cold water to reach about one quarter of the way up the sides of the beets.

3. Cover the pan with foil, and roast the beets until they are tender, 2 hours to 2 hours and 15 minutes. To check for doneness, gently insert a bamboo skewer into a beet. The skewer should slide through easily. Remove the beets from the pan, allow to cool, and then peel.

4. Cut each beet into 1/4 inch-thick round slices. Cut each slice with a 3 inch round cookie cutter. (You will need ten rounds). Cut trimmings into 1/4 nch dice and reserve 1/2 cup for garnish.

5. In a saute pan, bring vinegar and sugar to a boil. Lower to a simmer and poach beets one minute on each side. With a slotted spatula, remove and place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Cover and refrigerate until needed.

6. When ready to assemble, heat the olive oil in a small saute pan. Arrange the slices of Herbed Goat Cheese in the pan and warm slightly, turning them with a small spatula just to warm both sides. This has to be done quickly, or the cheese will melt.

7. To assemble the napoleons, place one of the beet rounds on a firm, flat surface and begin to layer. Top with a slice of goat cheese, then another beet round, a second slice of cheese, another beet round, a third slice of cheese, and a beet round. (Continue until you have four layers of beets and four layers of cheese.)

8. Carefully cut through layers, dividing into three wedges. Repeat with the remaining beets and cheese.

9. To serve, arrange three of the wedges, pointed ends facing out, in a circle in the center of each plate. Toss the baby lettuces with one half of the Citrus hazelnut Vinaigrette and mound half of the lettuces on top of each arranged napoleon. Drizzle the other half of the Citrus Hazelnut Vinaigrette around each mound. Sprinkle toasted nuts and reserved diced beets on top. Serve immediately.

Yield: Serves 6 )Sometimes, we garnish this with chilled blanched asparagus and blood orange segments depending on the season.)

Herbed Goat Cheese

Ingredients

Directions

1. Combine the parsley, chives, thyme, and pepper and place on a flat surface.

2. Roll the log of cheese in the mixture, coating all sides and retaining the shape of the log.

3. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed.

Yield: Makes one 7- or 8-ounce log.

Citrus Hazelnut Vinaigrette

Ingredients

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan, bring orange juice to a boil. Lower to a simmer and reduce until only 1/3 cup remains. Cool to room temperature.

2. In a medium bowl, combine orange juice, shallot, thyme, vinegar and orange zest.

3. Slowly whisk in both oils until thick and emulsified. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until needed.

Yield: Makes 1 1/3 cups

Toasted Hazelnuts

Ingredients

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange the hazelnuts on a medium baking tray and toast for 10 to 12 minutes, turning after 5 minutes. (This can be done in a toaster oven). Remove to a clean towel and rub to remove as much of the skin as possible. Chop coarsely and use when needed.

Yield: Makes 1 cup

Recipe copyright ©2002 Wolfgang Puck

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