4th of July Salad with Fennel, Daikon, Cucumber and Smoked Salmon

We were lucky enough to get invited to Brian and Margaret's House for dinner and fireworks last night.  The King and Queen of the West End, their pad offers a 360 degree view of the Valley and a direct vision of the fireworks.  

Watching the fireworks from a mountain top is pretty cool.  You know they are toxic, dangerous and a little silly.  You can sort of hear the sirens going off and the dogs howling.  But from up on the hill they are beautiful shakti explosions.

I was asked to make a salad.  I had stuff in my fridge from last farmer's market and half a CSA box from Steve Sprinkle.

1. Cut up remaining ciabatta for croutons.  Toast in 400 degree oven till somewhat crunchy.  Heat too much olive oil in a pan and pan toast them till golden.  Remove and finely grate Parmesan cheese on them.  Set aside to cool.

2. Barely Steam some green beans.

3. Thinly slice the fennel.  1/4" Diagonal slice on the Persian Cucumbers.  1/8" Diagonal Slice on the Daikon.  Toss with Lemon, Ojai Olive Oil's White Balsamic Vinegar, olive oil and chopped mint.

4. Wash and Slice 1 head lettuce and 1 head radicchio from Steve's farm.

5. Mince a shallot or 2 and let sit in White Wine Vinegar for 15 minutes.  Stir in dijon mustard.  Salt and Freshly ground pepper.  Mix in desired amount of olive oil.

6. Toss fennel mixture with lettuce and toss with dressing.  Add in the croutons.  Flake and toss in pepper smoked salmon.  Slice up avocados and put them on top.

Butter Leaf Salaf with Fennel and Daikon

Dressing:
Minced Shallot
Red Wine Vinegar
Country Dijon Mustard
Chopped Capers
Salt and Pepper Olive Oil

To Make Dressing:
1. Mix Shallot with less than a tbl. of red wine vinegar. Let Sit for 15 minutes.
2. Add tsp. of mustard, about a tsp. of capers, freshly ground pepper and good sea salt.
3. Slowly wisk in good olive oil, about 3 tbl. or so.

Salad
Thinly Slice 1 bulb of Fennel and 1 Daikon Radish.
Wash and Trim Butter Lettuce.

Toss all the ingredients with the dressing.
(If I had a ripe avocado, I would have added it).

Seared Miso Ahi Tuna with Fennel, Daikon Salad and Leeks

1. Thinly slice one leek from Tutti Frutti.
2. Saute up leek on medium/low heat in olive oil. Set aside when done.
3. Thinly slice 2 fennel bulbs from BD and squeeze with lemon juice.
4. Thinly slice daikon radish from Rainbow and squeeze with lemon from Eric's tree. Create a "salad" with the fennel and the radish on the plates.
5. Grate zest from one or two lemons.
6. Finely chop super thin scallions from B.D.
7. Slice hunk of tuna from Alicia at GeeWhataDeal into four 1" steaks. Smear with Red Barley Miso from Farmer and the Cook. Heat olive oil and once hot, put steaks on. Sear on one side (about 2 minutes and then sear less on the other).
8. To serve, put pieces of fish on top of the radish fennel salad. Scatter leeks, lemon zest and scallions on top. Along side, serve Tamari soy sauce, wasabi, pumpkin seeds. The fish did not need the condiments, but Eric prefers it like that.