At Alberta Food Tours, we often create an experience where we change a classic French vinaigrette into an Alberta vinaigrette starring two of Alberta’s signature foods, canola and honey. Using an Alberta-made mustard instead of one from Dijon (which ironically is most likely made from Alberta mustard seeds) takes it to another level and makes me absurdly happy. We get our guests to do the whisking, and once they see how easy it is to make their own vinaigrette, they’re hooked. And that, my friends, is what it’s really all about. – Eat Alberta First, Karen Anderson, TouchWood Editions.
Author Karen Anderson, author of Eat Alberta First
Ingredients
For the salad
1cupwatercressarugula, or pea shoots
2cupsbutter lettucegreen frisée, or baby romaine (or a combo of these)
1green peppercut lengthwise in 8 strips and then sliced diagonally
6baby cucumbersends removed and sliced diagonally with skin on
2ribs of celerysliced diagonally
1ripe avocadohalved, pitted, and sliced diagonally
3scallionssliced diagonally
For the vinaigrette
2Tablespoonsvinegar
Salt
2teaspoonsAlberta honey
2teaspoonsAlberta-made mustard
6Tablespoonsorganic canola oil
Pepper
Instructions
For the salad
Arrange the vegetables on a platter, starting with the watercress around the outside and working in with the lettuce leaves in a circular pattern before topping with the green pepper, cucumbers, celery, avocado, and finally the scallions.
For the vinaigrette
Whisk the vinegar with a pinch of salt in a medium bowl until the salt dissolves.
Add the honey and mustard to the bowl and whisk to a smooth paste.
Drizzle the oil into the mix slowly, whisking continuously until the dressing is thick and creamy.
Season with pepper to taste.
Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad on the platter just before serving