The Art of Simple Food - Vinaigrette and Herb Butter

On the heels of my book review for The Art of Simple Food, Jack and I have decided to cook through the book with the hopes of discovering methods to make ourselves better and more instinctual home cooks. Every Monday, we will highlight one or more recipes from the book as we make our way through each chapter.

The first section of the book is titled "Four Essential Sauces":  Vinaigrette, Salsa Verde, Aioli, and Herb Butter.  Waters states that "these four sauces, though basic, add so much flavor, dimension, and color to meals that I can't imagine cooking without them."  To say that she is correct is an understatement. It is important to use the best ingredients with these sauces, however.  "Because they're so simple, there's no hiding what these sauces are made of."  

Here, Jack and I prepared a two course meal that only required the purchase of a few ingredients - the produce and the protein. Since we had all of the pantry staples listed in Waters' book, our shopping list went a little something like this:

Grapefruit
Avocado
Pork

There has ne'er been a more simple shopping list.  It brought a tear to my eye.  

Grapefruit and Avocado Salad

2 medium ruby grapefruit
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
Salt
Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Olive Oil
Avocado

The recipe for Grapefruit and Avocado Salad can be found on page 240 of The Art of Simple Foods.

Since I followed the recipe word-for-word, I cannot write it here, but I will say that if you have the ingredients, you can make this salad without a recipe.  Waters informs of the general rule of thumb for a vinaigrette:  The 1:4 ratio - 1 part vinegar, 3 to 4 parts oil.  The vinaigrette is made using the juice of 2 or 3 segments of the grapefruit, white wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, and freshly ground black pepper.  The vinaigrette is spooned over the sliced avocado and grapefruit.

Let me just say this: I am normally not a grapefruit fan. I find it too tart.  But this salad, my friends, was exquisite. A perfect salad for spring or summer - light and juicy.  The tart grapefruit is combined with a silky smooth avocado and the resulting taste is perfection.  The grapefruit's normally tart flavor is somehow softened when paired with the creamy avocado and delicious vinaigrette.  This is a salad I will forever make when I want a light and delicious meal.  I'm already planning on making it this weekend for Memorial Day.

Herb Butter

Next, Jack and I made the herb butter.  The beauty of this butter is its versatility.  It is perfect for meat, fish and vegetables, and you can use whatever herbs you have on hand.  

The method for this butter is basically to soften butter and add 1/2 cup chopped herbs for every stick of butter.  

1 stick butter

1/2 minced herbs of your choice

Salt 

Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Cayenne Pepper

Basically, you mix all of the ingredients, then roll the butter in parchment paper to make a log and freeze or refrigerate the butter until firm.  Jack and I used thyme, parsley, lemon zest, and minced garlic, but you can use parsley, anchovies, black pepper, sage, basile, chipolte, even nasturtium butter - whatever that is.

We have made this in the past, and truth be told, herb butter has changed the way Jack and I look at proteins, knowing that we do not need overly complicated sauces to accompany the meat. Instead, a butter that is filled with fragrant herbs, zesty lemon, and pungent garlic can change a protein in an instant. 

We topped a simple grilled pork loin, seasoned with salt and pepper with the herb butter and served it alongside sauteed spring onions and polenta.

I'm thinking life is going to be pretty delicious and simple in the coming months. And really, is there anything better?

Comments

[The Duo Dishes]

Because herb butter is bomb, we gotta say bravo! Spread it on bread, meat, fruit (what? yes!), veggies....yummmm!

[lisaiscooking]

That's a beautiful salad. So simple, and sounds so delicious.

[Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction]

Simple and delicious - I don't think it does get any better than that! Sounds wonderful!

[Cookin' Canuck]

Simple and beautiful! What a great way to highlight the delicious natural flavors.

[Natasha - 5 Star Foodie]

Just gorgeous!

[Eliana]

You know there is something to be said for simply cooked food. It really allows for the natural and robust flavors to come out.

[Ashley]

Mmmm delicious. I should check out this book.

[jenn]

I have got to try that herb butter!! Very simple indeed!

[Tangled Noodle]

The grapefruit and avocado salad sounds great but I'd like to try it using pomelo instead. Now, a pat of herbed butter on top of grilled meat is a thing of utter beauty!

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[Nike Air Max]

You know there is something to be said for simply cooked food. It really allows for the natural and robust flavors to come out.

[Asics Tiger]

mean I just read through the entire article of yours and it was quite good but since I'm more of a visual learner,I found that to be more helpful.

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Really Impressive.keep it up.