salad

warm salad of crispy smoked bacon and jerusalem artichokes

servings
4

method

This is a brilliant salad that always makes me smile when I eat it. The smokiness of the bacon goes so well with the potatoey-mushroomy-garlicky flavor of the Jerusalem artichokes (which you can find in good supermarkets and markets). If you can’t get hold of any then use some good new potatoes instead.

Remember, the trick to a warm salad is to get everything ready to go. Ask your family or guests to make their way to the table while you finish it off, and don’t let them talk until they’ve cleared their plates, so they get the salad while it’s good (I’m only joking about the talking!).

First of all, scrub your Jerusalem artichokes or potatoes and boil them in salted water until tender. Once cool, cut them in half and set aside. Meanwhile, carefully remove the core of the radicchio or treviso, then halve, break apart and finely slice. Wash and dry in a salad spinner. Put the gem lettuce leaves in a large bowl with the radicchio or treviso and the parsley or chervil.

Cut your bacon into 1cm slices. Pour a small amount of olive oil into a non-stick frying pan and fry the bacon. When it’s lightly golden, add the sliced onion and your cooked and drained Jerusalem artichokes or potatoes. Fry on a medium heat until the bacon is golden and crisp, the onion is sticky and soft and the Jerusalem artichokes have sucked up all the flavors and turned crispy. The important thing to remember here is that you need enough colour, but not so much that you’re on the edge of burning everything.

Now is the time to get everyone round the table, holding their knives and forks ready to tuck in! Divide half the contents of your pan between four plates, then add 5 tablespoons of olive oil and the balsamic vinegar to the pan, with a little pinch of salt and pepper. Mix everything together so the flavors improve and then pour immediately over the salad leaves waiting in the bowl. Toss lightly and quickly (using your fairy fingers!) so each leaf is coated in the tasty balsamic dressing. Put a nice handful of the salad leaf mixture on top of the hot bits and pieces that are already on each plate. Eat at once as it is, or quickly shave over a little Parmesan – nice both ways.

PS This is my favorite warm salad – but have a go at finding your own versions. Instead of bacon, try opening out some good-quality sausages and frying the meat until crisp. Or some nice crispy roasted meat like chicken, duck, quail or even game birds, torn up, with some sautéed mushrooms and roasted tomatoes, would go really well in a salad like this.

• from Cook With Jamie

ingredients

• 2 handfuls of large Jerusalem artichokes or new potatoes
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 radicchio or treviso, outer leaves discarded
• 3 little gem lettuces, leaves washed, dried and stalks removed
• a small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley or chervil, leaves picked and finely sliced
extra virgin olive oil
• 8 rashers thickly sliced smoked streaky bacon or pancetta
• 1 small red onion, peeled and finely sliced
• 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

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1. by Bandana on Thu 19 Mar 2009 @ 09:09

hi jamie m a greatttttttt fan of urs, i used to alyssssssssssss wattch ur program oliver's twist evry sundayyyy, i love the way u cook and m greatly inspired by u, as cooking is ma hobbyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

2. by bengxi on Thu 19 Mar 2009 @ 05:21

JUST GREAT!...you are so inspiring me...

3. by claire on Tue 17 Mar 2009 @ 20:27

Hello jamie.. can you give me some recipes that could help me loss wait ive got a few months til my prom and i want to look the best lol Please help me ..:)x

4. by chris Friel on Tue 10 Mar 2009 @ 16:46

nice site

5. by estiesa on Sat 07 Mar 2009 @ 15:37

you and your foods that's great really!!

6. by holly x on Thu 26 Feb 2009 @ 17:04

iam probably your 2nd yongest fan i love every thing u make !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thank u 4 reading it !

7. by Amber on Tue 17 Feb 2009 @ 16:24

hi there , i am probably one of your youngest fans and i love all of your recipes they are the best but this one it probably tastes as nice as it looks because even though i have not tasted it yet it probably is good because it is one of your recipes! Anyway carry on makin the gratest recipes ever ! bye :~)

8. by krissie mackinnon on Tue 17 Feb 2009 @ 08:04

hae is this good for you i watch your show and im 14 im fat and need to no how to lose weight could you please send me a daliy diet please.......¿???????¿
=þ

9. by Jeorgette on Sun 15 Feb 2009 @ 15:56

Hi Jamie,i just want you to know that i really loved watching your show on Travel and Living,i like the simplicity and the way you present the food.Good luck and more power thank you.;)

10. by Zahide on Sun 15 Feb 2009 @ 13:38

it looks delicious and certainly tastes good :)

11. by Justine Périnet on Fri 13 Feb 2009 @ 00:52

Hey I love your Food, recipes. You are so creative and I always love what you cook in the kitchen, its so tasty and delicious. I am young and i'm learning to cook like you. Thank you

12. by Adam on Thu 12 Feb 2009 @ 18:27

realy enjoying your cook book (ministry of food) all cook books should be as easy to follow as that, whilst having a top class result .... my wife wont stop making love to me now im cooking (bless you Jamie !) Have to say one thing to the Jamie camp if i can be honest in a constructive critisizing way.... that is not the best picture up there of this dish ... it looks like a couple of slugs eating some lettice .... BUT knowing Jamie the tast would be yummie !

13. by becky north on Wed 11 Feb 2009 @ 17:52

your great and made such a differance raising important issues, im a young mum an u inspired me! my little girl 4 is reaping the benefits mmmm! i got into making soups but out of new ideas, any suggestions on new one u think my little one would like too thankyou x

14. by becky north on Wed 11 Feb 2009 @ 17:37

hiya ive got into making soups, but run out of new ideas what other soups do you recommend that my little one would enjoy too, thanx and just to say your work is great and you have tackled alot of issues that were once ignored! your a idol i am a young single mum and ive been totally inspired by u my little girl. 4 is gettin all the benefits! yum x

15. by Maria on Tue 10 Feb 2009 @ 16:15

Hi Oliver, I want ask you if you know the portuguese kitchen, the tradicional food of my country. He have the best ingredients to make n.º1 food. We have 365 ways to cook cod, and are all deliciouse. Please visit my country and discovery the greatest food & wines.
bye,
Maria

16. by sundol on Sat 07 Feb 2009 @ 13:02

it looks delicious!! i wnana eat

17. by Zerlina on Fri 06 Feb 2009 @ 04:38

The food i have tried is delicious and this one is one of the best i have tried

18. by Eddie Saunders on Wed 28 Jan 2009 @ 11:26

Hi Went to you restaurant in Oxford the other night had a great time loved the food.
My wife loved the Humble Green Salad, can you tall me wear I can get the recipe.
thanks Eddie.

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