Photos and text by: Corey Amaro
In France lettuce is called, "Salade" (pronounced: Salad).
And salad is called, "Salade" in French too.
Let-us talk about the classic summer salad in Provence.
First you take a lettuce and tear the leaves big. Do not, and I repeat not, in bite size pieces. The bigger the better, maybe tear them in half that is enough.
Garlic is "Ail" in French. Pronounced, "I". You can say, "Aie! Aie! Aie!" when you are hurt, because "Aie" (pronounced, "I" as well) also means, "Ouch."
Crush one garlic in the salad per person, enough to hear them say, "Aie!" and have you guess, Ouch or Garlic?
Next add tomatoes. Ripe, red, homegrown tomatoes. In French tomatoes are called, "Tomate", pronounced, "Toe-mat".
Slice the tomatoes and sprinkle them with salt.
On a large platter place the salad around and around to make a fluffy bed with ruffle sheets.
Then add the tomatoes here and there covering the bed.
In a jar that has a lid, add olive oil, lemon juice, salt and balsamic vinegar. Shake it vigorously. When well blended sprinkle in over the tomates. Then on top of the tomatoes add thin slices of mozzarella. Then layer it again with tomatoes. Add some dressing and then layer some more mozzarella, then add some more dressing.
Generously sprinkle with chopped fresh basil.
If you want to add a "Wow" effect, roast pine nuts and add them to it too.
Viola, there you have it the classic Mediterranean salad that everyone and their Italian brother in law, dog and children who have teeth, are eating in Provence.
Serve with a baguette and wine.
Do you have a favorite salad dressing?
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