Recipe: Petite romaine with tarragon dressing and burrata crostini

Total time: About 1 hour

Servings: 6

Note: Adapted from Opus executive chef Josef Centeno. This recipe makes 1 3/4 cups tarragon aioli, more than is needed for the salad. The extra aioli will keep for 1 week, refrigerated, and is great for sandwiches.

Tarragon aioli

1 egg

1 teaspoon chopped garlic

Zest of 1/2 lemon

1 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil

1/2 cup tarragon leaves

2 tablespoons sherry vinegar

Salt and pepper

2 tablespoons best-quality olive oil

2 tablespoons grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

1. In a food processor, blend the egg, garlic and lemon zest until light and frothy, about 30 seconds. Slowly add half of the grapeseed oil until it starts to emulsify and thicken. Add the tarragon and vinegar, and season with one-half teaspoon salt and a pinch of pepper. Pulse to combine.

2. While the machine is still running, drizzle in the remaining grapeseed and olive oils, then add the Parmigiano-Reggiano, blending until well combined. Adjust the seasoning. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Romaine salad

6 heaping tablespoons tarragon aioli

1 tablespoon best-quality olive oil

1 tablespoon sherry vinegar

1 1/2 teaspoons grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

1 1/2 teaspoons minced shallots

3/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest

1 1/2 teaspoons chopped herbs (equal parts parsley, tarragon, dill, chive and chervil)

3 to 6 tender hearts of Romaine (5 to 7 leaves per salad)

1. Place the aioli in a large mixing bowl. Thin the aioli out by stirring in the olive oil and sherry vinegar. Add the Parmigiano-Reggiano, shallots, lemon zest and chopped herbs, mixing to combine.

2. Pull the tender hearts of romaine apart and gently wash and dry the leaves. Toss the lettuce in the bowl of dressing gently with your hands and lightly but evenly coat each of the leaves. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until final assembly, no more than 30 minutes before serving.

Burrata crostini and assembly

1 baguette, sliced on the bias into one-half-inch slices (you will need 12 slices)

1/4 cup best-quality olive oil, divided

1 pound fresh burrata cheese

1 1/2 teaspoons chopped shallots

1 1/2 teaspoons chopped chives

Fleur de sel

Freshly ground pepper

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the 12 baguette slices on a baking sheet and brush with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Toast until golden, about 10 minutes.

2. Break the skin from the top of the burrata and spoon one heaping tablespoon of the soft cheese onto each of the crostini. Top each slice with a pinch of shallots, chives and fleur de sel and pepper to taste. Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the crostini.

3. Distribute the chilled salad evenly onto 6 chilled plates. Place two crostini onto each plate. Serve immediately.

Each serving: 526 calories; 17 grams protein; 17 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram fiber; 43 grams fat; 14 grams saturated fat; 69 mg. cholesterol; 231 mg. sodium.