Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups fresh (or frozen, thawed) blackberries
- 2 teaspoons minced shallots
- 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons blackberry vinegar (or substitute raspberry or regular balsamic vinegar)
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 (1/2 by 5-inch) diagonal slices French bread
- 2 (2-ounce) mutton buttons, at room temperature and cut in 1/2 (recommended: Old Chatham)
- 1/2 pound mixed greens
- 1/4 cup toasted, chopped walnuts
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Combine 1/2 cup of the blackberries, the shallots, garlic, honey, mustard, and vinegars in a blender and process on high for 10 seconds. Stop and scrape down the sides before continuing. With the machine running, slowly drizzle the oil into the blender until the mixture is slightly thickened and smooth. Adjust the seasonings with salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Strain the dressing through a fine-meshed sieve into a clean container. Set aside until ready to serve, or store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Makes about 1 cup.
Melt the butter in an ovenproof medium skillet over medium heat. When the butter is foamy, add the bread and cook until golden and crispy on 1 side, about 2 minutes. Turn the croutons over and remove from the heat. Top each piece of bread with half of a mutton button and place in the oven. Bake until the cheese is melted and lightly browned, about 1 to 2 minutes. Immediately remove the croutons from the skillet.
Quickly toss the salad greens with the remaining cup of blackberries, the walnuts, and about 1/2 cup of the dressing. Adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper, if needed. Arrange salad onto 4 salad plates and top each salad with a cheese crouton. Drizzle the remaining blackberry dressing around the plate and serve immediately.
Photo: Mixed Green Salad with Blackberry Dressing, Walnuts, and a Mutton Button Butter-Fried Crouton Recipe
















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By guineviere
on January 31, 2012
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I didn't make the croutons, but I can tell you that this dressing is incredible! Used balsamic vinegar as the substitute for blackberry vinegar. Highly recommended. Fast, easy, and oh, so good. I had some nice mixed greens and I wanted to make a fresh dressing for them. It was perfect with the toasted walnuts, YUM!
By pattyjustlovesk...
Kirkland, WA
on October 22, 2008
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I couldn't find the Mutton Button Cheese. Would love to know of a similar cheese as even my specialty store didn't know it and couldn't even find it when they looked it up in their book for me to buy something similar. I used Fontina which I already had but nobody thought it was very good that way.
By ckramern48_4791138
Park City, UT
on January 21, 2006
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This salad was easy to make and beautifully flavored. My guests loved it.
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