Banana Blossom Salad

Ingredients

• 2 small banana blossoms, or 4 cups well-packed finely julienned banana blossom strips
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 4 tablespoons White Vinaigrette, recipe follows
• 2 cups shredded, poached chicken breast
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
• 1 ruby red grapefruit, sectioned and each segment torn into thirds, optional
• 2 teaspoons chopped rau rum (Vietnamese mint), or regular mint
• 6 tablespoons chili fish sauce
• 4 tablespoons crispy shallot flakes
• 4 tablespoons chopped roasted peanuts

Directions

Peel off and discard the tough, old outer layers (called bracts) of the banana blossom. Use a Japanese mandolin with the thinnest setting and cut into fine julienne strips; immediately plunge into large bowl of cold water and the white vinegar. When ready to prepare the salad, remove the julienne strips and shake off the tiny white buds (chopped up baby buds). Rinse and drain. Squeeze dry of the excess water. Place 4 cups well packed strips into a bowl. Add the white vinaigrette and toss for a few seconds. Pour off the excess liquid.

In a separate bowl, toss the shredded chicken with salt, pepper, and lime juice. Add the grapefruit, rau rum, and chili fish sauce and mix together thoroughly.

To serve, mound the salad equally onto 4 separate plates. Top each salad with 1 tablespoon crispy shallot flakes and 1 tablespoon chopped peanuts. Serve immediately.

This recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup white vinegar

1 cup water

Mix all ingredients together in a medium bowl until the sugar and salt are dissolved. Set aside.

Yield: about 2 cups

Chef's Note: Chef Khai's kitchen is stocked with this simple white vinaigrette in large amounts. He uses it as a rinse to rid unwanted raw flavors. It also lightly seasons salad ingredients with a delicate sweet and sour pickled taste.