Salad with Buttermilk-Basil Dressing

Here’s a marvelous, peppery salad with buttermilk cornbread croutons and a tangy buttermilk-basil dressing that came to The New York Times from the chef Bart Vaughan of the Foothills Milling Company in Maryville, Tenn. Add bacon and it’s enough for a meal.

Ingredients

For the corn bread

• ¼ pound (1 stick) butter, melted and cooled, plus more for greasing pan
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ⅔ cup sugar
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt

For the dressing

• 1 heaping cup fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
• ¼ cup flat-leaf parsley leaves, loosely packed
• 7 cloves garlic, peeled
• ½ cup buttermilk
• ¼ cup sherry vinegar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

For the salad

• 5 to 6 ounces salad greens, including a peppery type such as arugula, mizuna or frisée
• ½ cup shaved red onions
• 2 cups ripe cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• ½ cup crumbled aged white Cheddar (optional)
• ½ cup cooked and crumbled thick-cut bacon (optional)

• Nutritional Information

  • Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

    549 calories; 27 grams fat; 11 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 11 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 67 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 27 grams sugars; 9 grams protein; 105 milligrams cholesterol; 649 milligrams sodium

  Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.
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6 to 8 servings

Preparation

1. Make corn bread: Heat oven to 350. Butter a deep 8-inch square baking dish or a 10-inch cast-iron skillet.
2. In a bowl, whisk together melted butter, eggs and buttermilk. In another bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking soda and salt.
3. Whisk wet ingredients into dry, pour into prepared pan, and bake 25 to 30 minutes or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in pan at least 30 minutes or up to 1 day.
4. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cut corn bread into 1-inch cubes, spread on an ungreased baking sheet and bake until dry and toasted.
5. Make dressing: In a blender, combine all ingredients and purée until smooth and emulsified. Refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 1 day.
6. Just before serving, make salad: In a large bowl, toss greens and shaved onion with half the dressing. Taste and add more dressing if needed.
7. Divide on serving plates and garnish with tomatoes, croutons, and cheese and bacon, if using.