Preparation
Ingredients:
- Red bell peppers: 2
- Celery: 2 stalks
- Iceberg lettuce: ½
- Pitted green olives: 12
- Garlic: 1 clove
- Il Cavallino Organic extra virgin olive oil: 10 g
- Bread: 8 slices
For the dressing:
- Il Cavallino Organic extra virgin olive oil: 20g
- White wine vinegar: 4 tablespoons
- Dijon mustard: 2 teaspoons
- Honey: 1 teaspoon
- Water: as needed
- Fine salt: to taste
- Black pepper: to taste
Separate the celery stalks from the leaves, remove the fibrous parts, and cut them into 5 cm segments. Using a vegetable peeler, create thin strips along the longest side. Immerse them in ice water to increase crispness. Prepare similar strips with the iceberg lettuce, previously washed and dried, and place them in a bowl. Wash the celery leaves thoroughly and chop them finely as you would parsley.
Roast the peppers in the oven until soft; don't worry if the outer skin darkens slightly. Remove the skin from the roasted peppers and cut them into strips about 1 cm wide and 5 cm long. Place the strips in a bowl, add a pinch of salt, and let rest for half an hour. This process will make the peppers release excess water, which will be used for the dressing.
Start preparing the dressing by straining the liquid released by the peppers through a sieve. Pour it into a blender and add equal amounts of oil and white wine vinegar. Incorporate two teaspoons of mustard and one of honey, blending well. If necessary, add a little warm water to reach the desired consistency. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
Transfer the dressing to a small bowl and set aside. In a salad bowl, mix the lettuce and celery strips, dress with part of the sauce, and mix well.
Brush the 8 slices of bread with a drizzle of Il Cavallino extra virgin olive oil and toast them in the oven. Once golden, lightly rub a clove of garlic on each slice to accompany the salad. Arrange the salad on the plate and add the pepper strips, green olives, chopped celery leaves, and pour the remaining dressing over the top.
Serve the celery and pepper salad with the toasted bread slices.
