Is it leftovers if you plan it that way?

[madbaker]

This week's Resolution Recipe: Beef Salad with Potatoes and Cornichons.

1 pound boiling potatoes (I used red)
3 cups shredded wine-braised chuck roast (I knew we'd have leftovers and planned this for the next set of dinners before I made the previous recipe.)
3 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1 1/2 Tbsp Dijon mustard (Or, for those of us without 1/2 Tbsp measuring spoons - which I'm pretty sure is the whole world - 4.5 tsp)
2 shallots, finely chopped (1/4 cup)
3/4 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
5 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 lb haricots verts
1 head lettuce (I used a combination of Romaine and arugula. Aruuuugula.)
6 cornichons, cut into 1/8" matchsticks
1/4 cup parsley, chopped

Heat oven to 400. Place potatoes on a 12" square of foil, then prick each with a fork and wrap in foil. Bake until tender, about 1 hour. Unwrap potatoes and cool slightly.

Reheat beef in a small covered baking dish. While beef is heating, whisk together vinegar, mustard, shallots, sugar, salt, and pepper in a small bowl, then add oil in a small stream. Whisk until dressing is emulsified.

Steam beans just until tender, 3-5 minutes. Cut potatoes crosswise into 1/4" thick slices, transferring to a large bowl. Add hot beans to potatoes along with 2 Tbsp vinaigrette, tossing gently to coat. Line 4 plates with lettuce and arrange potato mixture on top. Toss meat, cornichons, and parsley with remaining vinaigrette and mound on top of the potato mixture.

What worked: This was quite good. The vinaigrette melded nicely with the meat and bland potato; good crunch from the green beans and lettuce. The peppery arugula added bite as well.

What didn't: As I was preparing to serve this I found out we didn't have any cornichons. Le sigh. I threw in some capers instead, figuring they have a similar flavor profile.

Will I make it again? Probably not - it was good, but we don't have this sort of shredded meat lying around the kitchen very often.

Comments

[serendipity17.livejournal.com]

I have a set of odd-size measuring spoons: 1 1/2 tsp, 2 tsp, 1 1/2 Tbsp, 2 Tbsp.

This recipe kind of sounds like a casserole in pieces with vinaigrette dressing instead of cream soup.

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

More like a salade Nicoise with shredded meat in place of tuna.