Whet your appetite for another exciting culinary voyage to the beautiful Emerald Isle, as we learn how to craft a light, yet filling summer salad. Perfect for long, sunny days, this Apple Bacon Salad with Camembert Dressing is sure to serve up a delicious taste of Ireland directly to your table.
Selecting the Perfect Camembert
While people often think of France when they hear the word Camembert", you don't need to go to mainland Europe to find soft, creamy cheeses. In fact, there are many cheese makers building on the proud tradition of dairy farming in Ireland.
They say happy cows make better milk and, well, Ireland might just have the happiest cows in the world! The mild climate and fresh air in Ireland lets farmers keep their cows outside and grass-fed for over 300 days every year.
This results in scrumptious, locally-produced Irish cheeses that easily stack up with the finest varieties from France, Italy and Germany. St. Killian makes a wonderful Camembert-style soft cheese that will lend a luscious creaminess to our salad dressing. Just imagine sitting at a rustic Irish farmhouse table, the sun warming your back as you dine.
Apples from the Emerald Isle
Ireland is known for its beautiful apple orchards. Many of these orchards have been around for a long time and are often owned by families who have cared for the trees for many years.
Here's a fun fact: apples have been grown in Ireland for about 3,000 years! Every fall, these orchards become a sea of red, gold, and green as the apples become ripe and ready to be picked and used in many yummy dishes.
Apples are a favorite in Irish food, showing up in both sweet and savory dishes. Sweet treats like Irish Apple Cake and Apple Amber, which is apples and meringue, are favorites. But apples also make their way into main dishes, like Irish stew, where they add a hint of sweetness that works well with the rich flavors of the meat.
For today's recipe, apples add a fresh, crisp taste to the salad, which contrasts nicely with the salty bacon and creamy Camembert dressing. The apples make the salad feel fresh and vibrant, kind of like a cool breeze in an apple orchard.
A Word from the Chef
This delicious recipe comes to us from our friend Margaret M. Johnson. She is the author of thirteen cookbooks, including the charming Treatime in Ireland. There's not much certainty in this world, just ask Morphy but one thing that's for sure is you can't go wrong with a recipe from Margaret!
"Tommy Moloney's Back Bacon Rashers are perfect for this versatile salad!" says Margaret. "You can use your favorite lettuce, a mix of baby greens, or a mix of greens and spinach. The creamy salad dressing is made with a Camembert-style cheese, a cow's milk cheese with a white rind and smooth interior, but you can substitute your favorite vinaigrette and top it with crumbled cheese."" Our mouths are already watering!
Apple Bacon Salad Ingredients
For the dressing:
- ⅔ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon apple cider
- 2 ounces Camembert-style cheese, rind removed, chopped
- 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
For the salad:
- 3 slices Tommy Moloney's Back Bacon Rashers
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 apple, cored and sliced
- Salt
- Ground pepper
- 10 ounces lettuce mix
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Apple Bacon Salad Instructions
- Make the dressing. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, whisk together the sour cream, cider, cheese, and vinegar. Whisk for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the cheese melts and the mixture is smooth and creamy; set aside.
- Make the salad. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the bacon for 3 to 5 minutes, or until cooked through. Transfer the bacon to paper towels; cool and chop.
- Return skillet to medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the apples. Sauté the apples for 3 to 5 minutes, or until slightly tender; season with salt and pepper.
- Divide the lettuce among four salad plates. Drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and lemon juice. Divide warm apples and bacon over lettuce; spoon dressing on top.
A Taste of Home with Tommy Moloney's
When you're craving the flavors of Ireland, no one has you covered quite like Tommy Moloney's. Our premium Back Bacon and Applewood Smoked Bacon Rashers are made with recipes handed down through generations.
