If you live on the Peninsula here in the SF Bay Area, a trip to Eddie and Homa’s new olive oil shop in Burlingame, Del’Oliva, will get your kitchen basics top shelf, hopefully inspiring some new dinners around home. Thanks to my friend, Betsy, we have this savory-sweet-salty-yummy main dish salad, her knock off from the local Il Fornaio (and better than the original, I might add!)
Insalata Regina
adapted from Il Fornaio restaurant
Ingredients
- filet mignon, cooked serve warm, room temperature or chilled
- couscous, freshly cooked and unseasoned
- arugula
- avocado cubed or sliced
- ¼ red onion very thinly sliced or use pickled red onions
- 1 tablespoon raisins plumped in hot water, drained
- 1 teaspoon capers drained
- Parmigiano-Reggiano freshly grated or thinly sliced
Salad Dressing
- Dijon mustard Edmond Fallot brand
- salt Maldon
- sherry vinegar
- olive oil
- freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
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Cook the couscous according to package instructions—do not use any seasoning packet that may come with the couscous. Cook the steak to your preference, then set aside to rest. (For a 2" steak, that takes a mere 3–4 minutes per side in a ripping hot cast iron pan with a little oil, or same timing on a hot grill. I shoot for 125° F internal temperature, then allow it to rest off heat.)
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Mix the dressing in your salad serving bowl. Start with a dab of Dijon mustard (½ teaspoon or so), a few pinches of salt, and some sherry vinegar (about 2 teaspoons for 2 servings). While whisking, drizzle in about twice as much olive oil as vinegar. Taste with a leaf of arugula and adjust to your preference with more vinegar or oil. Add a few grinds of fresh black pepper.
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Put the arugula in the salad bowl with the dressing, add the couscous, avocado, drained raisins, and capers and toss to combine. Plate and top with Parmesan and steak slices.
