Ingredients
Croutons
2 Italian sesame rolls or a few thick slices of stale bread
2 tbsp. EVOO
2 tbsp. butter
Salt and pepper
Dressing
1 cup EVOO
¾ cup crumbled blue cheese (I like Oscar’s smoked blue, available online at
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10 to 12 small fresh leaves basil
⅓ cup white wine vinegar
1 tbsp. fresh thyme leaves
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 ½ tsp. crushed red pepper
1 tsp. each salt and pepper
1 tsp. sugar
Salad & Chicken
8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Salt and pepper
2 tbsp. EVOO, plus more for drizzling
1 tsp. ground sage
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
16 thin slices speck (smoked prosciutto)
8 cups (total) roughly torn or coarsely chopped escarole and romaine hearts
1 firm sweet-tart apple, such as Honeycrisp, quartered and thinly sliced
1 lemon
1 cup (total) celery tops and fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
½ small bulb fennel, cored and very thinly sliced
1 small onion, very thinly sliced
⅓ cup dry vermouth or crisp, dry white wine
½ cup chicken stock
2 tbsp. butter
Directions
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 400°. Line a small baking sheet with foil for the croutons.
Step 2
Tear the bread into bite-size pieces. In a medium skillet, heat the EVOO, two turns of the pan, over medium. Add the butter to the skillet. When it melts, add the bread and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper and arrange the bread in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake until golden, 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 3
In a food processor, blend the dressing ingredients until smooth. Transfer to a squirt bottle or a jar with a lid. (The dressing will keep for about 10 days in the refrigerator.)
Step 4
Heat a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high.
Step 5
Season the chicken with salt and pepper, drizzle with EVOO, then sprinkle with sage and garlic. Wrap each chicken thigh with 2 slices of speck, layering to cover the chicken.
Step 6
In a large bowl, toss the greens and half the croutons. In a small bowl, toss the apple with the juice of half a lemon. Add the apple, celery tops and parsley, fennel, and onion to the large bowl. Toss with some of the dressing.
Step 7
Add 2 tbsp. EVOO to the skillet, two turns of the pan. Add the chicken and cook until cooked through, about 4 minutes on each side. Add the vermouth and stock. Cook until slightly reduced, about 2 minutes. Stir in the juice of the remaining lemon half and the butter to create the sauce.
Step 8
Divide the chicken among 4 plates. Top with the sauce. Serve the salad alongside.