Unusual ingredient is key to Durty Kelly’s champagne vinaigrette

A: Jason Drenner, Durty Kelly's general manager, tells us this recipe has been on the menu since the pub opened three years ago. The recipe was created by Louis and Kelly Reynaud, the pub's owners. "Although most people come for our delicious Irish fare, our strawberry salad is one of our top sellers, " Drenner said.

We’ve adapted the pub’s recipe for the vinaigrette down from the large quantities it needs to meet customers’ demands. You’ll still end up with at least double what you need. It will keep, refrigerated, for up to one week. Because the vinaigrette contains olive oil, which solidifies when cold, allow the vinaigrette to come to room temperature when ready to use it again.

The most unusual ingredient in the vinaigrette is vanilla syrup, the kind used to flavor coffee drinks, among other things. You can find vanilla flavoring syrup on the shelves near the coffee beans and instant coffee in most grocery stores. Dark and light versions are available. Durty Kelly’s uses the dark.

We’ve run many recipes for candied or glazed nuts over the years, but you can now find them in small packages generally near the bagged lettuces at your grocery store, displayed alongside other salad add-ins such as croutons.

Durty Kelly’s Strawberry Salad With Champagne Vinaigrette

1/2 cup vanilla flavoring syrup

2 tablespoons champagne vinegar

1 small shallot

1 teaspoon yellow mustard

3/4 cup olive oil

Salt

1 (5-ounce) container field greens

1 (3.5-ounce) package glazed walnuts

1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced

4 ounces fresh goat cheese, crumbled

To make the vinaigrette: In the jar of a blender, combine syrup, vinegar, shallot and mustard. Process until combined, then slowly pour in olive oil and blend until mixture is smooth. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and set aside.

To assemble the salad: When ready to serve, in a large bowl, toss greens with 1/2 cup vinaigrette. Add more if needed. Divide greens among 4 serving plates and sprinkle with walnuts, strawberries and crumbled goat cheese. Serve immediately.

Serves 4.

Per serving, with 2 tablespoons vinaigrette: 495 calories (percent of calories from fat, 78), 16 grams protein, 12 grams carbohydrates, 4 grams fiber, 45 grams fat (11 grams saturated), 30 milligrams cholesterol, 112 milligrams sodium.

Per 2-tablespoons vinaigrette only: 134 calories (percent of calories from fat, 89), trace protein, 4 grams carbohydrates, trace fiber, 14 grams fat (2 grams saturated), no cholesterol, 6 milligrams sodium.