Crispy Gator Salad with Florida Citrus Rémoulade Dressing
Your tastebuds will be whistling Dixie with this combination of textures and flavors.
Ingredients
Florida Citrus Rémoulade Dressing:
1 cup mayonnaise
¾ cup Florida orange juice
⅓ cup ketchup
3 tablespoons cornichons, chopped
2 tablespoons capers, chopped
2 tablespoons mustard
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 ½ tablespoons fresh tarragon, chopped
1 tablespoon Creole seasoning
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon orange zest, chopped
1 teaspoon Original TABASCO® brand Pepper Sauce
Crispy Gator:
2 cups Florida orange juice
¼ cup Original TABASCO® brand Pepper Sauce
1 ½ pounds alligator, tail meat, 2-inch pieces
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups club soda, cold
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
For Salad:
16 ounces mixed greens
2 cups fennel, thinly shaved
1 cup red cabbage, shredded
¾ cup Florida orange segments, seeded
¾ cup cucumber, thinly sliced
¾ cup red onion, thinly sliced
½ cup Florida grapefruit segments, seeded
½ cup radish, thinly sliced
Preparation
For Florida Citrus Rémoulade Dressing: Combine all ingredients; mix well. Cover and chill.
For Crispy Alligator: Combine orange juice with TABASCO®. Place alligator in baking dish; pour orange juice mixture over alligator. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or preferably overnight. To prepare alligator, combine flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt in bowl; add club soda and stir just until combined. Batter will be lumpy. Remove alligator from marinade; drain on paper towels. Discard marinade. Dredge alligator pieces in flour mixture; fry in deep fryer at 350° F or pan-fry over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked thoroughly. Remove from oil; drain on paper towels. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
For Salad: Combine all ingredients in large salad bowl. Toss with reserved dressing to coat.
To serve, place a mound of salad in center of each plate. Place 3 to 4 pieces of Crispy Gator on each salad. Serve extra Florida Citrus Rémoulade Dressing on the side.