Salad Truffles

realbirdlady's Note:

As a salad first course for a dinner party, these tasteful bites hint at the delightful meal to come. (Preparation note: The Radish Pea truffle must be prepared ahead, to set. The Walnut Tapenade and Strawberry Shrimp Chipotle truffles can be prepared ahead and refrigerated.)

• Total Time: 5 hrs
• Prep Time: 1 hrs
• Cook Time: 4 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

Walnut Tapenade

• 8 new potatoes (as spherical as possible)
• 4 tablespoons tapenade
• 4 tablespoons walnuts , finely crushed
• olive oil

Radish Pea

• 4 radishes , red-skinned, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
• ½ teaspoon garlic , minced very finely
• ¼ teaspoon gelatin powder
• ¼ cup whole milk
• ¼ cup plain yogurt
• 8 pea pods , shelled (green, new)

Strawberry Shrimp Chipotle

• 2 eggs , lightly hard-boiled
• 8 strawberries , not heavily seeded
• 16 shrimp , precooked and peeled, 80 count
• 2 chipotle peppers , packed in adobe

Directions:

1. Walnut Tapenade:.
2. Scrub potatoes well. Boil until soft, but not mushy. Drain and cool.
3. Slice each potato in half. Using a melon baller or sharp-edged spoon, remove a semi-sphere of flesh, leaving a small "bowl" of potato. Discard the.
4. removed portion. Fill with tapenade. In a small flat dish, mix just a touch of olive oil with the walnuts. Use your finger or a small basting brush to lightly cover the potato skin with oil as well. Roll the truffle in the crushed nuts to coat.
5. Radish Pea:.
6. In a small bowl mix radish slices, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and garlic. In a small, heat-proof bowl or pan, sprinkle gelatin over milk. When the gelatin is hydrated, heat it gently, stirring, until all the powder is dissolved. Remove from heat, cool slightly, and stir in yoghurt. Drain radishes. Into a deep candy mold or ice tray, pour in a small amount of the yoghurt-gelatin mixture, then layer a few radish slices with two or three peas, careful to leave room for the yoghurt-gelatin to surround the vegetables for a smooth-surfaced truffle. Finish with a large radish slice for the base. Chill several hours until firm. Gently remove from mold.
7. Strawberry Shrimp Chipotle:.
8. Peel eggs. Slice crosswise, about 1/2 inch thick. Separate the white and yolk, setting aside the white for now.
9. Place the shrimp in a small bowl. Drain chipotles onto the shrimp.
10. Slice chipotles crosswise in 1/2 inch slices, removing any seeds.
11. Clean strawberries, removing stems and any hard, white parts. Mash with egg yolks. Construct the truffle by choosing a slice of egg white for the base. Place two or three drained shrimp on top of the egg white. With a small spatula, cover smoothly with strawberry mixture. Garnish with a chipotle "skirt" or "crown".
12. Assembly:.
13. Arrange a personalized assortment for each guest on a small chilled plate. Serve cooler than room temperature, but not so cold that the flavor is lost.