Green Bean-Radicchio Salad

I think about contrasts with salad. Fresh green beans are almost sweet, so I balance them with a hint of bitterness from radicchio leaves. The anise hint of tarragon provides a counterpoint to the slight tanginess of ricotta salata. Soft tofu offsets the crunch of the vegetables: Think of it as a soft poached egg on top of your salad.

For the Dressing:

• 1 tablespoon minced shallot

• 1 garlic clove, minced

• 4 1/2 teaspoons sherry vinegar

• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

• 1 teaspoon honey

• Juice of 1/2 lime

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 tablespoon walnut oil (see Note)

• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the Salad:

• 1/2 pound green beans, trimmed

• 1/2 pound yellow wax beans, trimmed

• 4 cups packed torn radicchio leaves

• 4 ounces tofu, cubed

• 1/4 cup almonds, toasted and chopped

• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon

• 2 ounces ricotta salata or other semi-firm white cheese

Note: Walnut oil is available in specialty markets and online. If you want, you can replace it with additional olive oil in this recipe.

Make the Dressing

1. Whisk the shallot, garlic, vinegar, mustard, honey, and lime juice together in a small bowl. Gradually whisk in the olive oil, then the walnut oil. Season the dressing with salt and pepper. You can make this well in advance. Keep it covered in the refrigerator, but bring it back to room temperature and whisk again before dressing the salad.

Make the Salad

2. Cook the green beans in a large pot of boiling salted water until they are just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Use a slotted spoon or a skimmer to transfer the beans to a colander and immediately rinse with cold water. Cook the wax beans in the same pot of boiling salted water until just tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer them to the colander and immediately rinse with cold water. Drain well.

3. Put the beans and radicchio in a large bowl and toss with the dressing. Transfer the salad to a serving platter. Scatter the tofu, almonds, and tarragon over the salad and use a vegetable peeler to make shavings of the cheese over all.