imPECKable eats

Is eating healthier your new years resolution? Detoxing after the holidays? I’m not sure anyone actually does this but if fitness club attendance is any indication, it would seem so. I always plan on eating healthier but never actually do it. Food is just too much fun. This Arugula, Pear, and Prosciutto Flatbread with Meyer Lemon Dressing is my version of eating healthy. It’s light, simple, and of course, tasty.

Believe it or not, this appetizer or light lunch includes an old fashioned recipe from a great American chef. Armenian Flatbread from the “Beard on Bread” cookbook by James Beard, is a cracker-like crunchy vessel that delivers this delicious salad to your mouth. It’s a basic, no-frills flatbread recipe that is just as good broken into soups or stews as it is piled high with arugula, prosciutto, pears, and goat cheese.

These flatbread toppings have a fun story as well. They are inspired by a dish from an upscale restaurant I worked at five years ago. I normally prefer fresh figs for this combo but pears are juicier and more accessible this time of year.

Each element plays a different role in this dish. The flatbread adds a crunch (you can use store bought crackers or even soft pita bread – no judgement here), arugula provides a grassy spiciness, goat cheese is smooth and creamy, and the pears are sweet while the prosciutto is salty. The finishing touch is the tart acid from the meyer lemon dressing (regular lemon is fine too). It may be light and arguably healthy but this dish has all 5 of our basic tastes (sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami) easily covered.

So here’s to a happy and healthy (or at least somewhat) new year! And stay tuned for my deep-fried tripled chocolate covered oreos post next week…just kidding.

Arugula, Pear, and Prosciutto Flatbread

Ingredients

Armenian Flatbread (store bought flatbread, crackers , or pita can be substituted)

½ cup warm water

½ package dry active yeast

2 tablespoons of butter, melted

¾ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon sugar

1 1/2 – 2 cups flour

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Salad/Toppings

2 cups arugula

1-2 oz or 2 thin slices of prosciutto

1 pear (I like Bartlett), sliced

2 oz goat cheese, crumbled

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Meyer Lemon Dressing

½ of one meyer lemon (about 2 tablespoons)

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon honey

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper

Instructions

To make the flatbread:

Pour the warm water in a large warm bowl. Sprinkle in the yeast and stir until dissolved. After it has proofed, add the cooled butter, salt, sugar, and 1 cup flour. Beat until smooth. Add enough additional flour to make a stiff dough. Turn out on a lightly floured board and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8-10 minutes. Place in a buttered bowl and turn to coat. Cover and let rise until doubled in bulk.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Punch down dough and divide in two equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rectangle. Place on ungreased baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 2 flatbreads (roughly 8”x6”).

Sprinkle arugula on one of the flatbreads evenly. Tear prosciutto and sprinkle evenly on top. Add about half the sliced pear and dot with crumbled goat cheese.

To make the dressing:

In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, mustard, and honey. Add the oil in a slow stream, whisking constantly until the dressing is well blended. Season with fine salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Drizzle dressing over flatbread.

Makes one flatbread.

3.1

Yum