Kentucky Bibb Salad with Fried Green Tomatoes

Ingredients

• 2 large heads bibb lettuce rinsed
• 0.5 cup buttermilk 
• 0.5 cup cornmeal 
• 1 teaspoon mint leaves dried
• 3 large tomatoes green cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin 
• 6 servings vegetable oil; peanut oil preferred 
• 6 servings rose vinaigrette 
• 6 servings garnishes: gourmet edible petite rose petals; green red yellow chopped
• 0.5 teaspoon salt 
• 0.5 cup walnuts toasted

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• whisk

Directions

1. Whisk together first 5 ingredients in a bowl until smooth; dip tomato slices evenly in batter.
2. Pour oil to a depth of 2 inches into a large heavy skillet. Fry tomato slices, in batches, in hot oil over medium-high heat 4 minutes on each side or until slices are golden.
3. Arrange lettuce evenly on 6 plates; top each with 2 tomato slices.
4. Sprinkle evenly with walnuts; drizzle with Rose Vinaigrette.
5. Garnish, if desired.
6. * For extra-crispy fried tomatoes, dip in batter twice.