Composed Salad with Apple Balsamic Vinaigrette

Ingredients

• 1⁄4 cup Apple Balsamic Vinegar
• 1⁄4 teaspoon dried basil leaves, crushed
• 1 small shallot, minced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• Pinch red pepper flakes
• 1⁄2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• Protein: pick 1 or 2, such as sliced chicken, hard-boiled egg halves, or strips of prosciutto
• Cheese: pick 1 or 2 such as cubes of fresh mozzarella or aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, or thin rounds of goat cheese
• Greens: pick 1 lettuce or another leafy green, like arugula or baby spinach
• Vegetables: pick 3 or 4, raw, steamed, or grilled, such as asparagus, cherry tomatoes, and string beans
• Fruit and nuts: pick 1 or more, such as grapes, apple or pear slices, raisins or another dried fruit, avocado, and almonds or walnuts
• Legumes: pick 1, such as cooked beans or chickpeas