Spring Vegetable Tartine with White Anchovies

Ingredients

• Lemon Aioli:
• 1 garlic cloves, or more to taste, sliced
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest (preferably from Meyer lemon)
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• Tartine:
• 4 large thick slices day-old French bread
• 16 white anchovy fillets
• 3/4 cup curly endive, torn into bite-size pieces
• 3/4 cup shaved rainbow carrot strips
• 1/2 cup very thinly sliced radishes
• 1 squeeze lemon juice
• 1 drizzle olive oil
• 4 edible flowers, such as nasturtium or calendula (optional)
• 1 tablespoon baby parsley leaves

Directions

Place garlic into the bowl of a mortar or a small bowl. Add salt; mash until garlic is a smooth paste. Add lemon juice, lemon zest, cayenne, and mayonnaise. Stir until well blended.

Toast bread slices. Spread generously with the lemon aioli. Place anchovies, skin side up, on top of the aioli, about 4 fillets per tartine. For easier serving, cut the tartines in half at this point; set them back together before topping with the veggies.

Place carrot strips, endive, and radish slices in a bowl. Sprinkle with a splash of fresh lemon juice and a drizzle of olive oil. Toss lightly until veggies are dressed.

Place endive on the anchovies; arrange the carrots and radishes on the tartine. Top with edible flower petals and baby parsley.