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1
For the verdura cotta (cooked vegetables): Peel and trim the onions, and slice into rounds about inch thick.
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2
Brush with olive oil, and sprinkle salt lightly on both sides.
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3
Lay the onions on a baking sheet, and roast in a preheated 375 oven for 20 minutes or longer, turning once, until slightly softened and nicely caramelized on the flat sides and edges.
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4
Cool, then separate the rounds into thick onion rings.
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5
Meanwhile, drop the potatoes, whole with skin on, into a pot with plenty of water.
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6
Bring to a gentle boil, and cook just until a sharp knife blade slides through the potatoesdont let them get mushy.
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7
Extract the potatoes, and cut them into wedges about 1 1/2 inches thick.
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8
Trim the ends of the green beans, and when the potatoes are out of the boiling water, drop the beans in and cook until al dente, 4 minutes or so.
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9
Scoop them from the pot with a spider, and drop the beans into very icy water, to set the color.
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10
Once they are chilled, drain and dry the beans, and cut them in 2-inch lengths.
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11
For the verdura cruda (raw vegetables): Rinse, dry, and core the tomatoes.
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12
Slice them into wedges about the same size as the potatoes.
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13
Separate, rinse, and spin-dry the lettuce leaves.
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14
Put everything in the bowl except the lettuce: onions, potatoes, beans, olives, capers, and tomatoes.
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15
Sprinkle over all the remaining salt and freshly ground pepper, drizzle over it the rest of the olive oil and the red wine vinegar, and tumble the vegetables to coat them with dressing.
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16
Scatter the lettuce on top, tearing the larger leaves in two, then toss the greens with the vegetables, gently but continuously, for about a minute, to distribute the dressing evenly.
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17
Taste, and adjust the seasonings if you like, and toss again.
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18
Serve immediatelyalways including some of the heavier goodies that drop to the bottom of the bowl and hide under the lettuce.
