Spinach Salad with Blackberry Vinaigrette
I can't decide if this is a winter or summer salad. If you candy the nuts in cinnamon and sugar it seems to taste more like winter. If you just use sugar on its own, I think it feels a bit more summerish. So, I guess it can be both. It may be a little to sweet for some, so just adjust it by adding more salt to taste.
Ingredients
DRESSING
½ cup blackberry
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons olive oil
½-1 teaspoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon salt
SALAD
1 (9 ounce) bag fresh spinach
½ cup crumbled gorgonzola or feta
⅓ cup sliced red onion (optional)
⅓ cup cinnamon sugar or plain sugar candied nuts, (walnut, almonds, hazelnuts)
1 pear, cut into slices or cubes
Method
In a blender combine dressing ingredients.
In a large bowl, toss spinach, cheese, red onion and blackberry mixture.
Stir in nuts before serving.
To carmalize nuts: Place about 1/2 cup of sugar (or cinnamon sugar) in a skillet on med-high heat. After sugar is melted, pour nuts into the skillet and stir quickly to coat them. Lay them flat on parchment paper and let cool. After they are cool, you have to break them up into smaller pieces. Then you're done. Voile! Candied nuts!
Ingredients
DRESSING
½ cup blackberry
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons olive oil
½-1 teaspoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon salt
SALAD
1 (9 ounce) bag fresh spinach
½ cup crumbled gorgonzola or feta
⅓ cup sliced red onion (optional)
⅓ cup cinnamon sugar or plain sugar candied nuts, (walnut, almonds, hazelnuts)
1 pear, cut into slices or cubes
Method
In a blender combine dressing ingredients.
In a large bowl, toss spinach, cheese, red onion and blackberry mixture.
Stir in nuts before serving.
To carmalize nuts: Place about 1/2 cup of sugar (or cinnamon sugar) in a skillet on med-high heat. After sugar is melted, pour nuts into the skillet and stir quickly to coat them. Lay them flat on parchment paper and let cool. After they are cool, you have to break them up into smaller pieces. Then you're done. Voile! Candied nuts!
