Maple Pesto Salmon Salad With Raisins And Pine Nuts Food

SALMON PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add a large pinch of salt and cook the pasta according to package directions for al dente, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil and bell pepper. Cook until the bell pepper starts to soften, about 1 minute. Add the salmon and red pepper flakes, if using, to the skillet and sprinkle with salt and the black pepper. Cook for about 2 minutes without stirring. Then continue cooking and stirring until the salmon is cooked through, about 2 minutes. Add the lemon juice. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and set aside.
• For the pesto: Place the basil, garlic, pine nuts, salt and black pepper in a blender. Start on low speed, then increase to medium. With the motor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil and blend until smooth. Stop the blender and scrape down the sides. Add the cheese and blend a few seconds just to incorporate. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
• Drain the pasta and add it to the bowl with the salmon. Add the pesto and toss. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve immediately, or refrigerate until chilled. Finish with basil leaves and grated cheese if desired.

QUINOA WITH GARLIC, PINE NUTS AND RAISINS

Steps:

• Place the quinoa in a saucepan and cook over medium heat until toasted, about 2 minutes. Add 1 3/4 cups water (or use low-sodium chicken broth) and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, until the liquid is absorbed, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sit, covered, about 2 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toast the pine nuts in a skillet over medium-high heat, stirring, until golden, about 3 minutes; transfer to a plate. Add the olive oil and garlic to the skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring, until golden, about 2 minutes. Transfer the garlic to the plate, reserving the oil.
• Fluff the quinoa with a fork. Add the pine nuts, garlic, reserved oil, parsley, raisins and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper and toss.

PESTO PASTA SALAD WITH PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Cook the corkscrew pasta (or you can use orzo pasta) in salted boiling water until tender.
• Drain and stir in the butter.
• Let cool for about 15 minutes.
• Transfer the pasta to a large serving bowl.
• Chop up the sundried tomatoes and stir into the pasta.
• Place the pasta in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, to cool some more.
• Add the prepared pesto, Parmesan cheese, red chili flakes, ground black pepper and garlic powder.
• Mix well.
• Add the pine nuts, adjust seasonings if needed, and check for salt.
• Put back into the fridge and thoroughly chill the salad before serving.
• The time for cooling the salad is not included in the active or passive work time.

SICILIAN COLLARD GREENS WITH PINE NUTS AND RAISINS

Steps:

• Use a sharp knife to cut out the central rib and stem from each collard leaf. Rinse the leaves in a sink of cool water, lifting them into a colander to drain a bit (you want some water to remain on the leaves).
• Toast the pine nuts over medium heat in a dry skillet for about 5 minutes or until golden.
• Shake the pan often to keep the pine nuts from burning. Transfer to a plate, and set aside.
• Place the garlic and oil in a large skillet, and saute over medium heat for 1 minute or until the garlic is fragrant.
• Add the damp collards and stir, then cover the pan and cook for 2 minutes longer.
• Add the raisins and pine nuts, and stir. Cover and cook for 2 minutes.
• Stir in the balsamic vinegar, cover, and continue to cook for 1 to 2 minutes longer.

PARSLEY PESTO CHICKEN SALAD WITH PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Separate chicken from bones and chop or shred to desired consistency. Salt and pepper if needed.
• In a food processor, blender, or mini prep food processor (best choice) whirl together parsley, garlic, drizzling in olive oil until it is a nice thick liquid consistency. You can add a little water water to make sure it will coat all the chicken--the recipe amounts are general (I kept adding parsley and oil until it seemed like a good amount to me! Sorry for the imprecision). Stir in the cheese, add salt and pepper if needed.
• Toss together the tomatoes with the chicken and lemon juice. Sprinkle the top with the cheese, parlsey and pine nuts (they will tend to get soggy if they are mixed in and left).
• You could probably 'tart this up' a little by mixing in a little dijon to the pesto or even mayonnaise, just a thought, I've not tried it.

SPINACH SALAD IN ORANGE DRESSING WITH PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Peel the oranges and remove the white pith.
• Over a bowl positioned to catch the juice, separate the segments of each orange from the membrane with a sharp knife, discarding the seeds, and set them aside.
• Squeeze the residual juice from the membranes into the bowl and reserve.
• Combine the spinach and watercress in a mixing bowl.
• Put the pine nuts in a small saute pan and cook over medium heat for about 6 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally, until the nuts are golden brown.
• Transfer the pine nuts to a small bowl.
• Put the shallots, garlic, vinegars, and reserved orange juice into the saute pan.
• Bring to a boil over low heat.
• Stir in the black pepper, then pour the dressing over the spinach and watercress.
• Toss to coat.
• Arrange the mixture on salad plates, spoon orange segments atop each, and garnish with the pine nuts and, if you like, orange wheels.

BULGUR SALAD WITH PINE NUTS AND RAISINS

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil in large saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium; add bulgur wheat,raisins,salt,cumin,cinnamon,saffron and cayenne pepper. Cook and stir 1 minute.
• Remove from heat; cover and let stand 15 minutes. Fluff bulgur with fork; place in medium bowl.
• Refrigerate 30 minutes or until cool. Stir in oil until blended. Gently stir in parsley, pine nuts and basil.