Spinach Pear Salad From Restaurateur Tom Douglas Food

SPINACH SALAD WITH PEARS, WALNUTS AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Chop 1 pear and slice remaining two.
• Put chopped pear, oil, vinegar, mustard and honey into a blender and purée.
• Transfer to a small bowl and stir in 2 tablespoons water, more if needed, to thin for a pourable dressing.
• Put spinach, onion, walnuts, goat cheese, sliced pears and dressing into a large bowl and toss gently to coat. Serve immediately.
• Three Twists on the OriginalApple Cheddar Spinach SaladReplace pears with apples, walnuts with pine nuts and goat cheese with small cubes of sharp cheddar. Quinoa Spinach Pear SaladAdd 1 cup cooked and cooled quinoa to spinach salad mixture.Fig Spinach SaladReplace pears with 3/4 cup dried figs (1/4 cup chopped for dressing, remainder sliced thinly in salad).

SPINACH, PEAR AND FETA SALAD

Steps:

• Place the pears in a bowl with the lemon-lime soda. Set aside; this will keep them from turning brown.
• Place the baby spinach in a serving bowl, and add the shallot, feta cheese and pine nuts. Drain the pears, and discard the soda. Add pears to the salad, and toss to blend. Serve with raspberry vinaigrette dressing.

SPINACH, PEAR, AND FRISEE SALAD WITH CURRIED CASHEWS

Steps:

• To make the vinaigrette, whisk together the vinegar, mustard, honey, sesame seeds, garlic, and salt and pepper, to taste, in a bowl. Gradually whisk in the oil. Set aside.
• To make the curried cashews, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• On a baking sheet, toast the cashews until golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the melted butter, rosemary, curry powder, brown sugar, salt, and cayenne in a bowl. Add the toasted cashews while they are still hot and toss with a rubber spatula so they are thoroughly coated with the spices and butter. Leave the oven on to cook the bacon.
• Put the bacon on a baking sheet, place it in the oven, and cook until crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the bacon from the pan and cut the slices into 1-inch pieces. Keep the bacon warm.
• In a large bowl, combine the spinach, frisee, red onions, and sliced pears. Toss with enough vinaigrette to coat everything well.
• Divide the salad among 6 plates. Garnish each salad with pieces of warm bacon and spiced cashews. Set a grape cluster on the side of each salad.
• The bacon can be cooked ahead, stored in the refrigerator, and reheated. The cashews can be cooked early in the day and stored at room temperature. The vinaigrette can be stored refrigerated, tightly covered, for several days.

SPINACH AND PEAR SUMMER SALAD

Steps:

• Gently wash spinach leaved under cold water.
• Drain spinach leaves.
• Cut pear in half and remove core and seeds.
• Thinly slice pears and sprinkle with lemon juice to avoid turning brown.
• Peel and very thinly slice onions.
• Crumble feta cheese.
• In a large bowl, place torn spinach leaves.
• Arrange thin pear slices and onion ontop of the spinach.
• Gently crumble feta cheese over spinach, pears and onion rings.
• Finally, toss pine nuts over the entire salad.
• Serve with a good quality balsamic vinaigrette.
• Delicious with fresh fish, or simply as an entree.

ROASTED PEAR SPINACH SALAD WITH HAZELNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut the pears into quarters and core them, then slice them into 1/2″ slices. Place them on the lined baking sheet and lightly brush them with olive oil. Roast them for about 20 minutes, or until golden, then turn them over and roast again for an additional 10 minutes. When the pears are golden brown and caramelized, but still holding their shape, remove them from the oven and let them cool until they're warm, or room temperature.
• While the pears are roasting, assemble the rest of the salad ingredients.
• Make the dressing by whisking together the vinegar, Dijon mustard, and sea salt until combined. Then whisking constantly, add the olive oil in a slow steady stream. Whisk until all the oil had been added, and the dressing is emulsified.
• When the pears are done and have cooled, either arrange all the ingredients over the top of the spinach, or toss them all together. Add as much dressing as you'd like, or serve it on the side.

SPINACH SALAD WITH BAKED PEARS

Steps:

• For the Baked Pears: Preheat oven to 350. Peel and halve the pear lengthwise. Remove the core with a paring knife. Set each half cut-side down and slice lengthwise into fifths. Melt coconut oil and toss pears with oil and 1/2 packet of Truvia. Arrange pears in a single layer on a prepared baking sheet or dish and bake 25-30 minutes until golden brown and caramelized. Let pears cool while preparing salad.
• For the dressing: Whisk together olive oil, vinegar, Dijon mustard, remaining half of Truvia packet, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
• Layer spinach, pecans, and blue cheese in a serving bowl. Add vinaigrette and toss gently to combine; top with cooled pears. Serve immediately.

SPINACH, PEAR, AND WALNUT SALAD

Steps:

• 1. In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, mustard, tarragon, salt, and pepper. Add the spinach leaves and toss to coat.
• 2. Divide the spinach among 4 serving plates. Place a quarter of the pear slices and walnuts on top of each salad.

SPINACH PEAR SALAD FROM RESTAURATEUR, TOM DOUGLAS

Steps:

• Curried Cashews: Preheat oven to 400°; toast cashews on baking sheet for 8-10 minutes or until golden; combine remaining ingredients; add hot cashews, toss until coated; set aside to cool.
• Honey-Sesame Vinaigrette: Combine all ingredients and whisk until emulsified.
• Salad: Cut bacon into 1/2" pieces and cook until crisp.
• Put greens, onions and sliced pears in a bowl and toss with enough vinaigrette to coat everything well.
• Place salad on six plates; sprinkle each with bacon and curried cashews; garnish with cluster of grapes placed at the side of each plate.

SPINACH SALAD WITH PEARS & CANDIED PECANS

Steps:

• In a small heavy skillet, melt butter. Add brown sugar; cook and stir over medium heat until dissolved. Add pecans; cook for 3-5 minutes or until toasted, stirring frequently. Spread onto foil to cool., In a small bowl, whisk the oil, sugar, lemon juice, onion and salt; set aside. Just before serving, in a large salad bowl, combine the spinach, pears, cheese and candied pecans. Drizzle with dressing and toss to coat.