Spinach Pecan Salad Food

SPINACH SALAD WITH CARAMELIZED PECANS

Steps:

• Melt butter in small frying pan over low heat.
• Add pecans and brown sugar.
• Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly until mixture is caramelized.
• Spread out on wax paper to cool.
• In bowl toss together spinach, pecans, apple and cheese.
• Add oil and vinegar and toss again until everything is coated.
• Chef's note: To make ahead for a special dinner--toss apple with dressing. Layer on greens, cheese and pecans. Cover with plastic wrap and put in refrigerator until needed, tossing just before serving.

SPINACH, APPLE AND PECAN SALAD

Steps:

• In serving bowl, whisk oil, vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt and pepper until thick.
• Add apple and onion.
• Toss until apples and onions are covered with dressing.
• Place spinach on top, then pecans.
• Just before serving, toss.

PECAN SPINACH SALAD

Steps:

• In a large salad bowl, combine the spinach, pecans, bacon and blue cheese. In a small bowl, whisk the dressing ingredients. Pour over salad; toss to coat.

SPINACH PECAN SALAD

Steps:

• Wash and dry the spinach until you're absolutely sure it's clean; spinach can hold a lot of grit. When you're sure it's clean and dry, put it in a salad bowl, and sprinkle it with salt, and squeeze the leaves gently with your hands. You'll find that the spinach "deflates," or sort of gets a bit limp and reduces in volume. Add the scallions to the bowl. Pour on the olive oil, and toss the salad thoroughly. Add the lemon juice, and toss again. Top with the pecans, and serve.

GINA'S SPINACH SALAD WITH SPICED PECANS

Steps:

• Pecans: Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Stir in all the spices and the pecans. Stir and toast the pecans for about 5 minutes. Transfer them to a plate to cool.
• Salad: Whisk together the Dijon mustard, shallots, and balsamic vinegar in a small bowl. Drizzle in the olive oil in a continuous stream, whisking to emulsify. Season with a pinch of sugar, and salt and pepper, to taste.
• Add the spinach to a large serving bowl. Toss the greens with the prepared dressing, the bacon, blue cheese, cherry tomatoes and spiced pecans.

SPINACH AND CITRUS SALAD WITH SWEET AND SPICY PECANS

Steps:

• Put the spinach and green onions in large salad bowl and sprinkle with the halved citrus supremes. In a small saute pan over medium heat, add the butter and sugar and stir until the butter is melted. Add the pecans and toss until the pecans begin to brown. Stir in the rosemary and cayenne and stir just a few seconds to release the aroma. Remove from the heat and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle the pecans on the salad while still warm. Drizzle the dressing over salad and serve.
• In a small bowl, add all the ingredients and whisk until emulsified.

SPINACH SALAD WITH SWEET ROASTED PECANS AND GORGONZOLA WITH SHERRY SHALLOT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place spinach in serving bowl.
• Toss pecans with vegetable oil, sugar and salt. Lay out on baking sheet. Roast until shade darker and aromatic, about 7 to 8 minutes. Set aside.
• Make dressing by combining olive oil, vinegar, shallots and salt and pepper in a bowl and whisking together or place in sealable container and shake.
• Toss spinach with dressing, Gorgonzola and pecans.

SPINACH SALAD WITH GRILLED PEACHES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the pecans on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until golden and fragrant, 6 minutes; roughly chop.
• Preheat a grill to medium-high heat on one side and medium heat on the other. Lightly brush the peaches with oil and grill over medium until nicely marked, about 4 minutes per side. Meanwhile, place a flat cast-iron skillet on the grill over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until crisp; transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate.
• Combine the spinach, red onion, grilled peaches, pecans and bacon in a large bowl.
• Make the dressing: Mash the blue cheese with a fork in a bowl. Mix in the buttermilk, sour cream, sugar, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss with the salad just before serving.
• Photography by Miki Duisterhof

SPINACH-PEAR SALAD

Steps:

• Mix the first 10 ingredients together, preferably with a food processor or blender so that it mixes well. Set the dressing aside.
• Remove and discard the stems from the spinach leaves. Wash spinach, and pat dry with paper towels. Combine the spinach, pears, raisins, and pecans in a large bowl. Pour reserved dressing over salad, and toss gently. Serve immediately.

SPINACH SALAD WITH PECANS AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO

Steps:

• Saute the mushrooms, set aside and keep warm.
• Place spinach, pecans and chopped sun-dried tomatoes in a medium bowl, toss evenly.
• Add warm mushrooms, lightly toss again.
• Add vinegar/oil mixture, toss to coat.
• Serve immediately.
• The quantities of vinegar, raspberry olive oil, salt and pepper: Whisk small amount, taste, and adjust to your liking.

SPINACH WITH PECANS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, and saute the onion until tender. Stir in the spinach and water, and cook until wilted. Mix in the pecans, and continue to cook and stir until warm.

SPINACH, APPLE & PECAN SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first 6 ingredients; stir in bacon if desired., For dressing, in a small bowl, whisk vinegar, sugar, mustard and pepper until blended. Gradually whisk in oil. Pour over salad; toss to coat.

SPINACH SALAD WITH MANGO AND CANDIED PECANS

Steps:

• Spray sheet of foil with nonstick spray. Stir sugar, 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon vinegar in heavy medium skillet over medium heat until sugar melts and syrup bubbles, about 3 minutes. Mix in pecans. Stir until nuts are toasted and syrup coats nuts evenly, about 7 minutes. Turn nuts out onto prepared foil. Using fork, separate nuts and cool completely (coating will harden).
• Combine spinach, mango and cooled pecans in large bowl. Whisk remaining 5 tablespoons oil and 2 tablespoons vinegar in small bowl to blend. Season dressing with salt and pepper. Toss salad with enough dressing to coat.

CRANBERRY PECAN SPINACH SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the spinach, cranberries, onion, pecans and blue cheese. In a small bowl, whisk the oil, vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper until blended. Drizzle over salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

SPINACH SALAD WITH STRAWBERRIES AND PECANS

Steps:

• Combine first 3 ingredients.
• Process next 7 ingredients in blender until smooth, stopping once to scrap down sides.
• Stir in poppy seeds.

SPINACH SALAD WITH PEACHES AND PECANS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Arrange pecans on a single layer on a baking sheet and roast in preheated oven for 7-10 minutes, until they just begin to darken. Remove from oven and set aside.
• Peel peaches (if desired) and slice into bite-sized segments. Combine peaches, spinach and pecans in a large bowl. Toss with dressing until evenly coated, adding a little additional dressing, if necessary.

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.