Spinach Salad With Candied Cashews Food

WARM SPINACH SALAD WITH PANCETTA DRESSING

Steps:

• Combine the spinach and red onions in a large bowl.
• Heat the olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium-high heat until hot and shimmering. Add the mushrooms and salt to taste, and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until they start to release their moisture and begin to shrink, 2 to 3 minutes. Now let the mushrooms cook undisturbed until their liquid evaporates and they have turned deep golden brown on one side, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir and continue cooking until nicely browned on both sides, 3 to 5 minutes more. With a slotted spoon, remove the mushrooms from the pan and toss with the spinach and onions.
• In a separate, heavy-bottomed saucepan, cook the pancetta over medium-low heat until dark and crispy, about 15 minutes. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and reserve.
• To the rendered fat in the pan, add the vinegar, honey and mustard. Bring to a boil and whisk to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste and then pour the warm dressing over the spinach, mushrooms and onions. Add the reserved pancetta and toss to distribute the heat and dressing.
• Serve in a salad bowl, garnished with pine nuts.

STRAWBERRY SPINACH SALAD WITH CANDIED PECANS

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large heavy skillet over medium heat.
• Add pecans and sugar; stir to combine.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar melts around pecans and is caramel-colored.
• Remove pecans with a slotted spoon and spread in a single layer on a sheet of lightly greased aluminum foil.
• Cool completely and break up pieces as needed.
• Remove and discard stems from spinach.
• Wash spinach and pat dry with paper towels.
• Tear into bite-size pieces.
• Combine spinach, celery and strawberries in a large bowl.
• Pour 1 cup dressing over salad mixture; toss gently.
• Add reserved candied pecans; toss gently.
• Serve immediately with remaining dressing.
• Dressing: Combine first 5 ingredients in container of electric blender; cover and process until smooth.
• With blender running, gradually add oil in a slow, steady stream through opening in lid.
• Process until thick and smooth.
• Transfer dressing mixture to a bowl; stir in poppy seeds.
• Cover and chill.

MISSY'S CANDIED WALNUT GORGONZOLA SALAD

Steps:

• Place walnuts and sugar in a skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves into a light brown liquid and coats the walnuts. Remove walnuts from skillet, and spread them out on a sheet of aluminum foil to cool.
• Place in a large salad bowl the mixed greens, cranberries, cheese, vinaigrette, vinegar, and olive oil. Toss gently; add candied walnuts, and toss again.

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 SALAD WITH RASPBERRIES & CANDIED WALNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°. In a small bowl, whisk egg white and vanilla until frothy. Stir in walnuts. Sprinkle with sugar; toss to coat evenly. Spread in a single layer in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan., Bake 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring every 10 minutes. Spread on waxed paper to cool completely., In a small bowl, whisk dressing ingredients until blended. Place spinach in a large bowl. Drizzle with dressing; toss to coat. Sprinkle with raspberries and 1 cup candied walnuts (save remaining walnuts for another use).

SIMPLY SEASONED KOREAN SPINACH SALAD

Steps:

• Trim the spinach roots (if any) and wash the spinach in cold water thoroughly.
• Boil the water in a pot/sauce pan for 5 to 7 mins. Add the salt (1 tsp). Once the water starts to boil, plunge the spinach into the pot and leave it for 30 seconds.
• Drain the boiled water away and run cold water on the spinach for 1-2 minutes.
• Squeeze the spinach to remove excess water.
• Cut the spinach into 2-3 pieces with a knife. (If you are using baby spinach, you can skip this step.)
• Add the seasoning sauce and mix well with your hands.
• Serve it on a plate and enjoy.

SPINACH SALAD WITH CRANBERRIES AND CANDIED WALNUTS

Steps:

• Candy the walnuts: Place the walnuts and the 1/4 cup of sugar in a nonstick skillet. Turn heat to medium high and stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the sugar has melted and coated the walnuts. Turn onto a greased sheet of foil and separate with 2 forks. Let cool while assembling the salad.
• Wash and dry the spinach. Tear into bite sized pieces and place in a large bowl.
• Add cranberries and candied walnuts.
• Make dressing: in a cruet, combine the olive oil, vinegar and honey. Shake well.
• Dress the salad just before serving.

SPINACH BERRY SALAD WITH CANDIED WALNUTS

Steps:

• For the dressing: Whisk together the vinegar, mustard, honey, jam, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Whisk in the oil in a slow stream and continue whisking until the dressing is emulsified.
• For the salad: Toss together the spinach, blackberries, onions and Candied Walnuts in a large salad bowl. Drizzle with the dressing and toss. Using a vegetable peeler, shave some cheese over the top.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Add the walnuts and stir to coat. Raise the heat to medium, add the sugar and cook until the sugar is dissolved and caramelized, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Stir in the cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, then transfer the mixture to the baking sheet. Spread the nuts in a single layer. Let the walnuts cool until hardened, about 15 minutes.

SPINACH SALAD WITH CANDIED CASHEWS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300F (you can prepare your cashews several days ahead).
• In a small saucepan, mix together cashews, sugar, and water over medium heat until sugar dissolves.
• Cook and stir for about 15 minutes, or until mixture crystallizes.
• Spread the cashews onto parchment paper on a baking sheet (season with salt now if needed).
• Bake 15 minutes, then stir mixture.
• Bake 15 minutes more, then cool cashews before storing in an airtight container (until needed).
• Place spinach into salad bowl.
• Top with hard cooked eggs, mushrooms, dried fruit, and candied cashews.
• Juice the lemon.
• Whisk together the lemon juice, salt, pepper, dijon mustard, and sugar, adjusting sugar to taste.
• Slowly add olive oil and whisk until dressing emulsifies.
• Serve dressing over salad as desired.

STRAWBERRY SPINACH SALAD WITH CANDIED PECANS FETA AND BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Add vinegar to a small saucepan, bring to a boil over medium heat and allow to boil until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Pour into a jar or bowl, add olive oil, dijon mustard, honey and whisk to blend while seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Thin with a little water if desired. Set aside.
• Add pecans, brown sugar and butter to a small non-stick skillet and cook over medium-heat, stirring constantly until sugar starts to melt and caramelize, about 2 - 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate in a single layer to cool.
• In a salad bowl toss together spinach, strawberries, half of the feta, red onion and pecans. Drizzle about 1/3 of the dressing over salad then plate and drizzle remaining dressing over individual portions and top with remaining half of the feta. Serve immediately.

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 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.

EMERIL'S SPINACH, ORANGE AND CANDIED ALMOND SALAD

Steps:

• Lightly grease a 10" square of parchment paper with butter or vegetable oil and set aside.
• Use a salad spinner to rinse the baby spinach thoroughy. Remove as much moisture as possible from the spinach or your salad will be soggy. Set aside to drain.
• SIMPLE SYRUP: In a small saucepan combine 3 tablespoons of sugar and 1 tablespoon of water over medium-high heat. Swirl the mixture occasionally until the sugar turns a golden amber color*. This should take about 3-4 minutes.
• Add the almonds and stir to coat. Continue cooking until the almonds are fragrant and golden brown, about 1 minute. *Be careful not to burn the sugar/nut mixture or yourself! Transfer nuts to parchment paper, using a spatula to spread into a thin layer, and set aside to cool completely.
• With a sharp knife, peel the orange, remove the bitter white pith and cut the fruit into segments. (Use a small bowl to catch the orange juice that drips.) Reserve the segments in a separate bowl. Reserve the orange juice.
• SALAD DRESSING: Combine 1/4 cup of the reserved fresh orange juice, remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, the Champagne or white vinegar, olive oil, fresh orange zest, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and the cayenne in a mixing bowl and whisk to blend. Transfer the dressing to a non-reactive container with a lid and refrigerate until ready to eat.
• Put the fresh spinach in a large serving bowl, then top with the orange segments, celery, and red onions. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• When ready to serve, break the caramelized almonds (at this point the almonds have turned to "brittle") into bite-size pieces and scatter over the top of the salad. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Toss to coat evenly and serve immediately.

SPINACH AND APPLE SALAD WITH CRISPY ALMONDS

Steps:

• Combine onion, cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, sesame seeds and paprika in small bowl. Mix in 2 tablespoons sugar. Gradually whisk in olive oil. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper.
• Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add almonds. Stir until almonds begin to color, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle remaining 1 tablespoon sugar over. Stir until sugar melts and begins to turn golden, about 2 minutes longer. Transfer almonds to bowl and cool. (Dressing and almonds can be prepared 4 hours ahead. Cover separately and let stand at room temperature.)
• Combine spinach and apples in large bowl. Toss with enough dressing to coat. Mix in almonds. Serve salad, passing any remaining dressing separately.

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.