Friday, June 24, 2011

My New Favorite Salad

Mixed Greens, Pecans, Goat Cheese, Red Pepper with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 ounces pecans, whole
  • 1 Tbsp melted butter
  • 1 Tbsp sugar
  • 2 Tbsp honey mustard
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 3/4 cup olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 lb mixed salad greens, including fresh baby spinach
  • 4 ounces goat cheese
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries
  • 1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and cut into 1-2 inch thin slices

METHOD

1 Preheat oven to 300°F. Place pecans in a bowl, pour melted butter over them, sprinkle with sugar, and gently toss until the pecans are all well coated with a dusting of sugar. Place them in a single layer on a parchment paper or Silpat lined cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. Let cool to touch.

2 Whisk together the honey mustard, garlic, red pepper flakes, and balsamic vinegar in a medium sized bowl. Slowly drizzle the oil into the mixture, whisking constantly until completely incorporated. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

3 Place lettuces and baby spinach in a large bowl. Add the goat cheese, dried cranberries, red bell pepper, and pecans. Toss with 1/4 cup of the dressing.

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