Spinach Pear Salad From Restaurateur Tom Douglas Recipes

SPINACH PEAR SALAD

Steps:

• To make the vinaigrette, whisk together the vinegar, mustard, honey, sesame seeds, garlic, and salt and pepper in a bowl. Gradually whisk in the oil. Set aside.
• To make the curried cashews, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. 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.

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, 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 SALAD

Steps:

• Combine first 6 ingredients in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk.
• Place the pear slices in a large bowl.
• Spoon 1 tablespoon dressing over pears; toss to coat.
• Add the remaining dressing, spinach, and onion; toss to coat.

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.

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.

WARM SPINACH AND PEAR SALAD WITH BACON DRESSING

Steps:

• Place spinach in large bowl.
• Cook bacon in large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp.
• Remove to paper towel to drain.
• Discard all but 3 tablespoons of bacon drippings from skillet.
• Add oil to drippings in skillet and heat.
• Add onion; cook until tender, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt and pepper.
• Bring to boiling.
• Remove from heat.
• Add pear to spinach.
• Pour hot dressing over spinach and pear; toss well to coat.
• Crumble bacon and sprinkle over salad.
• Serve immediately.