Spinach Salad With Candied Cashews Recipes

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 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).

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.

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.