Warm Salad With Crisped Spinach And Quail Recipes

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.

WARM SALAD WITH CRISPED SPINACH AND QUAIL

Steps:

• To make the sauce, place the olive oil, cream, vinegar, garlic, salt and Tabasco in a saucepan over medium heat. Boil, lower the heat and simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat, cover and set aside.
• To make the quail, heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the quail and saute about 2 minutes per side. Remove from the skillet, season with salt, set aside and keep warm.
• To make the spinach, heat the oil in a deep, heavy pot to 350 degrees. Carefully add the spinach (the grease will splatter) and fry until crisp, about 1 minute. Remove with tongs and drain on paper towels. Season with salt.
• To assemble the salads, divide the mesclun among 4 plates. Top with the quail and sprinkle with the basil. Spoon the sauce over it all and garnish with the fried spinach and pine nuts. Serve immediately.

WARM CHICKEN SPINACH SALAD

Steps:

• On two salad plates, arrange spinach, oranges, mushrooms and onion; set aside. In a skillet, saute chicken and walnuts in oil until chicken is no longer pink. , In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch, ginger, orange juice and vinegar until smooth; stir into the chicken mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Pour over salads and serve immediately.

SPINACH & CRISPY BACON SALAD

Steps:

• Place prepared spinach in a large bowl. Add onion. Refrigerate, tightly covered.
• Fry chopped bacon until crisp; remove to paper towel and set aside.
• Allow bacon drippings to cool for 5 minutes or so (until it is no longer sizzling). In the frying pan, combine the drippings with vinegar, Splenda (or sugar), mayonnaise, salt and pepper and blend well.
• You can now refrigerate all ingredients until just before serving, storing the dressing in a covered microwaveable container. OR you can use the dressing right out of the pan and proceed to tossing the salad.
• When ready to serve, microwave the dressing on HIGH for 30 to 45 seconds, or until mixture boils.
• Toss the chopped egg with the spinach salad then pour the hot dressing over greens mixture; toss again lightly.
• Top with sliced egg and crumbled bacon.