Welcome to a culinary journey that embraces the vibrant flavors of spinach, pear, and toasted walnut in a delightful salad creation. This delectable dish, a symphony of textures and tastes, will tantalize your palate and elevate your dining experience. Let's embark on a culinary exploration of this exquisite salad, unveiling the secrets behind its captivating charm.
The foundation of this culinary masterpiece is a bed of baby spinach, its tender leaves bursting with nutrients and a slightly peppery flavor. The crispness of the spinach provides a refreshing contrast to the other ingredients, creating a delightful interplay of textures. Sliced pears, with their inherent sweetness and subtle crunch, add a touch of juicy elegance to the salad.
Toasted walnuts, imbued with a nutty aroma and a satisfying crunch, provide a symphony of flavors and textures. Their toasty warmth complements the other components of the salad, adding depth and complexity. Feta cheese, crumbled over the salad, introduces salty tanginess, enhancing the overall flavor profile.
A drizzle of honey-balsamic dressing ties all the elements of this salad together, creating a harmonious blend of sweet, tangy, and savory notes. The dressing, with its velvety texture, coats each ingredient, elevating its flavors and creating an unforgettable taste sensation.
This recipe also offers variations to suit different palates and preferences. For a vegan delight, substitute feta cheese with crumbled tofu, while those seeking a gluten-free option can use quinoa instead of couscous. The dressing can be adjusted to your liking, whether you prefer a tangier or sweeter taste.
So, let's embark on a culinary journey, exploring the enticing flavors of this spinach, pear, and toasted walnut salad. Discover how each ingredient contributes to this extraordinary dish, and find inspiration to create your own variations, tailored to your unique taste preferences. Happy cooking!
PEAR SALAD WITH BALSAMIC AND WALNUTS
This pear salad recipe is a stunning fall side dish! Simple, elegant, and delicious, it'd be a great addition to a Thanksgiving or holiday dinner.
Provided by Jeanine Donofrio
Categories Side Dish
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Assemble the salad with the mixed greens and top with the pears and fennel. Squeeze a little lemon over the pears and fennel and toss.
- Top with the cranberries, pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, and pecorino. Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
SPINACH SALAD WITH GOAT CHEESE AND WALNUTS
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories appetizer
Time 15m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, shallot, mustard, salt, and pepper. Gradually whisk in the oil to make a creamy dressing.
- Put all but a large handful of the spinach in a large bowl. Toss with most of the dressing. Add remaining spinach and continue tossing until well coated.
- Serve immediately topped with goat cheese and walnuts.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 226 calorie, Fat 21 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Cholesterol 5 milligrams, Sodium 297 milligrams, Carbohydrate 8 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 5 grams, Sugar 1 grams
BABY SPINACH, PEAR AND WALNUT SALAD
A refreshing and flavoursome salad which is visually appealing and complements any meat, rice or pasta dish. Adapted from a recipe in the latest issue of the Australian magazine 'New Idea'. When I posted this initially, I just listed "pears" in the ingredients, but have since located the pears specified, and I have made the salad with those pears: CORELLA PEARS. See notes below.
Provided by bluemoon downunder
Categories Spinach
Time 25m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Place the honey and vinegar in a medium bowl and stir until well combined; cut the pears lenghtways into 1cm-thick pieces and toss in the honey mixture.
- Cook the pears on a heated, oiled grill pan or BBQ hotplate on one side for 1 minute or until golden; remove and set aside to cool.
- Toss the walnuts in the remaining honey and balsamic vinegar mixture, and cook on a heated oiled grill pan, turning frequently, for 2 minutes or until golden brown; set aside to cool.
- FETA DRESSING: Place the milk and rosemary in a small saucepan and bring to the boil; remove and cool; discard the rosemary; place the feta in a medium bowl and gradually whisk in the milk, a little at a time until it forms a smooth paste, whik in the oil and season to taste.
- SERVING: Place the pears and walnuts in a large bowl, add the baby spinach leaves and chives, pour over the feta dressing, toss well and serve.
- NOTES: Corella pears are named after the colourful Australian Corella parrot. They are a type of pear which was first developed by the German settlers who settled the Barossa Valley, in South Australia, in the 1840s. Corella pears are soft skinned, golden and red: really beautiful. As my mother said, they look as if they belong in a still life painting. They lose this colour when cooked, but they come out a beautiful golden brown, and they are so, so deliciously sweet. if you are familiar with Fuji apples, in taste and appearance, they are their cousins. I'm planning to make this salad next time with half Corella pears and half Fuji apples.
SPINACH SALAD WITH PEARS, WALNUTS AND GOAT CHEESE
Take advantage of pears in season and try a new variety in this twist on a popular dish. A little sweet pear (or apple or dried fig) makes the dressing especially good.
Time 15m
Yield Serves 4 to 6
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Chop 1 pear and slice remaining two.
- Put chopped pear, oil, vinegar, mustard and honey into a blender and purée.
- Transfer to a small bowl and stir in 2 tablespoons water, more if needed, to thin for a pourable dressing.
- Put spinach, onion, walnuts, goat cheese, sliced pears and dressing into a large bowl and toss gently to coat. Serve immediately.
- Three Twists on the OriginalApple Cheddar Spinach SaladReplace pears with apples, walnuts with pine nuts and goat cheese with small cubes of sharp cheddar. Quinoa Spinach Pear SaladAdd 1 cup cooked and cooled quinoa to spinach salad mixture.Fig Spinach SaladReplace pears with 3/4 cup dried figs (1/4 cup chopped for dressing, remainder sliced thinly in salad).
Nutrition Facts : Calories 340 calories, Fat 24 grams, SaturatedFat 6 grams, Cholesterol 10 milligrams, Sodium 230 milligrams, Carbohydrate 28 grams, Protein 8 grams
SPINACH, PEAR, AND TOASTED WALNUT SALAD
This is a very tastey, but light salad I put together. Many varieties of pear grown in the Rogue Valley in southern Oregon and I adore them! It makes a great lunch salad for two or a salad course for three or four.
Provided by DoriAnni
Categories Spinach
Time 8m
Yield 2-4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Wash, dry, and arrange nice sized pieces of spinach on salad plates.
- Core pear.
- If there are any brown spots on the fruit, cut them off.
- Slice ripe pear into thin slices cut from top to bottom of the fruit.
- Arrange pear on spinach.
- Divide the toasted walnuts evenly among the plates.
- Top salad with a few, well placed, broad curls of the parmesean.
- Quickly whisk together orange juice and olive oil, gently spoon over dressing and serve.
SPINACH, PEAR, AND WALNUT SALAD
Provided by Ellie Krieger
Categories Salad Appetizer Side Vegetarian Quick & Easy Lunch Pear Walnut Spinach Vegan Sugar Conscious Kidney Friendly Pescatarian Paleo Dairy Free Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added Kosher
Yield Serves 4
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- 1. In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, mustard, tarragon, salt, and pepper. Add the spinach leaves and toss to coat.
- 2. Divide the spinach among 4 serving plates. Place a quarter of the pear slices and walnuts on top of each salad.
ARUGULA, TOASTED WALNUT AND ROASTED PEAR SALAD WITH RED WINE/SHALLOT VINAIGRETTE
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Place pear halves, cut side up, on a baking sheet and brush them with honey. Place pan in oven. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden. Slice the pears lengthwise into half-inch slices. In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar and shallots. Whisk in olive oil until emulsified. Add salt and pepper to taste. Toss the arugula with the vinaigrette. Plate salad individually with pear slices and toasted walnuts sprinkled on top.
Tips:
- To save time, use pre-washed spinach and pre-sliced pears. You can also buy toasted walnuts or toast them yourself in a pan over medium heat for a few minutes, stirring constantly.
- If you don't have goat cheese, you can substitute feta or blue cheese.
- For a vegan version of this salad, omit the goat cheese and use a plant-based dressing, such as a vinaigrette made with olive oil, lemon juice, and maple syrup.
- This salad is a great make-ahead meal. Simply assemble the salad and dressing separately and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you're ready to serve, toss the salad with the dressing and enjoy.
Conclusion:
This spinach, pear, and toasted walnut salad is a delicious and healthy way to enjoy fresh seasonal produce. It's perfect for a light lunch or dinner, and it's also a great side dish for grilled chicken or fish. The combination of sweet pears, crunchy walnuts, and tangy goat cheese is sure to please everyone at your table. With a few simple tips, you can easily make this salad at home and enjoy it all week long.
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