Spinach Salad With Balsamic Maple Vinaigrette And Sugared Pecans Recipes

MY FAVORITE SPINACH SALAD WITH BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• To make chicken (if using): Preheat oven to 450ºF. Season chicken and bake for 17-20 minutes, (or until 165 degrees internally). Once cooked, cover with foil for 10 minutes to seal in the juices.
• While chicken is cooking, you can prepare the salad ingredients.
• To make the salad: Add spinach, fruit, red onion, nuts, dried cranberries, and half of the cheese to a large serving bowl. Cooked chicken can be chopped and tossed in the salad or sliced and served over the top or served alongside the salad. Drizzle the salad with the vinaigrette, and toss to combine.
• Serve immediately, garnished with the remaining cheese.

PERFECT SPINACH SALAD (NO, REALLY)

Steps:

• Make the hard boiled eggs, if using (or make them in advance). Chop them into bite-sized pieces.
• Add the pecans, soy sauce, maple syrup and smoked paprika to a small non-stick skillet over medium heat. When it just starts to bubble, reduce the heat to low but still slowly bubbling. Simmer 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. In the last minute when the liquid is mostly evaporated, stir continuously until it is totally cooked out and the nuts start clumping together. Immediately remove from the heat and transfer the pecans to a sheet of parchment paper in a single layer. Sprinkle with 2 pinches kosher salt and allow to cool to room temperature, about 5 minutes.
• Make the Balsamic Vinaigrette.
• Thinly slice the shallot. If using apple instead of hard boiled egg, thinly slice the apple.
• Place the spinach on plates or in bowls. Top with hard boiled eggs or apple slices, smoky pecans, sliced shallot, and feta cheese crumbles.

VEGAN SPINACH SALAD WITH MAPLE BALSAMIC DRESSING

Steps:

• Prepare salad ingredients by chopping them and adding to a salad bowl.
• Whisk together the dressing ingredients or shake together in a jar.
• Toss the salad with dressing before serving and enjoy!

BALSAMIC-SALMON SPINACH SALAD

Steps:

• Drizzle salmon with 1 tablespoon vinaigrette. Place on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Broil 3-4 in. from the heat for 10-15 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Cut salmon into 2 pieces., Meanwhile, in a large bowl, toss spinach with remaining vinaigrette. Divide between 2 plates. Top with the salmon, avocado, walnuts, sunflower kernels and cranberries.