Spinach Pear Salad from Restaurateur, Tom Douglas

sugarpea's Note:

This salad is perfect. AND the curried cashews make outstanding appetizers, garnishes, snacks or gifts; the honey-sesame dressing can be used on any number of salads. The contrast of colors, flavors and textures is inspired. Tom Douglas is chef and owner of 4 Seattle eateries and this salad has been on his menu.

• Total Time: 35 mins
• Prep Time: 25 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

Curried Cashews

• ¾ cup cashews (about 3 ounces)
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter , melted
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon crushed dried rosemary
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1 teaspoon dark brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon coarse salt
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Honey-Sesame Vinaigrette

• 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 3 tablespoons sesame seeds , toasted
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• coarse salt
• freshly ground pepper
• ½ cup vegetable oil or ½ cup peanut oil

Salad

• ½ lb smoky thick slab bacon (about twelve 1/4" thick slices)
• 12 cups loosely packed spinach leaves , no stems,torn to bite-size
• 6 cups loosely packed frisee , torn to bite-size
• 2⁄3; cup red onion , thinly sliced
• 3 small pears , halved,cored,thinly sliced
• 6 bunches grapes , small for garnish

Directions:

1. 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.
2. Honey-Sesame Vinaigrette: Combine all ingredients and whisk until emulsified.
3. Salad: Cut bacon into 1/2" pieces and cook until crisp.
4. Put greens, onions and sliced pears in a bowl and toss with enough vinaigrette to coat everything well.
5. Place salad on six plates; sprinkle each with bacon and curried cashews; garnish with cluster of grapes placed at the side of each plate.

Reviews

[Chef #492314]

Loved it! My husband doesn't usually like Spinach salad, but he had two servings of this one. I actually omitted the bacon and added a few cubes of cambozola cheese. It was a nice addition with the pear. The dressing is to die for and I will be using it for other salads more often!

[DDW]

WOW!! When I saw Geema's review of this salad I HAD to try it and we were not dissappointed. WE LOVED IT!!! I did use bacon and I think it's a must for an added dimension. I couldn't come up with slab bacon so I bought the thickest cut I could find. We're thinkin' this salad is getting served the next time we host our gourmet dinner club. Thanks so much for sharing.

[Chef #1417292]

Super yummy! Used pecans instead of cashews and they were delicious.