Pear Balsamic Salad with dried cherries and candied walnuts
Ingredients
- Walnuts or nut of choice
- 1 cup heapingraw walnuts
- 2 tsp olive or coconut oil
- 1 tbsp coconut sugar
- 2 tsp maple syrup or agave nectar
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 1 pinch ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper optional
- Dressing
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium shallot minced
- 1 pinch each sea salt and black pepper
- Salad
- 1 6- ounce bag mixed greens
- 1 ripe pear thinly sliced lengthwise // stem and seeds removed
- 1/4 cup dried cherries (or cranberries though cherries are best!)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and put raw walnuts on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Once oven is preheated, toast walnuts for 7 minutes. Then remove from oven and add remaining ingredients directly to the walnuts (oil, coconut sugar, maple syrup, sea salt, cinnamon and cayenne. Use a spatula to thoroughly toss/combine.
- Place back in oven and roast for another 4-6 minutes (until fragrant and golden brown). Set aside to cool.
- In the meantime, prepare dressing by adding all ingredients to a jar (or mixing bowl) and shaking vigorously (or whisking) to combine. Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more balsamic for acidity, salt or pepper for flavor balance, or olive oil for creaminess. Set aside.
- To serve, add greens, half of the sliced pear, dried cherries, and half of the roasted walnuts to a large mixing/serving bowl. Drizzle with a bit of the dressing and toss to combine.
- Plate and garnish with remaining pears and walnuts, and serve with remaining dressing.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!