Spinach, Pear, Dried Cranberry and Maple Glazed Walnut Salad with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette

By: Irvin Lin

Maple glazed walnuts and warm bacon vinaigrette, this salad won't disappoint.

Ingredients

Glazed Walnuts:

• 2 cups walnuts
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

Vinaigrette:

• 4 pieces streaky or thick-cut bacon, cut into pieces
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 medium sized shallots, minced
• 1 medium sized garlic clove, minced
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• salt and pepper , to taste

Salad:

• 500gm baby spinach greens
• 2 medium sized pears, cored and sliced thin
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries

Directions

1. Make the glazed walnuts by placing the walnuts, maple syrup, salt and cinnamon in a large skillet and cooking over medium high heat until the maple syrup has reduced and nuts are coated and sticky, about 3 to 5 minutes. Pour the walnuts onto a baking sheet and spread apart (careful, it’s hot!) into a single layer. Let cool.
2. Make the vinaigrette by cooking the bacon in a medium sized skillet until crisp and the fat has rendered. Remove the bacon from the pan to a plate lined with paper towels. Leave the fat in the pan and add the olive oil, shallots, garlic and brown sugar to the pan and cook for 1 minutes over low heat, stirring frequently. Pour into a measuring cup or small bowl and stir in the balsamic vinegar. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Assemble the salad by placing the spinach greens, pear slices, dried cranberries in a bowl. Sprinkle the glazed walnuts on top and the crisp bacon. Drizzle and toss with the warm vinaigrette and serve immediately.