ARUGULA SALAD WITH MANCHEGO, APPLES, AND CARAMELIZED WALNUTS

Arugula Salad with Manchego, Apples, and Caramelized Walnuts image

Yield Makes 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup walnut oil
3 tablespoons Champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
8 cups arugula
2 Red Delicious or Fuji apples, unpeeled, cored, thinly sliced
6 ounces Spanish Manchego cheese or sharp white cheddar cheese, shaved
1 1/2 cups pitted dates, sliced
1 cup Caramelized Walnuts
4 large shallots, minced

Steps:

Boil balsamic vinegar in small saucepan over medium-high heat until syrupy and reduced to 1/4 cup, about 4 minutes.
Whisk oil and Champagne vinegar in bowl. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 4 hours ahead. Keep at room temperature. Rewarm balsamic syrup before using. Rewhisk vinaigrette before using.)
Toss arugula, apples, half of cheese, dates, walnuts, and shallots in large bowl with enough vinaigrette to coat. Season salad with salt and pepper.
Mound salad in center of each plate. Drizzle balsamic syrup around salads. Sprinkle remaining cheese atop salads.