Best Spinach And Lentil Salad With Oregon Blue Cheese And Tart Cherry Vinaigrette Recipes

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SPINACH SALAD WITH BLUE CHEESE DRESSING



Spinach Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     side-dish

Time 35m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
2 anchovy fillets
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, grated
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
2 large slices sourdough bread, crusts trimmed, torn into bite-size pieces
1/3 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese (about 1 ounce)
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
8 cups baby spinach (about 5 ounces)
1 small head red-leaf lettuce, torn (about 6 cups)
1/2 English cucumber, thinly sliced

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Soak the red onion in a small bowl of ice water, about 30 minutes. Drain and pat dry.
  • Meanwhile, make the croutons: Mash the anchovies with a fork. Combine the olive oil, mashed anchovies, 1 grated garlic clove and a pinch each of salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Let stand 5 minutes. Add the torn bread and toss with your hands until the bread absorbs the oil. Spread on a baking sheet and bake, stirring halfway through, until golden brown and crisp, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool.
  • Whisk the buttermilk, sour cream, blue cheese, vinegar, parsley, the remaining grated garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl until combined. Add the spinach, lettuce, cucumber, red onion and croutons; toss well.

LENTILS WITH SPINACH



Lentils with Spinach image

This grain and vegetable dish is a perfect complement to a main course but flavorful enough to steal the show.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Salad Recipes

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 quart water
1/2 cup lentils
1 carrot, finely chopped (1/2 cup)
1/4 onion, finely chopped (1/2 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 dried bay leaf
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
8 ounces spinach, stems removed, leaves washed well and torn into 1/2-inch pieces

Steps:

  • In a large saucepan, combine the water, lentils, carrot, onion, garlic, and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the lentils are soft, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain, discarding bay leaf.
  • Use a paper towel to wipe out any water from the saucepan. Add oil, and return pan to medium heat. Stir in the lentils, vegetables, and spinach. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the spinach is wilted, about 2 minutes. Taste, and adjust for seasoning. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to serving bowls.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 135 g, Fat 3 g, Protein 8 g

SPINACH AND LENTIL SALAD WITH OREGON BLUE CHEESE AND TART CHERRY VINAIGRETTE



Spinach and Lentil Salad with Oregon Blue Cheese and Tart Cherry Vinaigrette image

Categories     Salad     Blue Cheese     Cherry     Bacon     Spinach     Lentil     Simmer     Gourmet

Yield Serves 6 as a first course

Number Of Ingredients 10

3/4 cup green lentils
7 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
8 bacon slices (about 6 ounces)
1/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup finely chopped shallot
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup dried unsweetened tart cherries (about 3 ounces)
2 tablespoons sugar
3 1/2 cups baby or regular spinach leaves
1/3 cup blue cheese (about 2 ounces), preferably Oregon Blue

Steps:

  • In a heavy saucepan cover lentils with water by 2 inches and simmer until just tender but not falling apart, about 15 minutes. Drain lentils well in a sieve. Rinse lentils under cold running water to stop cooking and drain well. In a bowl toss lentils with 2 tablespoons vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. (Lentils may be made 2 days ahead and chilled, covered. Bring lentils to room temperature before proceeding.)
  • In a skillet cook bacon over moderate heat until crisp and with tongs transfer to paper towels to drain. Crumble bacon.
  • In cleaned saucepan heat 2 tablespoons oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and cook shallot, stirring, until golden brown. Stir in water, cherries, sugar, and remaining 5 tablespoons vinegar and simmer, stirring occasionally, until liquid is reduced by about half, about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low and whisk in remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a slow stream until emulsified. Season vinaigrette with salt and pepper.
  • Add half of vinaigrette to lentils and toss well. In another bowl toss spinach with half of lentil mixture, half of bacon, half of cheese, remaining vinaigrette, and salt and pepper to taste.
  • Divide remaining lentil mixture among 6 plates and top with spinach mixture. Sprinkle salads with remaining bacon and cheese.

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