April 17, 2010

Peppered Walnut Salad

{printable recipe here}
The heat is coming. I'm sure some of you are still in "winter" mode but around here it's already getting hot. Some days I feel like it's time to turn on the air conditioning but I just "can't want to" as we like to say around here. Hopefully spring will hold on for a couple more weeks but even if it doesn't this light, flavorful salad will hit the spot. It's fresh, delicious, and features so many wonderful flavors- peppered candied walnuts, feta, craisins or dried blueberries, and a garlic and parsley dressing. I've never met a woman who didn't love this salad (as for the men, sometimes they just don't know a good thing when they taste it!)

One note about the feta- the real deal will really set this salad over the top. Peter from Kalofagas (my favorite Greek cooking blog) recommended the Dodoni brand from Costco. I haven't been able to find that buy I love the authentic Greek Feta from Trader Joes. It comes in a white and blue box and is soaked in brine so it stays fresh. It's even made in Greece and is the only kind my brother, who lived in Greece, likes.

Come back Monday for another one of our all time favorite salads.

Peppered Walnut Salad
{printable recipe here}
From Wendy Jensen, my fabulous cousin who consistently makes the best salads. Thanks for sharing!

Nuts:
1 cup chopped walnuts
3 Tbsp. butter
½ cup sugar
2 tsp. black pepper

Toast walnuts in butter on low for 5 minutes. Combine sugar and pepper and coat hot nuts.

Dressing:
2 tsp. sugar
2 cloves peeled garlic
1 tsp. Dried oregano
½ c. diced red onion
½ tsp. salt
1 c. fresh parsley
½ c. red wine vinegar
1 c. canola oil

Blend and refrigerate in a container with a non metal lid (I like to use an old peanut butter jar)

Dressing keeps for a little under a week. I usually throw it out when the parsley loses it's bright green color.

Salad:
1 large head dark green Romaine lettuce, cleaned and chopped
¼ c. crumbled feta cheese
¼ c. craisins or dried blueberries

Add nuts and a 1/4 cup of dressing. Toss and serve immediately.

8 comments:

  1. Hi Anne! Thank you so much for your sweet comments on my blog! It's always nice to meet someone new...Your blog is terrific..I am off to read some more!

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  2. Sounds like a perfect salad to me! But you're right, my husband calls this kind of thing "Relief Society" food. ;) He also doesn't like fruit in his salad. I LOVE it. I just bought some great salad mix at the farmer's market this morning and just might make this tomorrow. Love the candied walnuts, too!

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  3. Anna, thanks for the shout-out and for touting the virtues of Greek Feta. Glad to hear Trader Joe's carries one made in Greece.

    The salad has lots of Greek flavours in there too! More walnuts for me, please.

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  4. MMmm, that does sound fantastic! Perfect for lunch with "the girls" (like I ever do that, LOL, but in theory you know).

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  5. Yum, I have some feta that needs to be used up. Thanks for the recipe.

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  6. Looks delish! I can almost taste it... Making good salads is not a strong point for me so I'm going to hang on to this one.

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  7. I came by to see if you baked for TWD this week, and love your blog all over again. I haven't been around commenting very much, so your header/blog design is new to me, and just adorable!!! I'm going to bookmark this salad - I love anything with pepper and/or walnuts, so together I'll be in heaven. I've made that broccoli salad for years and it always makes a hit.

    ReplyDelete