Description
Zesty arugula salad showcases peppery greens with tangy goat cheese and toasted pine nuts. Crisp, refreshing ingredients combine for a delightful Mediterranean-inspired dish you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 oz (142 g) arugula
- 1 pear, cored and sliced
- 1 apple, cored and sliced
- ½ cup (75 g) dried cranberries
- ½ cup (60 g) toasted cashews
- ¼ cup (60 ml) balsamic vinegar
- 3 tbsps (45 ml) olive oil
Instructions
- Preparation: Combine arugula, pear segments, apple cubes, and dried cranberries in a large mixing bowl, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- Roasting Cashews: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and spread whole cashews on a baking sheet. Roast for 10-15 minutes until golden-brown and fragrant, developing a rich, nutty flavor.
- Cashew Preparation: Allow roasted cashews to cool completely, then chop half into smaller fragments while keeping some whole for textural variety.
- Vinaigrette Creation: Whisk balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil until the dressing becomes smooth and glossy, blending into a harmonious emulsion.
- Final Assembly: Drizzle vinaigrette over the salad, gently tossing to coat ingredients evenly, then top with a sprinkle of both chopped and whole roasted cashews for a delightful crunch and visual appeal.
Notes
- Optimize Nut Roasting: Consistently monitor cashews during roasting to prevent burning, as nuts can quickly transition from perfectly golden to overly charred.
- Slice Fruits Strategically: Cut pears and apples thinly and uniformly to ensure balanced flavor distribution and elegant presentation in each salad bite.
- Balance Vinaigrette Intensity: Adjust balsamic and olive oil ratios based on personal taste preferences, starting with a 1:3 vinegar to oil proportion.
- Elevate Texture Dynamics: Mix chopped and whole cashews deliberately to create a complex mouthfeel with varying levels of crunch and nutty complexity.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 298
- Sugar: 23 g
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg