Wilted Spinach Salad with Chevre & Pecans
| September 13, 2012 | Posted by Lauren Keating under Cooking For One, Light, Quick Weeknight Meals, Salads, Sides |
I’m not typically a fan of spinach salads, but this one is different – and I’m obsessed! To make it, you sautée onions and the throw the spinach into the hot pan. The heat from the pan gently wilts the spinach just enough to soften it up a little and take some of the bitter edge off it. Then it all gets tossed with toasted pecans and crumbled goat cheese. The contrast between the sweet onions, crunchy pecans, and creamy goat cheese (which melts a little from the residual heat) is amazing!
The cheese and nuts also make the salad substantial enough that it can hold it’s own as a side dish – I’ve actually started planning meals around it – and it’s become my go-to item to accompany richer entree like the burgers I posted the other day. Last night, we ate it with grilled strip steak that I topped with a sprinkle of porcini sea salt. The dinner was absolutely delicious, and we didn’t miss not having a starch at all.
And to top it all off? It only take about 5 minutes to make.
Wilted Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese & Pecans
Serves 2
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons Olive Oil
- 1 Onion, thinly sliced
- 1 pinch Salt
- 1 bag (5 ounces) Baby Spinach
- 2 tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
- 1/2 ounce Pecans
- 2 ounces Goat Cheese (Chevre), crumbled
- Cracked Black Pepper
Preparation
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until softened. Add the spinach and cook, tossing, for one minute or until slightly wilted. Transfer to a serving bowl and drizzle with balsamic.
- Add the pecans to the pan and set over high heat. Toast for one minute. Chop. Add nuts and cheese to the salad and toss to combine. Season with freshly cracked black pepper.
Approx. 212 calories, 15 grams fat, 10 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 8 grams protein. 6 Points+.
This is a very nice salad! I think I will try it with feta, as I have some leftover in my fridge.
I quite often opt for spinach instead of the other greens at the store. When made into a delicious salad like this it is a slice of heaven.
♥ salads with cheese and nuts! I would try adding grapes or a poached egg next time! and/or bacon
mmmm bacon…! With bacon and a fried or poached egg, this would be a whole meal!
I’m not typically much of a salad person but add goat cheese and pecans and I am instantly super satisfied! Love the sound of this.
Sounds amazing!