For Professionals

Spinach Salad with Pear Vinaigrette and Toasted Sunflower Seeds

Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min

If your pears become very ripe and soft and too messy to eat whole, there is no need to waste them. The vinaigrette for this salad is a delicious way to avoid waste.

Makes

2 servings

Serving size

½ salad

Ingredients

3 cups (90 grams) baby spinach, fresh

2 tablespoons sunflower seeds, raw

½ medium (89 grams) pear, very ripe, cored and diced

2 teaspoons cider vinegar

¼ cup olive oil

½ tablespoon mint leaves, roughly chopped

 

Special Equipment:

Stand blender or immersion blender

Instructions

  1. Place the cleaned and dry spinach in a serving bowl.
  2. Heat a small skillet on medium heat. Add the sunflower seeds to the hot, dry skillet.
  3. Toast the seeds, stirring constantly until they develop a light brown color.
  4. Remove from heat into a small bowl. Set aside.
  5. Place ½ cup of the diced pear, vinegar, olive oil and mint leaves in a blender or a cylinder of an immersion blender. Set aside any remaining pear pieces.
  6. Process on medium speed to break up the pear, about 15 seconds.
  7. Increase speed and process another 30 seconds or more to create a smooth, emulsified sauce.
  8. Taste test and add more vinegar for seasoning as needed.
  9. Dress the salad with half the sauce.
  10. Top with the toasted sunflower seeds and the remaining diced pear and serve.

Cooking Tip

Store the remaining sauce for another salad up to one-week time or double the spinach and toasted sunflower seeds to serve 4 people, using all the dressing.

FamilyCook Productions

Nutrition Info

Nutrition Info

Makes: 2 servings  Serving size: ½ salad

Calories

207

Fat

18 g

Saturated Fat

2 g

Trans Fat

0 g

Cholesterol

0 mg

Carbohydrates

10 g

Sugar

10 g

Fiber

3 g

Protein

3 g

Sodium

38 mg

Calcium

58 mg

Phosphorus

86 mg

Potassium

367 mg

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