A longtime classic salad we serve with both Prime Rib Roast on Christmas Eve and Roast Turkey on Christmas Day. It has a lovely maple balsamic dressing. Originally from Pat/NoCal and Karen No/Cal of the FinerKitchens.com forum. This was an instant hit with us and immediately became a tradition that has lasted 16 years! Pat’s original notes are are:
Pat’s notes: My notes and adjustments are in parentheses. I also really like to add crumbled blue cheese or gorgonzola and fresh avocado chopped. Source: Karen/NoCal from Dacor Appliance chef’s demonstration
In the notes below the recipe are the ingredients to make a salad serving 32. Here it is for 8:
Ingredients
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp maple syrup
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp. minced shallot
1 tsp. minced garlic (or a little less)
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/2 cup olive oil (original recipe called for 1 cup)
1/2 cup lightly toasted chopped walnuts, or pecans
1/2 cup dried cranberries
salad greens to serve 8, about 1 bag mesclun mix (OR sometimes I use hearts of romaine lettuce)
Directions
- Gently swish salad greens in cold water put through a salad spinner and into a salad bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and put into refrigerator. Put first seven ingredients into a small bowl and stir. Just before serving, add olive oil to above ingredients and emulsify (I used a wire whisk to incorporate oil well). Toss salad greens with cranberries, nuts, and dressing and serve. (Toss greens with a small amount of dressing, adding more as needed, being careful not to add too much.) Can also put dressing in a zip lock bag, open a corner and let the dressing pour out slowly as someone else mixes the greens. Any leftover dressing goes into the refrigerator and if none is left, the ziplock bag is simply tossed out…….nothing to wash. Note: there WILL be leftover dressing…don’t use it all or you will drown the salad.
Notes
- Cranberry Walnut Salad to serve 32
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup soy sauce
4 tsp. minced shallot
4 tsp. minced garlic
4 tsp. Dijon mustard
2 cups olive oil (original recipe called for 4 cups)
2 cups lightly toasted chopped walnuts, or pecans 2 cups dried cranberries
salad greens to serve 32, about 4 bags mesclun mix