House Salad Recipe
spring mix, tomatoes, gorgonzola cheese, walnuts, maple walnut vinaigrette
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Ingredients
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Salad
Maple Walnut Vinaigrette
Method
Salad
- 1
Prepare tomatoes
Rinse the cherry or grape tomatoes, dry them, and halved lengthwise. Place in a small bowl and lightly season with 1/4 tsp sea salt and a pinch of pepper; set aside to macerate while you toast walnuts and make the dressing.
- 2
Toast walnuts
Heat a small dry skillet over medium heat. Add the walnuts and toast, stirring frequently, for 3–5 minutes until fragrant and slightly darker. Remove from heat immediately to prevent burning and let cool. Roughly chop to bite-sized pieces once cooled.
- 3
Assemble salad greens
Place 6 cups of spring mix in a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle the halved tomatoes over the greens, then add the toasted chopped walnuts and 3 oz crumbled gorgonzola. Gently toss just before dressing to combine.
- 4
Season
Just before serving, season the assembled salad with the remaining 3/4 tsp sea salt (adjust to taste) and 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper, then proceed to dress and serve.
Maple Walnut Vinaigrette
- 5
In a small bowl or jar, combine 2 tablespoons walnut oil, 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon minced shallot, and 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice.
- 6
Whisk or shake vigorously until emulsified. Taste and season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. If the vinaigrette is too thick or strong, whisk in up to 1 tablespoon warm water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until you reach a smooth pourable consistency.
- 7
Adjust balance: add a little more vinegar (1/2 tsp) if it needs brightness, or 1/2 tsp more maple syrup if it needs sweetness. Give the dressing a final whisk or shake.
- 8
Dress the salad: drizzle about 2–3 tablespoons of vinaigrette over the assembled salad (reserve extra in a separate container). Gently toss the salad to coat the leaves evenly, adding more dressing if desired. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.