Friday, July 1, 2011

Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Bleu!

Here's a beautiful, delicious salad in honor of Independence Day.  This is the signature salad at one of my favorite casual New Orleans' eateries named Zea Rotisserie & Grill.  This is not their exact recipe, but it is a close approximation.




The combination of spicy  (Pow!) pepper jelly, sweet (Pow!) raisins, and salty (Pow!) bleu cheese
is a flavor explosion!



Spinach Salad with Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette
Inspired by Zea Rotisserie & Grill
(click here to print)

5 oz. (about 3 cups) baby spinach, washed and spun dry
2 Tbsp. sun-dried tomatoes, julienned (RED)
2 Tbsp. golden raisins, plumped in some of the salad dressing and drained
2 Tbsp. toasted, chopped pecans
1/4 cup Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette (see below)
1/4 cup bleu cheese crumbles (WHITE & BLEU!)
1 teaspoon sesame seeds
Pitted Kalamata olives to taste (4 to 8)



Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette:
1/4 cup pepper jelly
2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Combine vinaigrette ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake well.



Combine spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, plumped raisins, and pecans in a large bowl.  Toss with the vinaigrette.
 
Place salad on serving dish and sprinkle evenly with the bleu cheese, sesame seeds, and olives.



Serves 2 as a main dish or 4 as a side dish

NOTE:  The "authentic" dressing is also available pre-made and can be ordered here.  Grilled chicken or steak can be added to this salad to make it a main dish for carnivores.

Happy 4th of July!  And God Bless the U.S.A.!

Linking to:


Join  us Saturdays at tatertotsandjello.com for the weekend wrap 
 up           party!








Lark's Country Heart



5 comments:

Lisa @ Shine Your Light said...

Yum - who would have thought - pepper jelly? Sounds so good Vicki!

Gypsy Heart said...

Love this! I adore salads and this looks delish as well as having a kick to it. Thanks so much for sharing!

Hope you're having a great holiday weekend ~
Pat

Anonymous said...

Oh wow - this looks super! I love the mix of flavors (ok, minus the raisins) and the use of pepper jelly in the vinaigrette is a fabulous idea!! Thanks for linking up to Foodie Friday. I hope to see you again next week!!

Unknown said...

What a great mixture of flavors!

Thank you so much for linking up to Made it on Monday!

Unknown said...

Psst...Guess who made my TOP 3 Picks this week on "Made it on Monday"?......YOU! :)

*It will be posted tomorrow!*