Spinach Salad With Strawberries And Caramelized Pecans

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 2/3 cup whole pecans
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 6 ounces baby spinach leaves, washed and patted dry
• 2 cups strawberries, washed, hulled and sliced
• 3 ounces chevre goat cheese, crumbled (i used french feta instead)
• 1 shallot, sliced thinly
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons strawberry jam sweetened with fruit juice, slightly warmed
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• fresh coarse ground black pepper

Recipe

• 1 caramelized pecans: in a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water. heat and stir on low until the sugar is dissolved.
• 2 increase heat to medium-high and boil mixture for 5-10 minutes without stirring; until syrup is golden brown. watch boiling process carefully! please be careful not to burn yourself!
• 3 arrange the pecans in a single layer on a lightly greased baking sheet.
• 4 drizzle the simple syrup over the pecans. stir to coat. allow to stand 20 minutes or so to cool and harden. chop coarsely once cooled.
• 5 strawberry dressing: combine all dressing ingredients in a tight fitting jar with a lid and shake well. yield 1/2 cup.
• 6 salad: meanwhile, arrange the washed spinach leaves on six individual salad plates. top with pecan mixture, strawberries, cheese and shallots. serve dressing on side.