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Super Greens Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

Source of Recipe

From "The Secret Ingredient Cookbook" by Kelly Senyei


Recipe Introduction

"Quick poll: You're standing in front of a salad bar and have 5 minutes to assemble your dream salad. What ingredients would you choose? My bowl would be filled to the brim with a mix of super greens, cucumbers, pungent cheese, fresh and dried fruits, nuts, and, to top it all off, a balsamic vinaigrette that is both flavorful and functional (hello, much-needed afternoon caffeine kick). Coffee and balsamic may seem like the odd couple, but the roasted richness of the brew complements the bitterness of the vinegar and balances the sweetness of the honey to create a mix of flavors that energetically dresses up any bowl of greens."

List of Ingredients

For the salad:
â—¦ 4 cups spinach
â—¦ 4 cups shredded kale
â—¦ 1 medium cucumber, diced
â—¦ 1 medium Granny Smith apple, cored and cut into matchsticks
â—¦ â…” cup blue cheese crumbles
â—¦ ½ cup slivered almonds, toasted
â—¦ ¾ cup dried cranberries

For the vinaigrette:
â—¦ 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
â—¦ 1 tablespoon brewed coffee
â—¦ 1 tablespoon honey
â—¦ ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
â—¦ â…› teaspoon black pepper
â—¦ ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil



Recipe

Make the salad:
In a large bowl, combine the spinach, kale, cucumber, apple, blue cheese, almonds, and cranberries.

Make the dressing:
In a medium bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, coffee, honey, salt, and pepper. While whisking, stream in the olive oil and continue whisking until the vinaigrette is emulsified.

Pour the vinaigrette over the salad.
Toss to combine and serve.

Makes 4 servings