Imagine a salad that's not just a side dish, but a culinary masterpiece that transforms an ordinary meal into an extraordinary dining experience. Our Mesclun Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette is a symphony of flavors and textures that will make your taste buds dance with delight. Crisp, fresh mesclun greens provide the perfect canvas for sweet dried cranberries, crunchy toasted almonds, and tangy blue cheese, all brought together by a vibrant cranberry vinaigrette that promises to elevate your salad game to restaurant-quality in just minutes!
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: -
Total Time: 10 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 4 cups mesclun greens
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
- 1/4 cup cranberry vinaigrette
Instructions
- Carefully wash the mesclun greens under cool running water, gently patting them dry with clean paper towels to remove excess moisture. This ensures crisp and fresh greens for the salad.
- Place the washed mesclun greens in a large serving bowl, spreading them evenly to create a uniform base for the salad.
- Sprinkle the dried cranberries over the greens, distributing them evenly to ensure each serving gets a good amount of sweet-tart flavor.
- Toast the sliced almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning. This will enhance their nutty flavor and add a pleasant crunch to the salad.
- Scatter the toasted almonds over the greens and cranberries.
- Crumble the blue cheese by hand, creating small, irregular pieces that will provide tangy bursts of flavor throughout the salad.
- Drizzle the cranberry vinaigrette over the salad just before serving, ensuring an even coating of the dressing.
- Gently toss the salad using two large spoons or salad servers, making sure all ingredients are well combined and lightly coated with the vinaigrette.
- Serve immediately to maintain the crisp texture of the greens and the crunchiness of the almonds.
Tips
- Always wash your greens carefully and dry them thoroughly to maintain maximum crispness.
- Toast almonds slowly and watch them closely - the difference between perfectly toasted and burned is just seconds!
- Add the vinaigrette just before serving to prevent the greens from becoming soggy.
- For an extra gourmet touch, try using freshly crumbled blue cheese instead of pre-crumbled varieties.
- Serve immediately after preparing to enjoy the optimal texture and temperature of each ingredient.
- Feel free to customize by adding grilled chicken or substituting nuts for a personal twist.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: kcal
Carbohydrates: g
Protein: g
Fat: g
Saturated Fat: g
Cholesterol: mg
