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Pear - Fig Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing


My cousin, Alvina, sent me this - her favorite salad dressing recipe and salad mix ideas. The dressing  is best made a day before to allow flavors to blend. My guess is that it makes enough for 12 - 16 servings of salad. Keep leftover dressing refrigerated.

Dressing Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar (I used white)
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons onion, minced (I used a shallot)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2/3 cup vegetable  or grapeseed oil
Method:
  • Blend first five ingredients well, blending in the oil last. Refrigerate and shake before serving.
Salad Ingredients for three to four servings: 
  • 6 - 8 cups of salad greens (such as romaine, red leaf, spinach)
  • 1 pear, sliced
  • 6 - 8 dried figs, sliced
  • bacon bits
  • toasted pecans

My ingredients were slightly improvised. For the fruit the original recipe called for an apple pear and craisins. You can also add your favorite cheese. I caramelized the pecans.

8 comments:

  1. Oh that looks so good! I love poppy seed dressings and your combination sounds wonderful!

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  2. I see this recipe on n up coming menu...I,m smiling.

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  3. This sounds wonderful and the dressing looks so pretty.

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  4. I have a fig tree s I will certainly keep this recipe for fig season! Thank you!

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  5. Two questions. How long can one keep that dressing - in the fridge or cupboard?? And what is your method for carmelizing pecans??

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    1. About how long it will keep - I kind of thought that quetion would come up, but I do not have a for sure answer, other than at least a week.. but it has to be refrigerated.
      To caremelize pecans or almonds... I pour about a cup of nuts into a non-stick pan and sprinkle liberally with brown sugar. On meddium heat, stir continuoulsy until sugar has melted and crystalized and attached to nuts. Do not leave unattended. Keep stirring and it goes quickly all of a sudden. Pour into glass bowl and allow to cool. If pan (or plastic/wooden spoon) has hardened sugar on it, pour in some water and cook to loosen.

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  6. Oh this salad looks fabulous - very unique! |i am running my printer now!

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