Spinach, Apple and Bacon Salad with Sugar-Glazed Walnuts

🧂 Ingredients

• 10 oz. baby spinach
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup red onion

  cut in strips
• 6 slices Applewood-smoked bacon

  cooked
• 1 large Gala Apple

  unpeeled
• 1 cup feta cheese

  crumbled
• 1 cup craisins
• 1/4 cup lemon juice

  or as needed
• 1 cup walnuts

  chopped (measure after chopping)
• pinch salt
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• pinch cayenne pepper

  or more to taste
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/2 tsp. garlic

  finely minced
• 1 tsp. granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. dijon mustard
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper

  or to taste

Instructions

• 1 Fry bacon in skillet; remove to paper towel-lined plate to drain.
• 2 Crumble bacon into bite sized pieces; set aside.
• 3 Meanwhile, layer spinach, red onion and craisins in a large salad bowl.
• 4 Sprinkle with Feta cheese and bacon pieces.
• 5 Soak apple slices in lemon juice and toss on top of salad.
• 6 Add cooled, sugar-glazed walnuts.
• 7 Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• 8 Toss salad.
• 9 Fill individual salad bowls with salad and drizzle vinaigrette over top.
• 10 Place sugar, cayenne pepper and salt in a small saucepan over low to medium
  heat.
• 11 Dissolve sugar completely.
• 12 Be careful not to heat at too high of a temperature or mixture will scorch.
• 13 Remove from heat.
• 14 Add walnuts and stir quickly to cover them with the glaze.
• 15 Place a large sheet of waxed paper on your counter.
• 16 Spoon nut mixture out onto waxed paper.
• 17 Break into pieces as soon as possible and allow to cool completely.
• 18 Toss walnuts on top of salad.
• 19 Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• 20 Mix ingredients in a blender or food processor until well emulsified – about
  10-15 seconds.
• 21 Refrigerate dressing until ready to serve salad.
• 22 Pour dressing over individual salads when ready to serve.

Nutrition Info