One of the challenges of losing weight and keeping a healthy style is being able to change up with your diet. You want to try eating different fruits, vegetables, proteins, and grains. It’s also important to explore different cooking techniques and types of cuisine.
With that said, I decided to take the plunge into the world of pears (I haven’t always been the biggest fan of pears)…and I found that I LOVE ASIAN PEARS! Asian pears taste like a cross between an apple and pear. Really firm texture, crunchy, juicy, and slightly sweet.
I made my newfound love, Asian pear, into a salad with goat cheese, almonds, and a sherry-red onion vinaigrette.
Spinach Salad with Asian Pear, Goat Cheese, and Almonds
Makes 1 serving
1 serving = 5 Points Plus (salad + 2 tbsp vinagrette)
Vinaigrette:
- ¼ of a red onion
- 2 garlic cloves, whole
- ¼ cup sherry vinegar
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp honey
Salad:
- 1 cup baby spinach
- 8 almonds, toasted with salt
- ½ oz goat cheese
- 1 Asian pear, sliced
- 2 tbsp scallions, sliced
Another challenge you might come across is making a thick, delicious vinaigrette WITHOUT using oil to emulsify it. My trick is using onion or garlic puree to thicken sauces or dressings without adding additional fat or oil (this technique is actually used in many 4 star restaurants as well).
Preheat your oven to 250°F and wrap your red onion and garlic in a piece of aluminum foil. Place in the oven for 2 hours or until soft. Then puree the softened onions and garlic with the vinegar, mustard, and honey. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Assemble salad and dig in!
Fork My Life 