Copycat Apple Gorgonzola Salad

My husband and I usually don't enjoy salads all that much, but this copycat recipe of the Apple Gorgonzola Salad from Bucca Di Beppo is great!

Adapted from:
http://kelsies-kitchen.blogspot.com/2011/11/buca-di-beppo-apple-gorgonzola-salad.html 


Ingredients 
Salad
8 oz mixed greens
2 Tb crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
1 granny smith apple, sliced and chopped
1/4 cup dried cranberries
2 oz spiced walnuts, chopped (recipe below)
1/2 cup Italian vinaigrette (recipe below)

Spiced walnuts 
1 egg white
1 Tbsp water
2 cups walnuts (halves and pieces)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice

Italian vinaigrette 
1/3 cup white wine vinegar
3/4 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp salt
1 pinch black pepper
1/8 cup red onion, chopped fine
1 1/2 tsp garlic, minced
3/4 cup olive oil

Directions 

 Spiced Walnuts 
1. Preheat oven to 225 and line a large shallow baking sheet with foil.

2. Combine egg white and water in a medium-sized bowl.  Beat until foamy. Add walnuts halves and pieces and toss to coat. Pour the mixture into a strainer and let drain 2-3 minutes. Combine sugar, cinnamon and allspice in a Ziplock bag. Shake to mix.

3. Add the walnuts; hold the bag shut and shake vigorously to coat the nuts.

4. Spread the nuts in one layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. (* Work on the vinaigrette while the walnuts are baking. See below.)

5. Cool completely, stirring occasionally and breaking nuts apart if stuck together. Store in a tightly-capped jar. (Makes approx. 2 cups.)

Italian vinaigrette 
1. Combine vinegar, oregano, dry mustard, salt and pepper in a blender. Add the onion and garlic.

2. Blend together while slowly adding the olive oil. Let the vinaigrette sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving.

Salad 

1. Once the walnuts and vinaigrette is ready, mix the vinaigrette into the mixed greens. Add the chopped apples, 3/4 of the walnuts and 3/4 of the cheese. Toss well. Plate and garnish with the rest of the walnuts, cranberries, apples and cheese. Serve immediately.

( Note: If you are feeling lazy, you can just put plain pieces of walnuts and olive oil into your salad. We do that all the time, just like the picture below!)






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