Pear Balsamic Salad with Dried Cherries and Candied Walnuts

Serves: 4

Walnuts

1 cup raw walnuts

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F

Add walnuts to baking pan, once the oven is preheated, toast walnuts for 7 minutes.

1 tbsp coconut sugar
2 tsp coconut oil
2 tsp maple syrup
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

Then remove from the oven, add oil, coconut sugar, maple syrup, salt, ground cinnamon, cayenne pepper directly to the walnuts. Use a spatula to throughly toss / combine.

Place back in the oven and roast for another 5 minutes or until fragrant and golden brown. Set aside to cool.

Dressing

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1 medium shallot, chopped
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground black pepper

In the meanwhile, prepare dressing by adding all ingredients to a mixing bowl, whisk to combine. Set aside.

Salad

16 ounces mixed greens
1 ripe Bosc or Barlett pear, thinly sliced lengthwise, stems and seeds removed
1/4 cup dried cherries or cranberries

To serve, add greens, sliced pear, dried cherries and roasted walnuts to a mixing bowl. Drizzle with dressing and toss to combine.

Taste Note: Tastes AWESOME
Source: minimalistbaker