Spinach Walnut Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette
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Cooking for one is not fun. When Siv goes away on a business trip, I normally resort to leftovers and take-outs if I don’t find anyone to go out with. I am too lazy to cook an elaborate meal just for myself. I am not into eating out alone either! I can do pretty much everything alone, I am proud of being quite self sufficient, but hate sitting in a restaurant by myself. Sometimes I am forced to, like on all day shopping trips to the mall and on business trips – though I try to order room service whenever possible.
I have no problems sitting alone in coffee shops – with my laptop of course, but I just hate doing this in a restaurant where one has to wait at a table for the order to arrive. I don’t know what to do with myself, where do I look, what do I do with my hands, on the table/off the table? I get all self-conscious all of a sudden! If I absolutely have to eat alone in a restaurant, I have to take a book with me, if I don’t have one on me, I go to the bookstore and buy one! This is a bad habit I am trying to overcome… is it just me?
Well, anyway this is such a week. Siv is away, and I am so swamped at work, just don’t have the time to socialize. So I had to resort to my quick fix dinners. Salad being an all time favorite, and the least work to assemble, is always on the top of my list for easy dinners. Today’s special is made with one of my favorite fruits – pomegranate. I made the dressing with some store-bought pomegranate juice. Quick and easy, and so healthy too.
This salad is packed with good stuff. Pomegranate is full of antioxidants, walnuts are good for your heart, reduces bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol, also full of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acid. And spinach of course, if it is good for Popeye, must be good for us, right? And I had it with salmon, which of course is full of omega-3 fatty acids. I was quite proud of myself, eating all healthy and all.
Ingredients
- For the Vinaigrette
- 4 tbsp pomegranate juice
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove chopped
- 1 tbsp chopped shallots
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Method
In a small bowl, place the garlic and shallots. With a pestle, or the back of a wooden spoon crush the garlic and shallot pieces to release the flavor. Add the sugar, mustard, pomegranate juice, lemon juice and vinegar and whisk well to combine. Slowly whisk in the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
Toss the spinach with a little of the vinaigrette. You may not need the whole thing. Transfer to a serving bowl and sprinkle the walnuts, pom seeds and cheese crumbles.
Serve with grilled salmon or grilled chicken.
This serves two. I kept the rest of the dressing in the fridge and used it the next day for the exact same dinner.
If you need a more intense pomegranate flavor, boil crushed garlic, pomegranate juice and vinegar in a pan to reduce the liquid down to half. Remove from the stove and whisk in the rest of the ingredients.
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Category: Greens, Misc, Nuts, Pomegranate, Soups and Salads
Spinach and pomegranate is surprisingly a great combo. I wait for fall just to have this salad!
The vinaigrette sounds really good. I had seen something very similar on the Food Network and was planning to give it a shot. Now I can come back here when I’m ready to make it.
Yes! It’s pomegranate seeds, and I just adore them on salads. This is a fantastic fall salad, Sig!
No, it’s not just you
Welcome to self-conscious anonymous! I am ofcourse at the ahem..other end of the spectrum..can’t even walk alone, esp in malls. Dont know what to do with my eyes (peering down ALL the time is hardly practical)!!
I know what you mean. I’m totally fine as long as I have a book with me, but I end feeling quite lost if I don’t – which probably explains why my book goes with me wherever I go, just in case I need to hide in it
I think you did really well given it was a 1-person food day, this salad looks divine. And you know me, I’m the pomegranate freak, so I’m all over this one
when i used to travel for fun alone, i would actually go to restaurants where i could meet other single travelers and socialize and eat together, else i would eat a huge lunch and have a light snack around 5 and then just a drink for dinner.
now, if i am home alone, i eat cereal for dinner because i am ultimate lazy when i have to cook for myself. Or I make ganji or something comforting like that.
I also hate eating alone at restaurants.. same with movies.. i find both to be more social outings for me.
The salad looks great..
Was this the salad you were having when you checked on me ?? This looks like a healthy salad.Even i don’t feel like cooking when i have to cook just for myself.Yeah, dining alone in a resturant is really hard for me too…so boring.
You’re not alone…^_^
I can’t stand eating alone without a book either. Haha.
My mom calls it a bad habit…^_^
I would like to know how you made the nice looking salmon. Was it frozen salmon and how do you get that nice crust? Did you use any seasoning on the salmon?
Thank you for all these recipes!!
It is pan-fried salmon, with Indian spices.