I love salad year round, but come cooler weather I prefer mine warm. I offer two main-course salads that will stick to your ribs (but not your thighs!) and warm your insides.
Seared pork medallions along with flash-sauteed apples, celery, and red onions warm the first salad. Heightening flavor is simple—just grab a handful of dried cranberries and glazed walnuts. Warm garlicky white beans wilt assertive escarole while olives and provolone cheese enliven salad two. Tiny-diced prosciutto—cooked to a crisp—offers great texture and that flavor few of us can resist.
So keep salads on your menu. This time of year just heat ‘em up!
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, cut into small dice
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 can ((15 to 16 ounces) cannelini beans, not drained
- 1 head escarole, halved, cored, chopped, washed, and dried
- ½ red bell pepper, stemmed, cored, seeded and cut into short thin strips
- ¼ large red onion, thinly sliced
- 16 pitted kalamata olives, coarsely chopped (about ¼ cup)
- 3 ounces provolone cheese, cut into small dice
- ½ tablespoons red wine vinegar
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add prosciutto and cook, stirring frequently until crisp and darkened in color, about 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon; Add garlic to the skillet; saute until golden, just seconds. Add beans and their liquid; simmer until heated through and juices reduce slightly, a couple of minutes.
- Meanwhile, mix escarole, pepper, onion, olives, and cheese in a large bowl. Drizzle in remaining oil and a sprinkling of salt and pepper; toss to coat. Add vinegar; toss to coat again. Add beans; toss again. Taste and adjust seasonings adding a splash more vinegar. Sprinkle with prosciutto crisps and serve.
- 1 pork tenderloin (about 1 pound) cut crosswise into 12 medallions
- 3 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- Salt and ground black pepper
- 1 large crisp apple, cored and cut into medium dice
- 2 celery stalks, cut into medium dice
- ¼ large red onion, sliced medium-thick
- 2 packed quarts factory-washed baby spinach
- ¼ cup each dried cranberries and glazed walnut pieces
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- Heat a large skillet over high heat. While skillet heats, toss pork medallions with 2 teaspoons of oil and a light sprinkling of salt and pepper. Add medallions to hot skillet and cook until well browned on one side, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn and continue to cook until well browned on remaining side and just cooked through, about 3 minutes longer. Transfer to a plate to rest. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in the hot skillet; add apples, celery and onion; saute until golden brown and crisp-tender, about 2 minutes.
- Meanwhile, place spinach, cranberries, and walnuts in a large bowl. Add remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and a sprinkling of salt and pepper; toss to coat. Add balsamic vinegar and accumulated pork juices; toss to coat. Add warm vegetables and give it a final toss, adjusting flavors, including more vinegar, if necessary. Divide salad among 4 plates; top each with a portion of warm pork and serve.
Cassie Sue says
Warm salad with beans, YUM! Sounds like a fantastic dinner, and filling too!