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    Home » Salads

    Spinach Salad with Crispy Pancetta and Candied Nuts

    Published: Dec 9, 2016 / Updated: Aug 24, 2020 / 4 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my affiliate disclosure for more details.

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    Spinach salad with crispy pancetta and candied nuts is a hearty winter salad that will satisfy your sweet and salty cravings.

    bowl of spinach salad and crispy pancetta with candied nuts

    The candied nuts are addictive. I couldn't stop eating them. The recipe makes enough so you'll have a bunch left. This is a good thing, and it's also a bad thing.

    I used the easiest method I know of to candy them. You simply cook them in a pan with a bit of butter and sugar. Stir often, and in 10 minutes you have these lovely caramelized nuts.

    I had leftover chopped pecans and sliced almonds from the fruit and nut chocolate bark I recently made. You can substitute whichever nuts you have on hand. The almond/pecan combo was suitably festive, I thought.

    The smokiness of the dressing goes well with the sweetness of the candied nuts and dried cranberries. The pancetta adds a salty contrast. I also made sure to include a bit of zip as well - the lemon, garlic, and shallot provide that. It's really a well-balanced salad that is a bit naughty... but hey, at least it contains spinach. 😛

    bowl of spinach salad with pancetta and candied nuts with wooden salad utensils

    I cooked the nuts and the pancetta at the same time, and they ended up being ready very close to one another.

    This salad really doesn't take much effort. The dressing can be whipped up in virtually no time at all, as well.

    bowl of winter salad with spinach, pancetta, and candied nuts

    The recipe makes two entree-sized salads or about four smaller side salads. If you're feeding a crowd, I would double the dressing and spinach. You'll have more than enough candied nuts to go around.

    This spinach salad with pancetta and candied nuts would make a great addition to your holiday table, but it's also simple enough to make on a weekday.

    bowl of candied nuts

    Hope you love this winter spinach salad recipe!

    Spinach salad with crispy pancetta and candied nuts is a hearty winter salad that will satisfy your sweet and salty cravings.

    Spinach Salad with Crispy Pancetta and Candied Nuts

    Spinach salad with crispy pancetta and candied nuts is a hearty winter salad that will satisfy your sweet and salty cravings.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Salad
    Cuisine American
    Servings 2
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    Ingredients
     

    • 1 (5 ounce) package of spinach
    • 1 (4.4 ounce) package diced pancetta
    • 1 cup assorted chopped nuts (I used pecans and sliced almonds)
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
    • 1-2 tablespoons dried cranberries
    • 1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot

    Dressing:

    • 3 tablespoons mayo
    • 1 tablespoon sour cream
    • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
    • 1 clove garlic minced
    • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • Pepper to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Combine the dressing ingredients and set aside.
    • In separate pans (I used skillets), fry the diced pancetta until crispy, and cook the nuts until they've caramelized. To cook the nuts, add the butter, nuts, and sugar to a pan on medium heat, and stir frequently until the sugar has melted and they've slightly browned. Be careful as they can burn easily. Once the nuts are done, put them on a plate or a piece of parchment paper or foil and spread them out so they don't all stick together. Set the pancetta and nuts aside to cool for a few minutes.
    • Add your spinach and the rest of the salad ingredients to a large salad bowl. You can either add the nuts and pancetta on top or toss in with the rest of the salad. I suggest leaving most of the pancetta fat in the pan when you're adding it to the salad.

    Notes

    • I bought a package of pre-diced pancetta. You can of course adjust the amount to your liking, especially if you can't find a package that's exactly 4.4 ounces.
    Keyword winter spinach salad
    Author Natasha Bull
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    1. Patricia says

      February 11, 2017 at 3:27 PM

      Really, really liked this salad. Made it twice this week.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 11, 2017 at 6:00 PM

        I'm so pleased you enjoyed it, Patricia!!

        Reply
    2. Natasha's Sister says

      December 9, 2016 at 10:06 AM

      Omg are you going to make a vegetarian version of this for me!?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 9, 2016 at 10:08 AM

        Omg no.

        Reply

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