Warm Salad With Crisped Spinach And Quail Recipes

WARM SALAD WITH CRISPED SPINACH AND QUAIL

Steps:

• To make the sauce, place the olive oil, cream, vinegar, garlic, salt and Tabasco in a saucepan over medium heat. Boil, lower the heat and simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat, cover and set aside.
• To make the quail, heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the quail and saute about 2 minutes per side. Remove from the skillet, season with salt, set aside and keep warm.
• To make the spinach, heat the oil in a deep, heavy pot to 350 degrees. Carefully add the spinach (the grease will splatter) and fry until crisp, about 1 minute. Remove with tongs and drain on paper towels. Season with salt.
• To assemble the salads, divide the mesclun among 4 plates. Top with the quail and sprinkle with the basil. Spoon the sauce over it all and garnish with the fried spinach and pine nuts. Serve immediately.

SPINACH SALAD W/ PAN-SEARED SCALLOPS AND WARM BACON DRESSING

Steps:

• Sprinkle Scallops with salt/pepper/garlic salt and set aside.
• In a large dry non-stick skillet crisp up bacon strips until they reach your desired crispiness. Scoop out bacon crisps onto a flat paper towel. Drain off half the bacon grease into a container or coffee mug. Set aside.
• To remaining bacon grease, add seasoned scallops in single layer to pan. Once you add to the pan, let brown for 4-5 minutes without disturbing them. Flip and repeat browning process for another 4-5 minute
• Remove from pan to reserved paper towel where you put your cooked bacon crisps.
• Add two tbsp of reserved bacon grease to hot pan. Add diced onion. Season with salt/pepper/garlic salt and saute until tender. Add garlic and stir often to avoid burning. Once garlic is soft, add white wine to hot pan and scrap up all the pits on the bottom. Bring to a boil then reduce to low heat and simmer until slightly reduced. Add butter and stir until melted.
• Add the scallops back into the dressing and cook for 2-3 minutes until heated through.
• Divide fresh spinach onto serving plates, or place in center of one large serving platter. Arrange scallops on bed of spinach. Pour warm dressing over salad and sprinkle with reserved bacon crisps.
• Serve warm and enjoy!

WARM SPINACH SALAD

Steps:

• Wash and dry spinach (or buy bagged, pre-washed spinach). Small dice (1/4" x 1/4") the pancetta, crisp iton low heat and drain off the fat, reserving 2 tablespoons. Set aside. Crumble the blue cheese and set aside Zest the lemons then cut in half and juice. In a saucepan boil 2 cups salt water. Blanch the lemon zest by dropping it into boiling water for 10-20 seconds. Remove zest and immediately run under cold water. Set aside.
• Saute the minced shallots in reserved fat until translucent. Add half of the capers, half of the blanched zest and 3 tablespoons of lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Warm over heat. In a bowl toss the spinach, remaining capers, pancetta and crumbled cheese. Toss the salad with warm dressing Garnish with remaining zest and toasted almonds and serve immediately.

WARM SPINACH SALAD

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add bacon to skillet and brown, reserve the crispy bacon bits and add the shallots and garlic to the pan. Cook 3 to 4 minutes then deglaze the pan with vinegar, turn spinach into pan and wilt down a bit but do not fully cook the spinach, just give it a few turns with tongs. Season the greens with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Place spinach on a serving dish and top with quartered eggs, shavings of cheese and reserved bacon bits.