nutty blue cheese spinach salad

Everything for this Nutty Blue Cheese Spinach Salad, can be prepared in the air-fryer: toast the nuts & seeds, cook the bacon, roast the sweet potato. So simple, no heating up the kitchen with the oven, quick, easy & so delicious. This salad is good. Really good. And everything can be prepped in advanced & thrown together last minute. This one is a winner – salad ingredient combination & the maple mustard dressing.

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Prep Time20

Cook Time30

Total Time50

Servings:

Calories: 551kcal

1/2 cup pecans
1/2 cup cashews
1/3 cup pepitas
3 sweet potatoes, (24oz/680g), peeled & cubed
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
A good pinch sea salt & freshly ground pepper
8 strips bacon
5 oz (142g) baby spinach & arugula (rocket) mix (spinach or spring mix would also be good)
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
4 oz (115g) creamy blue cheese, thinly sliced or crumbled (such as gorgonzola)

MAPLE MUSTARD DRESSING

1/4 cup olive oil
2 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
pinch sea salt & freshly ground pepper

To make the dressing:

Combine all ingredients in a 1-cup jar with a screw-top lid. Shake until well combined. Chill until ready to use.

To toast nuts and seeds:

Remove the drip pan from the bottom of the air-fryer drawer. Scatter nuts and seeds into the drawer. Cook on air-fryer setting on 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes or until nuts and seeds smell and look toasted; remove to a plate.

To cook the sweet potato:

Toss the sweet potato with garlic powder, salt, pepper and oil and arrange in the drawer or drawers of the air-fryer. Cook on air-fryer setting on 400°F (200°C) for 15 to 17 minutes, tossing partway through cooking or until cooked and golden. Remove to a plate and let cool.

To cook the bacon:

Arrange the bacon in drawer or drawers of the air-fryer. Cook on air-fryer setting on 400°F (200°C) for 7 to 9 minutes or until crisp; chop.

To assemble the salad:

Place the spinach (or whatever greens you’re using) in a serving bowl or individual bowls. Top with sweet potato, cashews, onion, bacon and nut and seed mixture. Drizzle with three-quarters of the dressing. Gently toss to combine. Top with blue cheese and remaining dressing. Serve immediately.

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