Walnut Vinaigrette

Rich walnut vinaigrette featuring orange zest and maple mustard, drizzled over fresh spinach leaves with crisp apple slices, candied walnuts, and dried cranberries.

Walnut Vinaigrette

Prep Time

25 minutes

Category

Salad

Thick and a little chunky, obviously nutty, slightly sweet, with just a hint of tang: this is a salad dressing with substance! There is enough “meat” to the walnuts that it remains emulsified long after mixing, unlike many other vinaigrettes, and it adheres so nicely to the ingredients in your salad. Try it as I did, with a mix of greens, some apple or pear slices, dried cranberries and raisins, and a handful of toasted walnuts. Dairy lovers top it off with some crumbly cheese. Enjoy!

Walnut Vinaigrette

Ingredients

  • 1C walnuts, roasted
  • 2 tsp Jansal Valley Horseradish Maple Mustard
  • ¼C orange juice, freshly squeezed, unstrained
  • Zest of 1-2 oranges
  • ¼C Gustare Honeybell Orange Balsamic Vinegar
  • ½C Gustare Roasted French Walnut Oil
  • ¼ tsp Cape Cod Sea Salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper, freshly ground

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. Brush sheet tray with walnut oil. Spread walnuts in a single layer on prepared sheet tray. Toast for 20 minutes, until browned and aromatic. Cool slightly.
  2. Puree walnuts in food processor, along with mustard, orange juice & zest, balsamic vinegar, and seasonings.
  3. Keep processor running while slowly drizzling walnut oil into mixture. Process until smoother, but still slightly chunky and thick.