Cashew Nut Salad

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This isn’t your typical side salad.  Cashew Nut Salad combines cashews, bacon, pears and grapes with mixed greens and a snappy curried vinaigrette for an easy salad recipe that will liven up any meal!

Salads are one of the best sides to bring to the table. They’re quick, easy, and highly adaptable to your personal preferences. Cashew Nut Salad is certainly no exception, but you’ll notice something different when you serve this concoction! Sweet and savory, salty and spicy, this mix is one for the books!

Only six well balanced ingredients are needed to build the base of your crunchy cashew salad! Each one brings a new flavor and texture to the mix that seems bold at first. The mild and buttery cashew is not outshone by the assertive flavor of a spicy red onion, and the greens provide a simple but perfect base for the sweet pears and grapes. And of course to top it all off the freshly cooked crumbled bacon adds a little something special to every bite.

The key to this salad is the curried vinaigrette! Some of you may be skeptical of a spicy salad dressing, but once you try it you won’t want to go back! This homemade curry vinaigrette brings together the flavors of the buttery cashews and savory bacon pieces while bringing an exciting kick of flavor to your mouth! It is so easy to make and is a great way to impress your friends with your cooking expertise! (And if you are still worried about the spice, don’t worry; just leave out the cayenne pepper and people will still be impressed)

If you like this salad recipe, you should try some more!

• Apple Feta Spinach Salad
• Apple Pecan Chicken Salad
• Orzo Garbanzo Bean Salad
• Wonton Chicken Taco Salad

Cashew Nut Salad makes a great lunch or dinner item any day of the week! Serve it with Crockpot Roasted Chicken, Savory Roast Beef and Gouda Rolls, or any of your favorite savory meals. You’ll have a salad full of cashew crunch in no time.

What Do I Need to Make This Recipe?

• 1 (10 ounce) package mixed salad greens
• 3/4 cup lightly salted cashews
• 4 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 medium pear, thinly sliced
• 1 cup halved seedless red grapes
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion

For the Curry Vinaigrette Dressing:

• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 Tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper*
• a generous pinch of salt and black pepper

Step by Step Instructions:

Optional: Let the red onion soak in an ice water bath for 10 minutes, then squeeze dry with paper towels. This will mellow out the sometimes harsh flavor of red onions.

Step 1. In a large serving bowl add the mixed greens, cashews, bacon, pear, grapes and red onion.

Step 2. To a mason jar with a tight fitting lid, add the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, mustard, curry powder, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper. Shake well to combine. 

Step 3. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. 

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