This is an excellent salad with artisan greens, blue cheese and a wonderful balsamic vinaigrette. Then the salad is garnished with strawberries, oranges and sweet and spicy pecans. I might have to replace my old Balsamic Vinaigrette recipe with this new one. I guess I need to make them both and do a taste comparison – that always works; and if not I will keep them both.
After all of the sweets and goodies from Mardi Gras and even last night at a neighbor’s with her chocolate pie it is time to have something a little “healthier”. I could live on salads as there are so many ways to fix them, the ingredients are endless and the possibilities are numerous. So, this is my contribution to Fiesta Friday #6 at The Novice Gardener’s party.
This is an older salad where I knew I might be able to find the author just by its title “Baby Blue Salad”. There are a number of recipes online including one from Southern Living and that is probably where I found the recipe because it is identical to the one I have had for 10 years.
On further looking I found a recipe by Chef Franklin Biggs, who comes from Birmingham, Alabama and it seemed this Baby Blue Salad was created by him. The recipe was a little different from the version I had so I combined the two recipes, one from 2004 and the latest version in 2014 based on my taste preferences. The Southern Living recipe had 1/8 tsp. ground red pepper added to the nuts and I did not care for this. Chef Biggs also roasted his garlic which gives the vinaigrette some additional great flavor.
Baby Blue Salad with Strawberries and Oranges
- 1 lb. baby lettuce mix
- 6 oz. blue cheese (I used a reduced fat crumbled blue cheese and it was very good)
- 2 cups balsamic vinaigrette (see recipe below)
- 4 oranges, peeled and sliced or use canned mandarin oranges
- 2 pints strawberries, quartered
- 6 oz. pecans or 1 cup (see recipe below)
BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE:
- 1 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/3 cup Dijon mustard
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 tbsp. garlic, roasted (see my recipe Roasted Garlic)
- 2 tbsp. shallots, minced (optional)
- 3 cups olive oil
Combine the above ingredients and mix well.
SWEET AND SPICY PECANS:
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 cup pecan halves
- 2 tbsp. white sugar
- 1 tbsp. chili powder
Stir together the sugar and water until the sugar dissolves; add pecan halves and soak 10 minutes. Drain well and discard the sugar/water mixture. This step and the ingredients were not included in the author’s original recipe but is a good idea so the spices will adhere better.
Combine the sugar and chili powder. An 1/8 tsp. of ground red pepper is optional but I chose to leave it out as I did not care for the extra heat. Add the pecans and toss to coat. Place on a greased baking sheet, parchment paper or a foil lined baking sheet. See also my post Candied Pecans or Walnuts for Salads for additional nut recipes.
Bake at 350°F for 5 minutes; then stir, turn and bake another 5 minutes.
Recipe by cookingwithauntjuju.com
ooh looks so delicious, Judi! I love salads too anyday- I love the dressing and the spiced nuts in this one!
Thanks – there are so many different ways to fix a salad – I love them 🙂
I love a strawberry salad. I also loge blue cheese. What a great combo. Looks delicious!
Very refreshing with the fruit and blue cheese always makes a salad special 🙂
Yum! This looks like a salad I could eat every day! I love having fruits on my salad, whether fresh or dried. Beautiful!
Me too Lisa as fruit always adds a great touch to a salad any day of the week 🙂
Gorgeous salad–makes me want spring to arrive already! I’m still digging your fiestaware. 🙂
Spring – where are you? The robins are everywhere now so I know it is not too far off. I have been trying to take a picture of a robin in the sunshine but so far no luck. I do like my fiestaware as it makes this salad look prettier 🙂
I’m in California. I know Spring is not too far off–just anxious I guess! I hope you capture that photo! I’ve been trying to take photos of budding flowers and trees lately.
I am in Michigan and so anxious to see the trees, flowers and all of the critters come alive with their spring rituals 🙂 Photography takes a lot of work and I am truly impressed with some of the pictures people take. I am a little impatient and need to spend more time… 🙂
I love the sound of these pecans! There’s so many beautiful colors in this salad
The pecans are delicious just as a snack – I like to add fruit and nuts to a salad – gives it some balance 🙂
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This is my kind of salad!
Mine too Victoria – especially with a balsamic vinaigrette! The fruit and pecans really make this salad shine 🙂
I’m a freak for balsamic vinaigrette….YUM! 🙂
Me too – just about anything that has balsamic vinegar in it I know I will like 🙂
Same here! Have you ever tried dipping French Fries in it? Oh yummy 🙂
No, but what a great idea, especially since french fries are a big weakness 🙂
You must try! FF are my total weakness…lol
Oh Judi! I am a salad freak and your salad is calling out to me! All of your ingredients just sing! I could make a meal of this and then eat the leftovers for dessert!
Ha! Ha! I love my salads too and I am always looking for new dressings and different ingredients ” to kick it up a notch” as Emeril always likes to say 🙂
Very colorful and perfect for Spring. Love the strawberries!
Well, thank you – we are sure ready for Spring here in Michigan 🙂
I love addition of roasted garlic in your vinaigrette! What a refreshing salad, Juju!
Thanks Patty – roasted garlic adds a nice flavor to this vinaigrette. I am glad I found the other recipe so I could add this. I just love to research recipes and then put it all together.
Same here! It’s so much fun!
I love this salad, Juju! I don’t know why I never serve this at home, since hubby loves blue cheese. I happen to have pecans in my freezer, been there since Christmas. Was going to make pecan pie, but I think the spiced pecans are more sensible. Like you said, right after Fat Tuesday, we might want to go for lighter fare. 🙂
It’s a great salad Angie and you can add any fruit or nuts of your choice. I need to post my other pecan and walnut recipes for salads – I will some time this week. Have a great weekend 🙂
Hello Juju! I guess this Artisan lettuce is available across North America… I am Canadian and I often buy the exact same pack… I love the idea of having a salad with spicy pecans : )
Hi Catherine – Thanks – I love this 4 pack of lettuce and it is interesting you can buy the same thing in Canada. Nuts and fruit are always a treat on my salads 🙂
I’m in complete agreement with you!! I’ve been so bad lately, eating foods that are so heavy and unhealthy…I can feel it. This salad is so perfect to get back into a better eating habit! It’s so pretty, one that I’d be so happy to serve to my guests! Your photos are perfect!!
My waistline is showing the effects of all “this heavy food” ha!ha! I am glad I like salads a lot because you really can make them low-fat if you want. Thanks for the compliments – I know I can do better with my camera – it’s a Nikon D7000. It just takes a lot of time as you know 🙂
Fresh, colorful and yummy 🙂
Thank you – Strawberries remind me of summer and I cannot wait for June when Michigan has the best strawberries 🙂
What a lovely and healthy salad. I love the fruits, the cheese and most of all the sweet and spicy pecans. This must taste really great. Thanks for sharing! Have a great week!
Thanks Liz – the nuts are always good and so easy to make. I always have pecans and walnuts in my freezer so when I need to make some I can do so easily. Have a great week too as the weather is getting warmer and the snow continues to melt 🙂
One of my favorite salads Aunt Juju
Thanks – it is definitely a favorite of mine too as I can change the nuts or fruit, even the greens. I do like it with a balsamic vinaigrette 🙂