Cran and Pear Salad

No. of servings:  4
Preparation Time:  15 mins	Cook Time:  None

This refreshing, vegan salad with a nutty crunch, is delicious and nutritious, all at once.  The unique flavors of all the ingredients go together surprisingly well, making this a must-try!  Can be enjoyed as a side or as a quick snack.  

Ingredients:

• Pears - 3 (not overly ripe)
• Spinach - 2 cups
• Craisins (dried and candied cranberries) - 2 tbsp
• Mandarin oranges - 1 (optional)
• Silted almonds - 2 tbsp
• Roasted (black and white) sesame seeds - 1 tbsp
• Lemon juice - 4 tsp
• Oil - 1 tsp
• Salt

Method:

• Core and chop the pears 
• Quickly toss them in lemon juice and salt and set aside
• Wash and chop spinach into long strips
• Drizzle the oil on the spinach and rub the leaves gently
• Arrange the spinach around the edge of the plate
• Set a scoop of pears in the middle 
• There will be juices left at the bottom of the bowl of pears.  Drizzle that onto the spinach
• Throw in small chunks of mandarin orange pods (if using)
• Scatter the craisins and silted almonds on top
• Roast the sesame seeds ('Saute' mode in IP)
• Sprinkle the roasted sesame seeds over it 
• Serve immediately and enjoy the fresh delicious crunch of the salad

Tips and Tricks:

• Tossing the chopped pears in lemon juice and salts helps marinate it in the juices for a few minutes.  Moreover, it stops the pears from blackening 
• Rubbing the spinach with oil coats all the leaves and eliminates the need for too much salad dressing.  This reduces the added calories the dressing brings
• The juices leached out of the fruit can be used as a dressing on the spinach to make it tastier

Pictures: 

Final Outcome: