Spinach Salad with Jamaica Vinaigrette and Caramelized Pecans
Ensalada de Espinaca con Vinagreta de Jamaica y Nueces Garapiñadas
Recipe Yield
8 to 10 servings
Cooking time
2 hours 15 minutes
Rate this recipe
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 18 oz fresh spinach leaves rinsed, drained and thickly sliced
- 1 bunch watercress rinsed and stems removed
- 6-8 scallions white and light green parts, thinly sliced
- 5 garlic cloves
- Jamaica Vinaigrette (see below)
- 1 cup caramelized pecans roughly chopped or whole pieces, to your liking
For the Jamaica Vinaigrette:
- 3/4 cup dried jamaica flowers
- 1 cup safflower oil
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp kosher or sea salt
- 2 tsp sugar or to taste
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
To Prepare
- Place the jamiaca flowers in a bowl along with the garlic, oils, vinegar, salt, sugar and pepper. Let them sit for a few minutes, for the flowers to soften up a bit. Then pour everything into a blender and puree. The flowers will not be pureed until smooth. The mix will have a textured consistency with chewy flower chunks: that’s what you want!
- Let the mix stand for at least two hours. If it will not be used then, it can be kept in the refrigerator, covered, for up to a week.
- Place the spinach and watercress in a large bowl. Pour some of the vinaigrette on top and toss. Top with the chopped caramelized pecans and sprinkle the scallions over the top. Drizzle some more vinaigrette on top. If you have leftover vinaigrette, you can eat it with a spoon!
Comments
18comments inSpinach Salad with Jamaica Vinaigrette and Caramelized Pecans
Eufemia Amabisca
May 20
Can’t wait to try this salad with the Jamaica dressing
Pati Jinich
May 25
Yay! Let me know how you like it Eufemia 😉
Deina
May 20
Love it, very unique jamaica vinagrette. Woll definayely make. Thank you.
Pati Jinich
May 25
So happy you are giving it a chance Deina, I hope you’ll like it as much as I do!
Courtney Brown
Apr 16
This is my favorite salad and dressing ever! I have been making it since getting the honor and privilege of meeting Pati several years ago at a cooking class at the University of Kentucky. This has become my family’s favorite ever since! It is our tradition to have it every Easter. It is such a beautiful and delicious salad with amazing flavor combinations. I was not familiar with Jamaica flowers before meeting Pati, and now I love making tea with them too. So many health benefits! Thank you for introducing me to this amazing plant and sharing this extraordinary recipe with me! I could literally eat this dressing with a spoon!
Pati Jinich
Apr 19
Yay, thanks Courtney for your awesome review, un abrazo grande!
Martha Munguia
Jan 10
Wow!!! Just what I needed, this will go perfectly with dinner! Thank goodness I have everything here!!
Pati Jinich
Jan 12
Enjoy the salad, Martha.
Anonymous
Jan 10
I love this salad! I make it pretty often. The pecans are so delicious. I made the mango, tomatillo one from your week of salads last night and had the leftovers today for lunch. So good! It brought sunshine to a gloomy, winter day.
Pati Jinich
Jan 12
I’m so glad you are enjoying Salad Week!
Lisa Alderson
Jan 09
Where can one get Jamaica flowers?
Pati Jinich
Jan 10
You can find them online or even your local market in the international food aisle. Or if you have a Latin or International market nearby, give them a try, Lisa.
Jasmine
Mar 09
Hey Pati! So excited to finally try this recipe! The vinaigrette asks for 3 garlic cloves. Do you top the finished salad with the other two?
Pati Jinich
Mar 29
Oh thank you for catching that, Jasmine! They all go in the vinaigrette.
Vannesa
Nov 19
Is it supposed to be 2 tablespoons of salt? That seems like A LOT
Pati
Nov 19
The super tart hibiscus flower vinaigrette begs for it, try it!
Vannesa
Nov 20
Your right! It’s amazing! One more thing, watercress is out of season. Any substitution suggestions or just leave it out?
Pati
Nov 20
I’m so glad you liked it! You can also use baby spinach, arugula, baby greens, or any lettuce you like as a substitute. Baby spinach would be closest to watercress though.