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Burst Tomato and Spinach Salad with Polenta Croutons and Feta

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 2 to 4 servings

Ingredients

  • salad:
  • 5 oz. grape or cherry tomatoes
  • 9 oz. plain polenta precooked-from a tube cut into ½ inch cubes
  • 5 oz. fresh baby spinach
  • 1 oz. crumbled feta
  • cooking spray
  • salt & pepper
  • dressing:
  • 1 tsp. Sierra Nevada Stout Stone Ground mustard
  • ½ tsp. minced garlic fresh
  • salt & pepper one pinch each
  • 2 tsp. balsamic vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. olive oil

Instructions

  1. Coat a medium sauté pan with cooking spray. Heat it to medium-high heat.
  2. Add the polenta cubes and brown on two sides. (It takes about 3 to 5 minutes per side to brown.)
  3. While the polenta is browning sprinkle it with a little salt and pepper.
  4. Transfer the browned polenta to a plate and set it aside.
  5. Toss the tomatoes into the same pan over medium-high heat.
  6. Cook the tomatoes (tossing frequently in the pan) until they are burst open and scorched in spots (about 5 minutes).
  7. Remove the pan from the heat and add the polenta to it to keep it warm while you dress the salad.
  8. For the dressing:
  9. Add all dressing ingredients to a small jar with a tight fitting lid or the jar of a small blender.
  10. Shake or blend it until it’s completely emulsified.
  11. In a large mixing bowl toss the spinach with the dressing until all of the spinach is coated.
  12. Divide the spinach between 2 or 4 serving plates.
  13. Top each plate of dressed spinach with equal amounts of tomatoes, polenta cubes, and feta.
  14. EAT!!!
  15. Note: This dressing recipe makes enough to dress this salad only. If you use a large blender it may be tough to get all the dressing out of it because there is so little of it. As it was, I used a magic bullet and I had to scrape the dressing out if the jar and off the base to get enough. But, it seemed like just the right amount.