Grilled Apple, Walnut, Blue Cheese and Mesclun Salad

This is a really good salad to eat either as a side dish or for a lunch.

Grilled Apple, Walnut, Blue Cheese and Mesclun Salad

(serves 2-4)

Dressing:

1 teaspoon minced shallot

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 lemon, juiced

salt and freshly ground pepper

~ 2-3 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons minced fresh chives

Salad:

1 apple

~1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese

1/4 cup walnut pieces

6 cups mesclun greens, washed and spun dry
 

reheat your barbecue to high heat. In a bowl whisk together the shallot, mustard, lemon juice, salt and pepper. While whisking vigorously, stream in the olive oil until you have a nice emulsion. Whisk in chives. Taste the dressing and adjust for salt and pepper of necessary.

Wash the apple and slice it into 1/4" slices. Toss with a tablespoon of the salad dressing. Grab a piece of aluminum foil big enough to wrap the walnuts in. Place walnuts in aluminum foil and seal.

Oil your grill and put the apple slices on the grill. Careful, they will most definitely want to try and fall down the grate. Grill for ~2 minutes with the lid closed and then flip the apples. The apple slices should be soft but still have enough texture to be flipped. Put the walnuts on the grill as well and cook apples for another 90 seconds. Flip the walnut package over and turn off the barbecue. Remove the apples and the walnuts. Open the walnut package, they should be toasted and fragrant but not burnt.

Tear the greens into bite size pieces if necessary. In a large salad bowl layer greens, then the grilled apple slices, blue cheese and walnuts. Toss with the dressing a few minutes before you are ready to serve.