Spinach, Prosciutto and Asparagus Salad
Here, pan-fried pieces of asparagus and prosciutto are combined with wilted baby spinach and crisp-baked croutons in a delicious warm salad for two. Serve this salad with a side dish of new potatoes tossed with a little extra virgin olive oil.
Source: Cook Smart for a Healthy Heart, Reader’s Digest Canada
| Servings | Prep Time | Cook Time |
| 2servings | 15minutes | 15minutes |
| Servings | Prep Time |
| 2servings | 15minutes |
| Cook Time |
| 15minutes |
- 60 g crustless dark rye bread cut into cubes
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 250 g asparagus spears cut into short pieces
- 2 garlic cloves thinly sliced
- 4 shallots cut into wedges
- 6 slices prosciutto about 90 g, trimmed of visible fat and torn into pieces
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp clear honey
- 250 g baby spinach
- pepper to taste
- a few shavings Parmesan cheese about 15 g in total
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Ingredients
Servings: servings
Units:
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- Preheat the oven to 400ºF (200ºC). Toss the bread cubes with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, then spread out on a baking sheet. Bake for about 5 minutes or until crisp.
- Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a wok or frying pan. Add the asparagus in a single layer, and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, without stirring. Turn the asparagus over, add the garlic and shallots, and cook for a further 3 minutes. Add the prosciutto and cook for 2 more minutes, stirring constantly.
- Using a slotted spoon, remove the asparagus, prosciutto and shallot mixture from the wok and put it in a bowl. Keep warm. Add the balsamic vinegar, lemon juice and honey to the wok, and stir to mix with the cooking juices. Add the spinach and cook, stirring and turning, until just wilted.
- Season the spinach with pepper, then divide between 2 plates. Arrange the asparagus, prosciutto and shallot mixture on top. Spoon on any cooking juices and scatter over the croutons and shavings of Parmesan cheese. Serve the salad immediately.
Per serving: 392 calories, 19 g protein, 25 g total fat, 5 g saturated fat, 30 mg cholesterol, 24 g total carbohydrate, 7 g sugars, 6 g fibre, 1209 mg sodium
Contrary to popular belief, spinach is not a particularly good source of absorbable iron, but it does have a lot of other nutrients to offer. It is a good source of vitamins C and E, and it provides useful amounts of the B vitamins folate, niacin and B6. In addition, it offers several cancer-fighting phytochemicals.
