Monday, August 13, 2012

Meatless Monday - caramelised onion, pear and feta salad


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So like any good vegemetarian, I am no longer scared of lentils. I pretty much have Indian food to thank for that! I appear to be so at ease with them now I can eat them out of a can in a salad - now there's a sentence I never thought I'd write!

I think caramelised onion and feta is one of the most delightful combinations. Well, if you like sweet + salty together, which I do. I also like the crispness of the pear to offset the silkiness of the onions, and the spinach adds a salady freshness. That is SO a term!

I also make a little extra caramelised onion than is strictly necessary for this dish, as they're lovely to have on hand for other things. Including a pizza that's coming up soon...


Ingredients:
2 onions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp brown sugar1/2 tsp dried thyme or a couple sprigs of fresh
1/2 - 1tsp salt (according to taste)
four handfuls fresh spinach
2 firm but ripe pears (I used buerre bosch)
100g feta

Directions:

1. In a medium-sized frying pan, heat a little oil and add the onions. Cook over low heat 20-30 minutes until soft and golden. Add salt, sugar and balsamic 10 minutes before the end, to taste.

2. Arrange spinach on four plates. Arrange sliced pear on top - half a pear per person

3.  Top with caramelised onion, feta and a sprinkle of red wine or balsamic vinegar.  




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11 comments:

  1. This is seriously one of my favourite foods. Now I eat it without the feta, which isn't quite the same, but still yummy!

    If you like this combo, sometimes for a party I make little cups of puff pastry, fill them with the caramlised onion, and top it off with the feta. Delish!!

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  2. Gorgeous combination, I adore pear and fetta in a salad.

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  3. Looks great - so where do the lentils come into it though?  Do you just add them out of the can, or do you cook with the onions and balsamic?

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  4. Looks great - so where do the lentils come into it though?  Do you just add them out of the can, or do you cook with the onions and balsamic?

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  5. Looove caramelised onions. This is a great combo!

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  6. This looks great, have never used caramelised onion in a salad, great notion!

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  7. yum, caramelised onions are just about one of my favourite foods in the world!  I have all the ingredients on hand, including some perfect little corella pears, so I think I will be making some for lunch later in the week...I have to get through a mountain of pearl barley salad first LOL!  My very favourite pizza is a base covered with sauce and caramelised onions with great slices of brie layered across the top of the cooked pizza.  amazing, but one I usually save for special occasions.  

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  8.  umm...that would be me posting under my new secret profile :/ oops!

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  9. I don't know lentils can be scary. Never look one straight in the eye... or is that black eyed peas? 

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  10. I do too! Need to eat it more often, but I rarely buy the crunchy pears :)

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  11. Ah well spotted, thank you! I was very busy and distracted this day and the iPad was not playing nice. I just throw them on top of the spinach, straight out of the can. Have amended the recipe now xx

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