Pure maple syrup, as opposed to artificially flavored and colored "pancake" syrup, is an extraordinary cooking ingredient. Here it adds body as well as rich flavor to the dressing, providing a perfect counterpoint to the smoked cheese.

Makes 4 servings, about 2 cups each

ACTIVE TIME: 20 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 20 minutes

EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy

2 tablespoons chopped pecans
1 10-ounce package fresh spinach, torn, or 12 cups baby spinach
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 shallot, finely chopped
1/4 cup cider vinegar
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
Salt & freshly ground pepper to taste
1/4 cup shredded smoked cheese, such as Gouda or Cheddar

1. Toast pecans in a small dry skillet over low heat, stirring often, until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and let cool.
2. Toss spinach and cucumber in a salad bowl.
3. Heat oil in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Add shallot and cook, stirring, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add vinegar and maple syrup and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Immediately pour the dressing over the spinach and cucumber. Toss well and sprinkle with cheese and toasted pecans.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 164 calories; 12 g fat (2 g sat, 7 g mono); 7 mg cholesterol; 12 g carbohydrate; 4 g protein; 2 g fiber; 182 mg sodium; TK mg potassium.


Nutrition bonus: Vitamin A (130% daily value); Folate (37% dv), Vitamin C (35% dv).

1 Carbohydrate Serving

great!!!!

Anonymous, Valparaiso, in

GREAT. Reminds me of that old bacon spinach salad but without the bacon, (it's the smoked cheese)

Anonymous, Col, Oh

Quick and easy. I left out cucumber and used regular gouda. It was great.

Anonymous, Santa Rosa, CA

Delicious! Light and favorful. I used one small apple instead of the cucumber.

Beth, Milwaukee, WI

I don't even like spinach and I love this salad. I used GS apples instead of cukes as that is what I had on hand. Unfortunately, I was also out of pecans which would make this even more yummy. Will definitely make this again.

Lisa, Westborough, MA

I thought that when you roast or heat nuts or seeds (walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, etc) you then take good fats and turn them into saturated fats? Why not leave the nuts raw? Thank you.

Martha A. Marchand, Strasburg, VA

So good. I did add a little chopped red onion, seemed to add a little kick.

MK Earp, Pineville, LA

Are you sure you want to exchange a 10 ounce package of spinach for 12 cups of spinach... seems a little askew?????

Vickie, Shoreline, WA

Something is askew... 10 ounces of spinach would not be equivalent to 12 cups of spinach????

Vickie, Seattle, WA

Even my 14-yr.-old loved this! Since we don't like cucumbers, I used grape tomatoes instead. I substituted finely chopped yellow onion for the shallots and used regular cheddar cheese. The original recipe might be better, but we were very happy with our interpretation.

Suzanne, Fairfield, CA

I fixed but did not roast nuts as you turn them into sat. fats. This will be a regular on my table. Thank you for the recipes.

Jeanne, Madeira Beach, FL

Delicious! Made it twice in 3 days. I left out the cucumber because I didn't have one.

Anonymous, Wrightwood, CA

Not a recipe for work unless you have a kitchen available! I thought this was a soup and salad suggestion for lunch. Daily help for you pancreas! Let's think practicle!

Mary, San Jose, CA

I haven't made this yet, but I will. As a degree student in Holistic Nutrition, I would like to congratulate the two commenters who caught the faux pas in the recipe about toasting/roasting the pecans! That is something I learned in my first course, and never toast/roast nuts anymore! (Of course, most foods are best eaten the way Nature gives them to us: RAW... which doesn't have to mean stone cold...) A "Raw Foods" diet allows for heating foods, using a variety of methods, up to a temperature of 118 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything hotter than that will destroy the enzymes. I'm not a full-fledged Raw Foods dieter myself, but do try to eat a lot of raw foods daily. Nuts are one of the easiest! They aren't a food that is traditionally cooked to death, so just skip the roasting/toasting step and enjoy their true flavor and get all the good that they contain!

Karla, Woodstock, VT