Spicy Green Salad with Soy & Roasted Garlic Dressing

From EatingWell: March/April 2009 — Subscribe Now!

Piquant greens, such as mizuna and red mustard, are mellowed with a sweet-and-savory dressing that includes a whole head of roasted garlic. Add a skewer of grilled shrimp or teriyaki beef to make it a main course. To soften the leaves, heat the dressing just before serving and pour over the greens.

Spicy Green Salad with Soy & Roasted Garlic Dressing Recipe

4 servings, about 1 cup each

Active Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 1/2 hours

Nutrition Profile

Ingredients

Dressing

1 head garlic
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
Juice of 1 lime
2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
Freshly ground pepper, to taste

Salad

1 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon plus pinch of salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/2 small clove garlic
2 cups baby mizuna, baby kale or Asian salad mix
2 cups baby red mustard greens, tatsoi or watercress, any tough stems removed
2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted (see Tip)

Preparation

To prepare dressing: Preheat oven to 400°F.
Rub excess papery skin off garlic head without separating cloves. Slice the tip off, exposing the ends of the cloves. Place the garlic head on a piece of foil, drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and wrap into a package. Put in a baking dish and bake until the garlic is very soft, 40 minutes to 1 hour. Unwrap and let cool slightly. Increase oven temperature to 450°F.
Squeeze the garlic pulp into a blender or food processor (discard the skins). Add the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil, lime juice, vinegar, ginger, sesame oil and soy sauce; blend or process until smooth. Season with pepper.
To prepare salad: Toss asparagus with 2 teaspoons oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper in a large bowl. Spread in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast, stirring once halfway through, until tender and browned, 10 to 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, season a wooden salad bowl by rubbing with 1/2 clove garlic and a pinch of salt. Chop the garlic and add to the bowl along with all the greens. (If leaves are large, tear them into bite-size pieces first.) Pour 1/4 cup of the dressing over the greens. (Cover and refrigerate the remaining 1/2 cup dressing for up to 3 days.) Sprinkle the salad with sesame seeds and the asparagus; toss and serve.

Tips & Notes

Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate the dressing for up to 3 days.

Tip: To toast sesame seeds, cook in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.

Nutrition

Per serving: 143 calories; 11 g fat (1 g sat, 7 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 10 g carbohydrates; 4 g protein; 4 g fiber; 246 mg sodium; 422 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (170% daily value), Vitamin C (110% dv), Folate (37% dv).

1 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 2 vegetable, 2 fat