The Dish
This attractive side salad is the perfect partner for super-savory main dishes or for entrees that need a little extra ‘crunch’ factor. The fresh apples, sliced almonds, and crisp baby spinach all add a level of textural vibrancy. The balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, and dates provide a tasty sweet-tart flavor, balancing even the most hearty of main courses. We love to serve this salad with creamy soups and meaty stews. Or with roasted proteins like pork, beef, chicken, or turkey.
Hacking this Recipe
Aged balsamic will have a much thicker consistency than a younger balsamic. Even though all balsamic is aged, a younger balsamic comes from a more recent pressing, and will have much more acidity than one aged for longer. A proper aged bottle of balsamic will call out it’s aging and, because of the care taken with a lengthier process, will be a little more expensive. Aged balsamic will drizzle nicely over salads, coating the ingredients, and imparting much more flavor.