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For a wilted spinach salad recipe that would give us a not-too-greasy dressing and spinach with a slight but satisfying crunch, we cut back on the usual 4:1 ratio of oil to acid and added the lemon juice once the oil and other ingredients had been heated to maintain brightness. To avoid overly wilted spinach, we used a mere ¼ cup of dressing for 6 cups of greens.
- 5 ounces baby spinach (about 6 cups)
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium shallot, minced (about 2 tablespoons)
- ¼ teaspoon grated orange zest and segments from 2 medium oranges
- ¼ teaspoon table salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice from 1 lemon
- 4 medium radishes, grated on large holes of box grater (about ⅓ cup)
- Place spinach in large bowl. Add oil, shallot, orange zest, salt, pepper, and sugar to small skillet and cook over medium heat until shallot is slightly softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add lemon juice; swirl to incorporate. Pour warm dressing over spinach; add orange segments and grated radishes, and toss gently to wilt. Serve immediately.
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