Quince Vinaigrette Salad with Manchego and Marcona Almonds
Cook time – 20 min

- Total time
- 20 minutes
- Preparation time
- 20 minutes
- Calories
- 250
- Portions
- 4
The quince looks like a dimpled golden pear, so during the short growing season in Spain you might be tempted to pick one off the tree and take a bite—but that would lead to some serious puckering. The fruit is coarsely textured and quite sour, but when cooked, the tart tannins mellow and the resulting paste or sauce has a delightful berry-meets-apple flavor. The vinaigrette for this lovely salad, which is topped with Marcona almonds, Manchego cheese and sweet dried cherries, is made with quince paste, a popular Spanish delicacy, which is often served as a companion to cheese. Look for quince paste near the artisan cheeses at most larger markets and cheese shops.
Directions
- Combine quince paste, sherry vinegar, minced shallot and Dijon mustard in blender. Cover; blend at medium speed.
- Slowly add olive oil in thin stream, until blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Toss salad with quince vinaigrette to taste. Top with sliced onion, pear, cherries, Marcona almonds and Manchego cheese. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Refrigerate any remaining dressing.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup quince paste (fig preserves may be substituted)
- 1/4 cup sherry vinegar
- 1 tablespoon minced shallot
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 pkg. (15 oz.) DOLE® Classic Romaine Salad
- 3/4 cup DOLE Red Onion, peeled and thinly sliced
- 2 small red pears, cored and thinly sliced
- 3/4 cup dried cherries
- 3/4 cup Marcona almonds or blanched almonds, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup Manchego cheese, coarsely grated
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Nutritional Facts
Serving Per Container | |
Serving Size | 128g |
Calories | 250 |
Entries | Daily value in %* |
---|---|
Total Fat (17 g) | 26% |
Saturated Fat (4 g) | 20% |
Cholesterol (5 mg) | 2% |
Sodium (100 mg) | 4% |
Total Carbohydrate (21 g) | 7% |
Dietary Fiber (4 g) | 16% |
Total Sugars (13 g) | |
Protein (6 g) | |
Calcium | 15% |
Iron | 6% |
Vitamin A | 35% |
Vitamin C | 20% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.