Spring Salad with Sweet & Salty PB Popcorn Croutons and Sweet & Salty Dressing
One of my favorite meals consists of candied nuts topping a nice gourmet salad with a well-balanced sweet and salty dressing. When I was a child I loved to snack on my favorite caramel popcorn loaded with peanuts from a box. I wanted to recreate some childhood memories with a grown-up twist. Instead of candied nuts I created a twist on this classic with a sweet and salty flavored peanut butter caramel corn laden with salty peanuts. The popcorn roasts in the oven until it develops a crunchy peanut butter flavored caramel coating. They’re perfect as croutons for a nice spring salad. The recipe makes plenty so there is even some leftover for snacking. The croutons top a simple gourmet salad with slices of salty bacon and balanced with a sweet and salty peanut butter flavored dressing. This recipe satisfies my craving for sweet and salty flavors in perfect balance.
- Yield:4 servings
- Prep Time:20 minutes
- Cook Time:15 minutes
- Total Time:35 minutes
Ingredients
6 cups gourmet spring salad greens
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1/4 pound bacon
Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter Popcorn Croutons (recipe below)
Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter Dressing (recipe below)
For the Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter Popcorn Croutons
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup unpopped popcorn
2/3 cup roasted salted peanuts
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup light corn syrup
3 tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup Peanut Butter & Co. Crunch Time
For the Sweet and Salty Dressing
2 tbsp. Peanut Butter & Co. Crunch Time
2 tbsp. Champagne vinegar
1 tbsp. soy sauce or tamari
2 tsp. honey
Directions
In a shallow frying pan cook bacon until of desired crispness. When cooked drain on paper toweling and allow to cool.
In large bowl toss gourmet salad greens and sliced red onion. Top with bacon, peanut butter popcorn croutons and toss lightly with dressing. Serve immediately.
Preheat your oven to 200°F. Line a large rimmed baking pan with parchment paper and spray it lightly with non-stick cooking spray.
To a 4-quart heavy-bottomed pot with lid add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Add the uncooked popcorn kernels and cook over medium heat covered with lid. Leave the lid slightly ajar to allow steam to escape. Once the popcorn begins to pop shake the pot frequently. Remove the pot from the stove and remove the lid once the popcorn has stopped popping. Alternatively pop your popcorn in a popcorn popper according to manufacturer’s instructions. Transfer the popcorn to a large stainless steel bowl and stir in the salted roasted peanuts.
In a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the brown sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Continue to boil, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the Peanut Butter & Co. Crunch Time until completely melted.
Pour about ¼ of this caramel mixture over the popcorn. Work quickly and remember that the caramel is hot so be careful. Continue adding the caramel, 1/4 at a time, stirring with a spoon until the popcorn is completely coated.
Spread the mixture onto the prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes. Stir the popcorn mixture then bake for another 15 minutes. Be careful and make sure your croutons do not burn. Cool completely. When cooled, break apart into croutons.
In a small bowl combine the peanut butter, Champagne vinegar, soy sauce, and honey with a whisk. If the dressing is not thin enough to pour add up to 2 tablespoons of warm water. It should be a perfect balance of sweet and salty, with just enough vinegar to keep it from being cloying. Scrape the dressing into a jar you can pour it from easily.
Tags: Bacon breakfast-and-brunch Crunch Time dinner-and-entrees Lunch Peanut butter Peanut Butter & Co. Salad Uncategorized