Spinach Salad with Orange Sesame Dressing

ingredients

• Orange Sesame Dressing
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon hot red pepper sauce (optional)
• 1 shallot, chopped
• 2 teaspoons grated ginger
• Salad
• 1 1/2 quarts washed baby spinach
• 1/4 cup daikon sprouts
• 1/4 cup julienned carrot
• 1/4 cup julienned jicama
• 2 tablespoons mixture of black sesame seeds and white sesame seeds, for garnish

directions

For the dressing, cook the orange juice in a saucepan until reduced by half. Combine with the honey, sesame oil, soy sauce, vinegar, water and hot sauce in a blender. Add the shallot and ginger and process until smooth. Store in the refrigerator.

For the salad, mix the spinach, daikon sprouts, carrot and jicama in large bowl. Add the dressing and toss to coat well. Garnish with the sesame seeds.

Chef's notes:

Just as this salad can be made with mixed greens or whatever lettuce you have on hand rather than with spinach, any kind of sprouts can be substituted for the daikon sprouts.

If you like a thicker consistency for your salad dressings, add 1/4 of a teaspoon of xanthan gum powder to the dressing and pulse in a blender.