This Discover Cooking with California Olive Oil Recipe Contest submission comes from Karen MacLaurin of We Olive Paso Robles. Karen says:

“This is a quick easy salad. You can substitute feta cheese for the Gorgonzola and toasted pecans or sesame seeds for the almonds. I have also substituted sliced peaches or nectarines for the blueberries. In Winter, when lovely fresh fruit may be harder to come by, I substitute dried cranberries. Whatever salad I make, I always use this We Olive vinaigrette.”

Ingredients

6 cups (or 4 good handfuls) of mesclun or spring mix salad
3 tbsp Gorgonzola or blue cheese crumbles
20 grape tomatoes sliced in half
1 cup fresh blueberries or raspberries
1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds
4 tbsp We Olive Lemon Olive Oil
2 to 3 tbsp We Olive Blackberry Balsamic Vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard

1. In a dry frying pan over medium heat, toast the almonds on the stove – watching closely that they brown but don’t burn. Set them aside to cool off.
3. In a large salad bowl, toss the mesclun or spring salad mix, the gorgonzola or blue cheese crumbles, the sliced grape tomatoes, the blueberries or raspberries and the cooled toasted almonds.
4. In a resealable jar, combine the oil, vinegar and Dijon mustard. Close the lid tightly and shake vigorously. Although the usual ratio for vinaigrette is 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar, a higher ratio of vinegar to oil is recommended for this dressing. Taste test as you add the vinegar to see if you agree! I prefer 3 tbsp. of vinegar to 4 tbsp. of oil.
5. When you are ready to eat salad, before, during or after your meal, dress the salad with the vinaigrette.