Spicy Blue Cheese Salad with Candied Walnuts & Zesty Orange: Your Ultimate Healthy Winter Recipe

This vibrant and flavorful spicy blue cheese salad offers a delightful symphony of textures and tastes, proving that healthy eating can be incredibly indulgent. Featuring creamy blue cheese, bright, fresh oranges, and irresistibly crunchy, spicy caramelized walnuts, it’s a gourmet salad that’s surprisingly simple to prepare. Complemented by an easy-to-make, zesty dressing, this recipe is a true crowd-pleaser for any occasion, from a light lunch to an impressive side dish.

Prepare your taste buds for an extraordinary experience with this spicy blue cheese salad. It’s a remarkable combination that brings together the robust, piquant notes of blue cheese, the refreshing sweetness of fresh citrus, and the addictive crunch of caramelized walnuts with a subtle spicy kick. At first glance, you might imagine such a diverse array of flavors could be overwhelming, but this salad masterfully achieves a harmonious balance, making every forkful a delightful discovery.

Far from being just another side dish, this recipe is a genuine winter power food, designed to invigorate your senses and nourish your body during the colder months. Each ingredient is carefully chosen not only for its distinct flavor but also for its nutritional value. The vibrant oranges provide a burst of Vitamin C, while the mixed greens offer a wealth of essential vitamins and minerals. The healthy fats from the walnuts and olive oil contribute to a satisfying meal that leaves you feeling energized and refreshed. It’s exactly what’s needed to brighten those cold, gray days and add a touch of gourmet elegance to your table.

Key Ingredients for an Unforgettable Spicy Blue Cheese Salad

Crafting this spicy blue cheese salad is all about selecting fresh, quality ingredients that truly shine. Each component plays a vital role in creating the unique flavor and texture profile that makes this salad so special. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why these ingredients are essential:

• Walnuts, Olive Oil, Sugar, Chili Pepper, and Salt: These simple ingredients transform ordinary walnuts into a truly extraordinary component: spicy caramelized walnuts. The process involves a quick bake in the oven, yielding nuts that are simultaneously sweet, spicy, and wonderfully crunchy. This adds an incredible textural contrast and a warm, inviting flavor to the salad. While walnuts are traditional, feel free to experiment with pecans or almonds for a slightly different nutty note. If you’re a heat-seeker, increasing the amount of chili pepper will certainly turn up the warmth! This step, though simple, is crucial for elevating the entire dish.
• Mustard, Olive Oil, Salt, and Pepper: These form the foundation of our incredibly easy yet remarkably effective dressing. The sharp, pungent kick of the mustard cuts through the richness of the blue cheese and the sweetness of the caramelized walnuts, while the olive oil provides a smooth, emulsified base. The fresh orange juice, which we’ll collect from the oranges themselves, is key to balancing these intense flavors, creating a vibrant, tangy vinaigrette that ties all the salad elements together beautifully. A good quality olive oil will make a noticeable difference here.
• Mixed Lettuce: For this dynamic orange and blue cheese salad, a mixed green salad is preferred. The variety of textures and subtle flavors in a mixed bag of greens, often featuring various shades of red and green, provides a beautiful visual backdrop without overpowering the hero ingredients. Stronger, more dominant lettuce types like arugula, with its peppery bite, might compete too much with the blue cheese and spicy walnuts, making a milder, diverse mix the ideal choice for a balanced flavor profile. Consider blends with butter lettuce, romaine, or delicate spring mix.
• Orange: The star of the show for its refreshing citrus burst. We specifically use segments of orange, carefully peeled and freed from their membranes. This ensures you get pure, juicy pockets of sweet-tart flavor with every bite, creating a delightful “taste explosion” that brightens the entire salad. The juice extracted during this process also becomes a vital part of our zesty dressing, ensuring no flavor goes to waste and maximizing the fresh citrus impact.
• Blue Cheese: The bold, distinctive flavor of blue cheese is what sets this salad apart. A firm and spicy variety, like Blue Stilton, works wonderfully here, providing a creamy yet crumbly texture and a pungent flavor that is perfectly complemented by the fresh orange and the spicy-sweet crunch of the walnuts. For those who prefer alternatives, Gorgonzola offers a slightly milder, creamier profile, while Roquefort provides an even sharper, saltier punch, allowing you to customize the intensity of your blue cheese experience. Choose a cheese you truly love, as it’s a central character in this flavorful composition.

🔪 How to Prepare Your Spicy Blue Cheese Salad: Step-by-Step Guide

Creating this gourmet salad is simpler than you might think. Follow these clear steps to achieve a perfectly balanced and incredibly delicious dish that will impress anyone you serve it to.

Step 1: Caramelize the Walnuts. Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius). In a medium bowl, combine the chopped walnuts with sugar, a dash of chili powder, a pinch of salt, and a teaspoon of olive oil. Toss everything together until the walnuts are evenly coated. Spread the mixture in a single, even layer on a baking plate lined with parchment paper. This ensures they caramelize and crisp up beautifully without clumping. Bake for approximately 10 minutes, or until golden brown and fragrant. Once done, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool completely. As they cool, they will become wonderfully crunchy. Resist the urge to snack on them all!

Step 2: Prepare Orange Segments and Juice. This step is key for that fresh citrus burst. Using a sharp knife, carefully peel the orange, making sure to remove all the white pith, which can be bitter. Then, meticulously cut the orange segments between the membranes. Do this over a bowl to catch any dripping juice. Once you have all the segments, take the remaining orange membranes and squeeze out any last drops of juice into the same bowl. This freshly squeezed orange juice will be a crucial component of our vibrant dressing, adding natural sweetness and acidity. Set the segments and juice aside.

Step 3: Prepare the Zesty Mustard Dressing. In the bowl containing your freshly squeezed orange juice, add the olive oil, mustard, and a pinch of salt and pepper to taste. Whisk vigorously until all ingredients are well combined and the dressing is emulsified. The sharp flavor of the mustard will beautifully contrast with the fresh orange, providing the perfect counterpoint to the rich blue cheese and spicy walnuts. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed – you might want a little more salt, pepper, or a touch more mustard depending on your preference.

Step 4: Assemble Your Spicy Blue Cheese Salad. Now for the grand finale! Place the mixed lettuce greens into a large serving bowl. Artfully crumble the firm blue cheese over the greens. Distribute the juicy orange segments evenly throughout the salad. Drizzle the homemade orange-mustard dressing generously over all the ingredients. Gently toss everything together to ensure every leaf and component is lightly coated with the flavorful dressing. Finally, scatter the cooled, spicy caramelized walnuts on top just before serving. This ensures they maintain their maximum crunch and don’t get soggy. Your healthy, delicious, and visually stunning spicy blue cheese salad is now complete and ready to be enjoyed!

Tips, Variations, and Storage for Your Spicy Blue Cheese Salad

This spicy blue cheese salad recipe is wonderfully versatile, allowing for easy customization to suit your taste preferences or dietary needs. Here are some helpful tips and variations:

• For Extra Spice: If you love a bolder kick, consider adding an additional ½ teaspoon of chili pepper (or a pinch of red pepper flakes) when caramelizing the walnuts. You can also sprinkle a tiny pinch into the dressing for an all-around spicier experience.
• For a Milder Mustard Flavor: If the sharp tang of mustard is a bit too intense for your palate, you can mellow out the dressing by whisking in 1 tablespoon of sour cream (or Greek yogurt for a healthier alternative). This will add a creamy texture and soften the mustard’s edge without sacrificing flavor.
• Citrus Alternatives: While oranges provide a delightful sweetness, grapefruit can be an excellent substitute if you prefer a more tart and slightly bitter citrus note. Its vibrant color and unique flavor would also pair beautifully with the blue cheese.
• Low-Carb Option: For those following a low-carb diet, you can easily omit the caramelized walnuts. The salad will still be incredibly flavorful and satisfying, focusing on the fresh greens, tangy orange, and robust blue cheese. You might consider adding some pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds for a low-carb crunch.
• Lettuce Varieties: While a mixed green salad is recommended for its balanced profile, you can certainly experiment with other lettuce types. Butter lettuce offers a soft, tender texture, while watercress will add a peppery, slightly bitter note that could complement the blue cheese. Even baby spinach or kale could work, just ensure they are tender.
• Nut and Cheese Substitutions: Don’t limit yourself to walnuts! Pecan nuts or almonds can be caramelized in the same way for a different nutty flavor. As for blue cheese, if Stilton isn’t available or preferred, Gorgonzola provides a milder, creamier option, while Roquefort offers a sharper, more intense flavor. Explore what suits your taste!

Storage Guidelines:

• Caramelized Walnuts: These can be prepared up to 2 days in advance. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain their crispness. Ensure they are completely cool before storing.
• Orange Segments and Juice: The orange segments and juice can also be prepared one day ahead. Store them in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. This helps save time on the day you plan to serve the salad.
• Assembled Salad: It is highly recommended to eat this salad immediately after assembling. Once the dressing is added, the lettuce will begin to wilt and the walnuts may lose their crunch. For the best texture and flavor experience, serve promptly.

This spicy blue cheese salad is truly a masterpiece of flavor and texture, perfect for elevating any meal. But if you’re looking for more delicious and inspiring salad recipes, I have plenty of other ideas for you:

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Spicy Citrus Salad

Andréa

A spicy citrus salad with a delightful nutty crunch and the distinct kick of blue cheese. The flavors come together harmoniously, creating a deliciously fresh and vitamin-rich dish perfect for any season.

5 of 14 votes

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course Salad

Cuisine Other

Servings 4 persons

Calories 317 kcal

Equipment

• A conventional oven is used. When using a convection oven (with air fan) decrease the temperature with 30 °F / 20 °C

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Ingredients

• ▢ 100 grams mixed green salad
• ▢ 1 orange
• ▢ 2 teaspoons mustard
• ▢ 5 tablespoons olive oil
• ▢ salt and pepper, at taste
• ▢ 55 grams blue cheese
• ▢ 50 grams walnuts , chopped
• ▢ 1 teaspoon olive oil
• ▢ ½ teaspoon sugar
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon red chili pepper
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon salt

All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.

Metric – US Customary

Instructions

• ▢
  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius).
• ▢
  Mix the walnuts with sugar, chili, salt, and 1 teaspoon of olive oil.
• ▢
  Spread them out on a baking sheet and leave them for about 10 minutes in the oven until crispy.
• ▢
  Peel the orange and cut orange wedges above a bowl with a sharp knife. Collect the juice in the bowl.
• ▢
  Mix juice with the mustard, 5 tablespoons of olive oil, and some salt and pepper.
• ▢
  Put the lettuce in a bowl, crumble the Danish Blue and orange segments on top.
• ▢
  Sprinkle the dressing over the salad and toss well.
• ▢
  Serve immediately to show off everything as fresh as possible.

Notes

• Do you want some extra spice? Add ½ teaspoon of chili pepper.
• Do you want a less sharp mustard flavor, add 1 tablespoon sour cream to the dressing.
• You can substitute orange with grapefruit.
• If you want a low-carb recipe, don’t use walnuts in your salad.
• In this salad recipe is a mixed salad used. You can also substitute it with another lettuce like butter lettuce or watercress.
• You can replace the walnuts with pecan nuts or almonds. The blue cheese can be substituted with Gorgonzola or Roquefort.

Nutrition

Calories: 317kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 6gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 373mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 463IUVitamin C: 24mgIron: 1mg

Keyword a winter salad recipe

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