The holidays are always a time of abundance. Abundance of food, family, presents, and parties make the season a whole lot of fun, but often leave me in need of a good long rest. One of the downsides of all of the revelry is the accumulation of extra pounds that settles around my midriff, which is the reason I scoured the web for some of the best New Year’s Recipes for Good Health. The new year is a time for simplicity in all aspects of life, which inspires me to make quick and easy meals, such as this spinach salad topped with sauteed mushrooms, caramelized onions, and cannellini beans.
My husband and I are also intent on simplifying other aspects of our life, namely our house which seems to be in a perpetual state of disorganization. First on the list was our closet and drawers. Purging them of clothes that have not been worn for years or were on the verge of being threadbare was highly satisfying. In keeping with the theme of organization, my husband came home yesterday with a beautiful new bookcase…just for me…and my blogging dishes. As those of you who are food bloggers are well aware, this job leads to a rapid increase in the number of plates and bowls in your kitchen cupboards. It as though they breed like rabbits who dipped their twitching noses into a bucket of pheromones. Well, now my dishes have a home of their own and are ready to welcome any new additions to the tribe.
This recipe is written for two medium-sized lunch servings, but can easily be doubled to feed more people (or to make larger portions). If you double the recipe, be sure to use a large skillet for the mushrooms so that they have a chance to brown, rather than steaming, which is what happens when they are grouped too closely.
The recipe:
Heat olive oil in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add sliced onion and cook until onions begin to soften, stirring occasionally, about 3 to 4 minutes.
Add sliced crimini mushrooms and cook until onions are light golden brown and mushrooms are just starting to brown, stirring occasionally. Add dried thyme and cannellini beans. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Do not allow the garlic to burn.
Stir in balsamic vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and serve the mushroom mixture over a bed of fresh spinach leaves.
Other salads with mushrooms:
Cookin’ Canuck’s Wild Mushroom & Cornbread Panzanella Salad
Smitten Kitchen’s Warm Mushroom Salad with Hazelnuts
A Communal Table’s Greens with Sauteed Mushrooms, Walnuts & Gruyere Crisps
(Be sure to head to my giveaway blog for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card.)
Mushroom, Caramelized Onion & Cannellini Bean Salad
2 tbsp olive oil
1 large yellow onion, sliced thinly into half-circles
8 oz. crimini mushrooms, thinly sliced
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 cup cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cups (packed) fresh spinach leaves
Heat olive oil in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add sliced onion and cook until onions begin to soften, stirring occasionally, about 3 to 4 minutes.
Add sliced crimini mushrooms and cook until onions are light golden brown and mushrooms are just starting to brown, stirring occasionally. Add dried thyme and cannellini beans. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Do not allow the garlic to burn.
Stir in balsamic vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and serve the mushroom mixture over a bed of fresh spinach leaves.
Serves 2.
Nancy says
Glad that I am not the only one who likes to clear our closets and drawers after the holidays!! The bookcase for your dishware is beautiful – I am sure you will enjoy filling it up!!
This salad sounds absolutely perfect for this time of year – have bookmarked the recipe to try! Many thanks from your fellow Mushroom Maniac for the link to my mushroom salad!
Pegasuslegend says
I really need to live near you and stop making fattening foods to get on track…this is perfect for the new year, I took a long walk last night and was breathless, have to shed this 10 extra pounds …looking at this I could eat it every day for sure! lovely keepum coming!
tami says
Some of my most favorite things all combined into one salad. This looks so delicious – bookmarking to try! 🙂
– tami
ps. Happy New Year!
marla says
This recipe is gorgeous & I love the idea of the closet purge. Now if I could just make both of these happen. You always inspire me girl 🙂 xo
Lisa (With Style and Grace) says
That looks delicious! I love anything with white or butter beans.
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
i never would have thought to put all of these amazing, earthy flavors together…but i love it! yum!
Stefania says
Felice Anno Nuovo ♥
Stefania Italy
http://coolchicstyleconfidential.blogspot.com/
Amelia PS says
wonderful! "simplification" is a great way to approach the new year…may it be a wonderfully zen one for you!!!
Mushrooms Canada says
I make this all the time! Sometimes I throw in some cooked chicken breast if I have it on hand. So easy and fast!
– Brittany
Paula - bell'alimento says
I'm a sucker for anything with mushrooms! Happy New Year Dara!
Laurie @simplyscratch says
Two of my favorites… mushrooms and caramelized onions! YUM!
Roxan says
Getting rid of old things is so hard. I try to purge my wardrobe at least once a year. I'll go through my closet and if there is something I haven't worn in over a year (so all four seasons) I'll donate it.
This salad looks wonderful! Sometimes i have a hard time eating spinach, so I like how the mushrooms and onions are put on top while still warm to help it wilt. Yum! What a delicious and healthy meal to start off the year.
Mother Rimmy says
Lovely, light and healthy salad. Perfect for this time of year as many of us are looking to take off those holiday pounds. 🙂
Wishing you a wonderful 2011!
Kristi
Liz the Chef says
This goes right into my vegan-til-6:00 rotation, especially for lunch. Thanks!
The Food Hunter says
I can't wait to make this. I love mushrooms and cannellini beans. thanks so much for sharing this delicious recipe.
Emily Malloy says
That looks absolutely to die for!
Pretend Chef says
What a great salad to add to my lunch lineup. Yummy! Wishing you a great New Year!
Belinda @zomppa says
You got a great plate collection. Wonderful salad – looks so much heartier and tastier than your typical salad.
Cookin' Canuck says
Thanks so much for all of your comments. This salad comes together very quickly and really packs a punch of vitamins and protein, not to mention flavor. It has become one of my go-to lunches.
Maralyn D Hill says
This looks and sounds great. I'm going to try it. Thanks.
Maralyn
Delishhh says
We just moved a few months back so lots of cleaning during that time. But i love your bookcase. I need to get a bookcase just for me 🙂
Great sallad. I am all for eating healthy now 🙂
Kalyn says
Great looking recipe and yaay for the shelves for blogging dishes! You must be so happy to have that (now you can buy even more dishes!)
Georgia Pellegrini says
Beans take on so many flavors, are so forgiving, and so flexible. If we could all only be more like beans. You also can't go wrong by adding caramelized onion to the mix.
Monet says
Bringing simplicity into our lives is so important. I know that Ryan and I want to do a clean-out around the house too. I love your bookcase…and all of those pretty dishes! And of course, the mushrooms in this simple salad look divine. Thank you for sharing this plate of wholesome goodness. I hope you have a beautiful Hump Day!
Rosemary says
I had a purging myself and Goodwill is all the better for it. The bookcase is a wonderful idea!
Your blog has always been wonderful to me, but, you know, I swear, it keep getting better. You do such a wonderful job — creating, writing, photographing. Keep inspiring us!
julie @ rosy + tart says
What a great recipe! And surprisingly, I actually have ALL these ingredients on hand. I'll have to try it out this week.
warmvanillasugar says
This salad looks fabulous! It would be perfect for a dinner party 🙂
powderate says
Splendid salad and lovely shelf.
megan @ whatmegansmaking says
This looks so good! It doesn't help that it's almost lunch time and I'm so hungry. But all those mushrooms on that plate…I want to eat it! 🙂
Maria says
Lovely salad and congrats on the new book shelf. I love it!
HollyL says
Carmelized Onions!!MMMM Yes please! This looks soo great : )
Tracy says
Mmm, what's better than caramelized onions and mushrooms? Love this salad!
Jenny says
Mmmm, you always have me drooling over your recipes Dara!
FoodieWifeTO says
Looks great. Love the pictures. You can almost taste the dish. 🙂
zerrin says
I love your new 'dish'case:) It must be a great organizer. I need something like this too.
And the mushroom salad looks like a perfect lunch! I can have this even at breakfast with an egg.
tspegar says
this salad is right up my alley! delicious and stunning! i am making this … and soon! yum! happy new year to you!
The Healthy Eater says
Hi
I am a fellow Canuck from Calgary who just started following your blog. So far I like what I see! Looking forward to seeing more. I too have a blog – http://bigcityeater.blogspot.com/
It's pretty basic compared to yours, so I hope I can learn from you on the keyboard side.
Jeanne @ CookSister says
Mmm, spinach salads are my favourite. Throw in mushrooms and beans and I'm yours forever! And how great that your husband "gets" your need for props and a place to store them! I have had to fight for like 5 years to get a dedicated prop drawer :o) He's a keeper 😉
SaladPride says
so lovely!
inspiring.
danasfoodforthought says
I love this! So easy, but so many great flavors… I'm going to try this out for lunch next week!
danasfoodforthought says
I brought this to work for lunch today… so flavorful and filling! I'm glad I doubled the recipe, so I have enough for the rest of the week!
Lizzie in LA says
Just happened upon this recipe that I believe will be wonderful tonight with pan seared scallops. Keeping the refined carbs at bay is a challenge so this will do very nicely, thanks!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Pan-seared scallops would be a wonderful accompaniment. You’re making me hungry! I hope you enjoy the salad.
Wendy (The Local Cook) says
I’m a HUGE mushroom fan, this looks seriously awesome. Healthy, too!