Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Grilled Sausages with Figs and Mixed Greens

Grilled Sausages with Figs and Mixed Greens

Shocker...another salad. It's summer and that's all I want to "cook"! Figs have been bountiful this season. Longtime readers know I love my figs. Each season I look for fun ways to use them and didn't have to look far beyond last month's Bon Appetit. I'm currently crushing on their recipes that can be turned into leftovers later in the week. Last month (well technically June) it was the grilled chicken and now it's sausages and figs. I made my own pomegranate molasses because I had a bottle of pom juice that needed to be used up and I did the full amount of dressing since I ended up making the leftover recipe as well.  I reduced the pom a bit too much so whisking the dressing was a bit of a challenge, but otherwise this is fast and easy and really fresh. It's another winner and I think you'll agree.



Grilled Sausages with Figs and Mixed Greens
(Adapted from Bon Appetit, August 2010)

Makes 2 servings

2 sausages (I used spinach, Fontina, and roasted garlic chicken sausages. You can also use lamb or spicy Italian sausage)
2 or 3 1/2-inch thick slices of red onion
2-4 tablespoons Pomegranate-Cumin dressing (recipe below)
4-5 cups mixed greens
2 tablespoons crumbled feta
8 fresh figs, halved
2 tablespoons sliced fresh mint leaves

Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush the sausages and the onions with about 1tablespoon of the dressing.  Grill the sausages until cooked through, about 12-14 minutes. Then cook the onions until charred, about 10 minutes.

Toss the greens with the remaining dressing. Mound the salad onto a plate or bowl. Slice the sausages and place on top of the greens. Top the sausages with the cheese, figs, and mint.

Printable Recipe

Pomegranate-Cumin Dressing
(Adapted from Bon Appetit, August 2010)

Makes about 1 cup of dressing

5 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 1/2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons sliced fresh mint leaves
1 1/2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
1 tablespoon ground cumin
4 tablespoons minced shallots
Salt and pepper to taste

In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, mint, mint, molasses and cumin.  Stir in the shallots. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Printable Recipe

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18 comments:

Erica said...

I love the look of the grilled onions on the salad- yum! Hope you had a great labor day weekend

Anonymous said...

This looks positively amazing. My go-to dish as of late has been your warm lentils and sausage salad. Too good!

Becca

Unknown said...

I love love that dressing recipe. Great salad.

Joanne said...

Wow I really need to read through my August issue! This looks fantastic! I've been eating figs plain lately but maybe I'll buy an extra box next time I spot them to turn into this beauty of a salad!

Diana said...

I've been obsessed with figs this summer! They really have been abundant! Would you believe I've actually never cooked with sausage before?

Yes, I know. SHAMEFUL.

Pam said...

Great recipe! This sounds delicious with all those good ingredients! Bon Appetit is great also. A perfect salad!

vanillasugarblog said...

did you grill the figs? oh what a fabulous idea Esi!!!

Maria said...

I love the figs in there!

marla {Family Fresh Cooking} said...

This is such a nice salad, that pomegranate cumin dressing sound wonderful!

Simones Kitchen said...

I wish i could say it's still summer here but it seems autumn has hit in full force at the moment! Regardless, this lovely dish would make me happy any time of year!

The Duo Dishes said...

The dressing sounds really nice against the sausage. Good find!

Lyndsay Wells said...

Your photgraphy is breathtaking! I am very inspired.

M. said...

I haven't had any figs this year :(
your post reminds me, it's time I got some...
beautiful salad, there is never too many :)

Banana Wonder said...

Yum! I'm digging the way you're mixing figs into this meaty summery salad. Would go perfect with a glass of vino!

Unknown said...

yes i did see this, and i seem to recall that the sausage-fig combo is particularly tasty! Now i'm just hungry for dinner...

Damaris @Kitchen Corners said...

I think I'm the only person who hasn't had figs this year. Where have I been? I love figs.

kellypea said...

Hey Esi! Hope you've been well. I see glimmers of you on Twitter while I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. I'm with you on the salad -- especially at this time of year. Easy and healthy. I've only had figs once or twice if you can believe it. The sausage with this sounds pretty exotic and it's beautiful!

Kerstin said...

What a great combo of ingredients - the pomegranate-cumin dressing sounds especially amazing!