Spanish Salad

As many of you know, I travelled to southern France several months ago, and had a brief but intense love affair with all foods and flavors European. While I didn't visit Spain, upon my return to California, I saw a relative who lives in Barcelona. She made this fabulous salad. She told me that a bistro near her home in Barcelona serves this salad at lunch, where she enjoys it al fresco. What a wonderful way to enjoy the foods and flavors of Spain and enjoy an afternoon!

Ingredients:

2 slices Spanish ham or prosciutto, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup cooked garbanzo beans (I use canned)
1/4 cup roasted pine nuts
1/4 cup dates (about 4) pitted and diced
2 cups arugula
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)

1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
1 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
large pinch of sea salt
several grinds of pepper

Directions:

Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add the prosciutto and cook for 1 or 2 minutes, just until the prosciutto begins to brown. Remove from the heat and add to a bowl. Rinse the garbanzo beans, then add them to the bowl with the prosciutto. Add the pine nuts, dates and arugula and toss. Mix the vinegar and oil together with the salt and pepper. Pour the dressing over the salad and serve.

Serves 2

Stealthy Cooking Tip: This is the recipe to use your best balsamic vinegar and olive oil. You can buy small bottles of better vinegars and oil, then save them for recipes where they shine. This is also a recipe that will benefit from a good tasting sea salt and freshly cracked pepper. I used salt I bought in France (though I've seen the same salt on the shelves to gourmet grocery stores right here in Sacramento!). However, don't worry if you don't have a "special" vinegar, oil, salt, or pepper. This recipe will still taste amazing with your everyday ingredients!