White beans with spinach, ham, and goat cheese

White beans with spinach, ham, and goat cheese

1
Points® value
Total Time
22 min
Prep
12 min
Cook
10 min
Serves
6
Difficulty
Easy
This gorgeous-looking, filling ham salad couldn't be easier to make. It's perfect to serve as a stunning appetizer or side for any grilled protein, but is also hearty enough for lunch. After the ham is pan-seared, the onion, fennel, bell pepper, garlic, and white beans are cooked in the same skillet. Stir in the red wine vinegar, fennel fronds, salt, and pepper off-heat for an additional layer of flavor. Build your salad with spinach, the bean mixture, the cooked ham, and crumbled goat cheese as the finishing touch. If you can’t find a fennel bulb with fronds, you can substitute chopped fresh dill or parsley.

Ingredients

Olive oil

2 tsp

Cooked lean ham

4 oz, 1 piece, thickly sliced, baked, diced

Uncooked onion

1 medium, chopped

Uncooked fennel bulb

1 item(s), small, cored and diced

Orange bell pepper

1 large, or red, diced

Garlic

2 clove(s), minced

Canned white beans

15½ oz, (1 can), small, rinsed and drained

Red wine vinegar

2 Tbsp

Fennel fronds

1 Tbsp, chopped

Table salt

¼ tsp

Black pepper

¼ tsp

Baby spinach

6 oz, (1 bag)

Low-fat hard or semisoft cheese

6 Tbsp, shredded, goat variety, crumbled

Instructions

  1. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add ham and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, 1–2 minutes. Transfer ham to plate.
  2. Add remaining 1 teaspoon oil to skillet. Add onion, fennel, and bell pepper. Cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are golden, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add beans and cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 2 minutes.
  3. Remove skillet from heat and stir in vinegar, fennel fronds, salt, and black pepper.
  4. Divide spinach evenly among 6 plates. Top evenly with bean mixture, goat cheese, and ham.
  5. Serving size: 1 cup spinach, about ¾ cup bean mixture, 1 tablespoon cheese, and about 2 tablespoons ham