Yotam's Baby Spinach Salad with Dates and Almonds

Ingredients:
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
100g pitted Medjool dates, quartered lengthways
30g unsalted butter
2 tbsp olive oil
2 small pitas (100g), roughly torn into 4cm pieces
75g whole raw almonds, roughly chopped
2 tsp sumac
1/2 tsp chilli flakes
150g baby spinach leaves, washed
2 tbsp lemon juice
salt

Method:
1. Put the vinegar, onion and dates in a small bowl. Add a pinch of salt and mix well with your hands. Leave to marinate for 20 minutes, then drain any residual vinegar and discard.
2. Meanwhile, heat the butter and half the olive oil in a medium frying pan. Add the pita and almonds and cook them on a medium heat for 4-6minutes, stirring all the time, until the pita is crunchy and golden brown. Remove from the heat and mix in the sumac, chilli and 1/4 tsp of salt. Set aside to cool.
3. When you are ready to serve, toss the spinach laves with the pita mix in a large mixing bowl. Add the dates and red onion, remaining olive oil, lemon juice and another pinch of salt. Taste for seasoning and serve immediately.

Serves 4

***Jerusalem by Yotam Ottolenghi pg 30***