Chilled Moorish Spinach and Almond Salad

Contributed by Ana Sortun

Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet. Add the cumin, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and cloves and cook over low heat, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds. Scrape the spice oil into a medium bowl and let cool. Whisk in the vinegar, lemon juice and honey. Add the shallots and currants. Season the dressing with salt and pepper. Wipe out the skillet.
Heat the vegetable oil in the skillet. Add the almonds and cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until golden, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels and let cool.
Prepare an ice water bath. In a large pot of boiling salted water, blanch the spinach for 10 seconds. Drain and cool in the ice water bath. Drain again and squeeze dry. Gently separate the spinach leaves and add them to the dressing. Add the almonds and toss.

Make Ahead The salad can be refrigerated overnight. Add the almonds just before serving.