A spinach salad is a go-to quick lunch for me. A spinach salad may sound simple, but with my favorite mix-ins, this salad turns into an incredible combination of flavors and textures. This salad is not only perfect as-is, but is ripe for variations and additions. Ready to upgrade your salad game? Keep reading on for all of my top tips on how to make this healthy lunch:
How to make the best spinach salad:
I used crisp apple, sliced red onion, briny feta, and toasted almonds in this salad for the perfectly balanced bowl. To go the extra mile, I definitely recommend toasting your own almonds. Not only does it give them a better texture, but it amplifies the flavor ten-fold.
The dressing:
The homemade vinaigrette is the key to tying the entire salad together. Olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, Dijon mustard, and salt and pepper (to taste) combine to make this simple dressing. If you prefer, you can use a shallot instead of garlic.
Variations:
While I think this is the ultimate combination of flavors, you can really experiment with this salad as you please. Switch up the fruit by incorporating blackberries or mandarin oranges instead. Swap out the toasted almonds for pecans, or add goat cheese instead of feta. Use the simple homemade dressing, and it will tie your salad together no matter your mix-ins.
Made this recipe? Let us know how it went in the comments below!
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- Yields:
- 2 - 4 serving(s)
- Prep Time:
- 5 mins
- Total Time:
- 5 mins
- Cal/Serv:
- 551
Ingredients
- 5 oz.
fresh spinach
- 1
apple, such as Honeycrisp, thinly sliced
- 1/3 c.
crumbled feta
- 1/4
red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 c.
sliced almonds, toasted
For dressing
- 1/3 c.
olive oil
- 3 Tbsp.
red wine vinegar
- 1
clove garlic or 1/2 shallot, minced
- 2 tsp.
Dijon mustard
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
- Step 1In a medium bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients until completely incorporated. Season with salt and pepper.
- Step 2Combine all salad ingredients in a large bowl. Add dressing, toss to combine, and serve immediately.
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