Description
Nourishing Spinach and Apple Salad is a fresh, healthy meal or side dish combining crisp apples, tender spinach, and a tangy vinaigrette—bright, flavorful, and naturally gluten‑free.
Ingredients
- 4 cups baby spinach, washed and dried
- 2 crisp apples (such as Honeycrisp, Fuji or Granny Smith), cored and thinly sliced
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup walnuts or pecans, toasted and chopped
- ¼ cup feta cheese or goat cheese (optional)
- ¼ cup dried cranberries or raisins
- Dressing:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
- Salt and fresh black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Place the baby spinach in a large salad bowl.
- Add the sliced apples (skin on for extra color and crunch), the red onion, toasted nuts, dried fruit and cheese (if using).
- In a small jar or bowl, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice), Dijon mustard, honey (or maple syrup), salt and pepper until well combined.
- Just before serving, pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
- Serve immediately while the apples remain crisp and the greens fresh.
Notes
- For a nut‑free version, replace the walnuts/pecans with pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds.
- You can substitute sliced pear for the apples for a seasonal variation.
- The salad is best assembled and dressed right before serving; if prepping ahead, store the undressed components separately and add the dressing just before eating.
- Baby spinach is a rich source of vitamins A, C and K and folate. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (of 4)
- Cholesterol: undefined
