Super Healthy Spinach Salad

A Super Healthy Spinach Salad Recipe: This is a really simple but healthy recipe for spinach salad.   It had cheese, nuts and fruit.   A nice balance that could be eaten alone or add protein of your choice. Now you could also add some spring mix for more variety. I have made variations of this salad using mandarin oranges, cherry tomatoes and feta cheese.

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• • 10 oz baby spinach
  • 1 cup sliced mini cucumbers
  • ⅔ cup feta cheese
  • ½ cup sliced red onions
  • ½ cup dried cranberries
  • ½ cup raw walnuts
  • 1 avocado, sliced
  • fresh cracked pepper, for serving

CREAMY BALSAMIC DRESSING:

• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar

• ¼ cup olive oil

• ¼ cup full fat Greek yogurt

• 1 teaspoon dijon mustard

• 1 teaspoon honey

• ½ teaspoon garlic powder

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ½ teaspoon pepper

Steps

1. Add walnuts to a small skillet over medium heat to toast. Let cook, tossing frequently for 3-5 minutes until fragrant and starting to brown. Remove from the pan and let cool.
2. Prepare dressing by whisking together all ingredients in a small bowl until fully combined and creamy. You can also blend everything together in a blender or with an immersion blender.
3. Prepare salad by adding spinach to a large bowl, top with cucumbers, goat cheese, onions, cranberries, toasted walnuts and sliced avocado. Top with fresh cracked pepper.
4. Drizzle dressing over salad, toss and serve. Once tossed in the dressing the salad doesn’t look as pretty so another option is to plate the salad and serve with dressing on the side so everyone can add their own dressing.

Notes

• Make it nut-free: Skip the walnuts or use sunflower seeds or pepitas instead.
• Veggies: Don’t have cucumber or onion on hand? Feel free to use other veggies instead. Tomatoes, bell peppers or mushrooms are all great options.
• Cheese: because why not!  If you’re not a fan you can substitute it with feta(one of my personal favorites), parmesan, or your favorite variety of cheese.
• Dried cranberries: Use dried cherries, raisins, dates or chopped dried apricots.
• Go wild use some mandarin oranges
• Dressing: You can use a classic  balsamic vinaigrette, simple  lemon vinaigrette or  white balsamic vinaigrette.
• Make it dairy-free: Skip the cheese or use a vegan cheese instead.

What do you think of this recipe? Comment below.

NOTE: I found this recipe here: Spinach Salad: https://www.thekitchn.com/spinach-salad-267495