On the lookout for a easy, veggie-centric aspect dish for Thanksgiving that doesn’t require an oven? This Simple Spinach Salad could be thrown collectively in about 10 minutes and is filled with vitamins. It’s a terrific on a regular basis aspect dish to accompany lunch or dinner that’s additionally particular sufficient for the vacation desk.
I do know salad isn’t all the time essentially the most thrilling dish on the vacation desk, however this Simple Spinach Salad is something however boring! The newborn spinach leaves are flippantly wearing a easy, home made balsamic dressing and loaded with scrumptious salad toppings. This simple aspect salad is a good recipe to have in your again pocket for lunch or dinner, and it’s an ideal means so as to add some darkish leafy greens to your Thanksgiving or Christmas meal.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Spinach Salad
- It’s simple to make – Individuals are all the time preventing for oven area when getting ready the vacation meal, so it’s all the time a good suggestion to plan for a number of aspect dishes that don’t require any cooking. This spinach salad could be thrown collectively in below quarter-hour and requires only a few kitchen objects to make; no range is required!
- It’s contemporary and flavorful – Don’t get me fallacious, I really like mashed potatoes and stuffing, however generally we want some darkish leafy greens to chop the heaviness of the vacation meal. An enormous spinach salad is a good way so as to add that freshness.
- It’s versatile – This simple spinach salad is nice for the upcoming holidays, but it surely’s additionally excellent as an on a regular basis salad to accompany lunch or dinner. You’ll be able to even change the kind of vinegar and salad toppings you utilize.
Why Your Physique Will Love This Spinach Salad
- Digestion – Spinach is low in carbs and excessive in fiber, aiding wholesome digestion. Contemporary spinach comprises about 2.2 grams of insoluble fiber per 3.5 ounces. This type of fiber doesn’t break down whereas transferring by way of the digestive system, so it could actually assist bulk up your stool and forestall constipation.
- Immune Well being – Darkish leafy greens are excessive in antioxidants, that are identified for serving to to cut back irritation within the physique. Extra irritation can result in many diseases, together with most cancers.
- Blood Stress – Spinach is of course excessive in nitrates, compounds manufactured from nitrogen and oxygen atoms that happen naturally inside our our bodies. Nitrates are additionally vasodilators, so they assist calm down and widen blood vessels. This lowers blood strain and helps preserve our hearts wholesome.
Simple Spinach Salad Recipe Elements + Substitutions
- Spinach – I like utilizing child spinach leaves, however common spinach additionally works properly. Child spinach is a bit much less bitter than totally grown spinach leaves. In the event you don’t like spinach, you’ll be able to simply substitute your favourite greens.
- Apple – You need to use any kind of apple you want for this salad. I used Honeycrisp as a result of I like its candy taste and good pink coloration, which actually pops on this salad.
- Purple Onion – If me, that I add uncooked pink onion to all my salads. To tame the onion taste, you’ll be able to rinse the sliced pink onion in chilly water for a couple of minutes earlier than including it to the salad.
- Dried Cranberries – I really like the style and texture of dried cranberries. They’re chewy, candy, and a bit tart. Dried cherries or one other fruit of selection will also be used.
- Pecans – I used candied pecans as a result of I really like the candy taste and crunch they add. Any form of nut, salted or candied, will work nice.
- Dressing – The dressing is basically easy. It’s made with oil, balsamic vinegar, tamari (for a pleasant salty taste), and spices. You’re greater than welcome to make use of bottled balsamic dressing as an alternative.
How To Make The Finest Spinach Salad Recipe
- If crucial, totally wash and dry your spinach leaves, then place them in a big mixing bowl.
- Add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, tamari, granulated garlic, dried herbs, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Gently combine every part collectively till the spinach leaves are coated with the dressing.
- Add the dressed spinach leaves to a big serving platter (or simply depart them within the bowl if you want), after which add the sliced apples, pink onion, goat cheese, dried cranberries, and pecans.
- If serving at a vacation gathering, merely place the salad platter on the desk with some serving spoons and luxuriate in!
Recipe Regularly Requested Questions
- This salad is gluten-free.
- Make this salad vegan by utilizing a vegan goat cheese substitute or omitting the goat cheese solely.
- Can this spinach salad be made forward of time? It doesn’t take a lot time to make, and child spinach can wilt rapidly, so I wouldn’t suggest making it too far upfront. It’s an ideal recipe to throw collectively and eat instantly.
- How lengthy do leftovers final? As soon as the spinach leaves are dressed, they don’t keep contemporary for lengthy since child spinach leaves aren’t tremendous hearty.
- What number of servings does this easy spinach salad make? It makes about 2-3 giant or 4-5 smaller servings. You’ll be able to simply make a smaller or bigger salad than is featured right here.
Have a query I didn’t reply? Ask me within the remark part beneath, and I’ll get again to you ASAP.
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Simple Spinach Salad
Complete Time: quarter-hour
Yield: 4-6 1x
Food plan: Vegetarian
Description
On the lookout for a easy, veggie centric, aspect dish for Thanksgiving that doesn’t require an oven? This Simple Spinach Salad could be thrown collectively in nearly 10 minutes and is filled with vitamins. It’s a terrific on a regular basis aspect dish for accompanying lunch or dinner, whereas additionally being particular sufficient for the vacation desk.
- 1 (5 oz) container child spinach leaves
- 1 tablespoon additional virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, or vinegar of selection
- 1 teaspoon tamari, or soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon dried herbs, I like to make use of the Inexperienced Goddess mix from Dealer Joe’s
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 small thinly sliced apple, your favourite form
- 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup candied pecans, or walnuts
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced pink onion
- Salt and black pepper, to style
Directions
- Completely wash and dry your spinach leaves, if wanted, after which place them in a big mixing bowl.
- Add within the olive oil, balsamic, tamari, granulated garlic, dried herbs and a pinch of salt and pepper. Gently combine every part collectively till the spinach leaves are totally coated with the dressing.
- Add the dressed spinach leaves to a big serving platter (or simply depart them within the bowl if you want) after which add on the sliced apples, pink onion, goat cheese, dried cranberries and pecans.
- If serving at a vacation gathering, simply place the salad platter on the desk with some serving spoons. Salad is finest when served instantly after making as a result of child spinach leaves are inclined to wilt rapidly as soon as they’ve been blended with dressing. Take pleasure in!
Notes
This spinach salad recipe can simply be halved or doubled, relying on how many individuals you make it for.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook dinner Time: 0 minutes
- Class: Salad, Aspect
- Methodology: No Cook dinner
- Delicacies: American
